How to join AMA

[jrohland]

To get an AMA card, go to this Web page: AMA Membership Application Center. Fill out the forms, pay if you are not getting the three month trial and, you are done.

Read the Membership Manual or, at the very least read the AMA Safety Code document.

Follow the safety procedures, properly identify your aircraft as per the instructions and, you are good to go.

You are NOT required to show proficiency in aircraft operation to get a standard or, Park Flyer AMA card. You may be required to show basic skills to fly at a club field. That is up to the club.

One time AMA requires proficiency is to get a turbine waiver. If you are flying a turbine helicopter, you already know all this.

[Tech-D]

Already joined.

[Pinecone]

And a few points of WHY to join AMA:

1) They are our voice in the US on modeling to the FAI and to the US Government. There was an attempt to shut down ALL RC model flying after 9/11. AMA worked to prevent that. They are alos involved with the current rule making on UAVs to make sure there is some proviion/way for FPV models to be flown legally in the US without meeting all the UAV requirements (certificate, medical, flight plan, etc.)

2) You can join AMA Chartered clubs. The Club environment can be fun. Hanging out with people who enjoy the same hobby, helping each other out, etc. Not all clubs are created equal, so check out the clubs in your area. Some are a bit territorial. The club I belong to allows flying ANYTHING. If it is too windy to fly RC, they pull out kites. Also some clubs cannot accept Park Flyer members. This is because of the differing insurance limits, and some field agreements require the coverage of full membership. In most cases, this si not the club discriminating against park flyer members, but due to legal agreeements in place, until they can get changed. In osme cases, it is the club not wanting park flyer members, remeber, all clubs are NOT the same.

3) You can attend and fly at various events. Fun Fly events, IRCHA Jamboree, and even competition.

4) A nice monthly magazine that covers all aspects of modeling. While you may only be into helis, you can also learn things from people flying everything from RC pattern to Control Line to Free Flight. And who klnows, at some point, you might become interested in those areas. Park Flyer members get a quarterly magazine aimed at park flying RC only.

5) You can join the Special Interest Groups that provide official input to the AMA on vairous parts fly flying. For helis there is IRCHA and the new RWMAA (working on offial SIG status). These groups further congregate people of like interests, and work to the goals of the group officially within the AMA. They also put on various events.

6) And finally, your AMA membership will provide you with liability insurance in case you damage property or injure a person with your model aircraft. You do NOT have to be flying a club field, just flying within the rules of thesafety code to be covered. The coverage is in excess of any insurance you might already have. But recently we had a guy here having to sell off his heli stuff to pay for the damage to someone's car that was hit by his heli. Coverage limits are different for full members versus park flyer members.

AMA might not be perfect, but they are our voice officially.

[TheBum]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

AMA might not be perfect

Did you fall asleep mid-sentence, Terry?

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by TheBum

Did you fall asleep mid-sentence, Terry?

What are you talking about?

[TheBum]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

What are you talking about?

Never mind. The magically appearing ink must have dried.

[Bostonewbie]

Good instight Pinecone, Jrohland. I will be signing up soon, i wounder what the progress is on the UAV . AP Heli ruling with FAA stands??

[Pinecone]

I do know there is work on trying to come up with a good, legal, loop-hole free description of model aircraft operations, so the FAA can exempt them. At least hobby flying.

Commercial ops may require meeting FAA requirements.

[Staxx]

Thought it might be good to have this in here since it isn't easily findable on their website. It costs $58.00 a year for AMA membership for those that are wondering

Also, the 3 month trial costs $19.95, but that cost can be transferred into your first years membership when you continue. (So contrary to what the first post states, you will be paying whether you chose the trial membership or not, just not as much)

[Synapse_2000]

Does the AMA issue a new number for every non-contiguous membership? I was active in the early 70's, then again in the late 80's. At that time, I lived a few miles from the HQ so applied in person but learned there were no searchable records to aid in getting your old AMA #... Anyone know if that is that still the case today - history being non-searchable and having to grab a new # (third # in my case)?

Thanks!

[HeliDragon]

Woot thanks for all the info on this Jrohland & Pinecone! Now I can fly at the local club with a buddy without joining. Will join soon though in a month or two.

- HeliDragon

[ChrisMH]

Originally Posted by Synapse_2000

Does the AMA issue a new number for every non-contiguous membership? I was active in the early 70's, then again in the late 80's. At that time, I lived a few miles from the HQ so applied in person but learned there were no searchable records to aid in getting your old AMA #... Anyone know if that is that still the case today - history being non-searchable and having to grab a new # (third # in my case)?

Thanks!

Little late on this, I know...but I was in pretty much the same situation. Was a member in the late 80's, then rejoined several years ago and received a new number. I sent an email to the AMA asking if I could get my old number back. They were able to look it up and, since it was not in use, give it back to me.

[sik304s]

Can the application be faxed in or just by snail mail?

[Finskeeper]

Originally Posted by sik304s

Can the application be faxed in or just by snail mail?

----

You can sign up and pay online on their website.

[sik304s]

Thanks I will look around a little better I found the pdf must have looked over the online register

[Ducaticorse]

Great info on AMA, gotta support the groups that look out for our best interests!

[RusElKnight]

when you join is your membership active from one year of your purchase date? You just renew it annually?

[ElIntocable]

Taken from the website:

"Membership ends each year on December 31, regardless of the date a member application is received. Applications received after September 15th will be valid for the remainder of that year and all of the following year."

[flyul1]

I just renewed my AMA membership. I was last a member in 1996. I put in my old AMA number and last name . The AMA still knew me. I renewed with my 15 year lapsed old Number. Yes you can look check to see if your old number is still available.

Keith

[Cranky]

Signed up. Paid. Got one email and was told "a few days".

It's been over "a few days."

How long can I expect to wait?