Introduction to AMA Air and Key Announcements
🔹 00:00: The hosts, Matt Ruddick and Lee Ray, introduce the show and highlight key topics, including the AMA Chartered Club Toolkit and their partnership with UASidekick. They also celebrate the 10th anniversary of AMA Air with a retrospective of past interviews, including an insightful chat with former AMA President Bob Brown.
AMA Chartered Club Toolkit: A Resource for Success
🔹 06:09: The AMA Chartered Club Toolkit is officially launched to provide essential resources for clubs. It includes guidance on grants, flying site insurance, membership growth, event planning, safety education, and social media management. The toolkit is designed to be a “living” resource with ongoing updates, such as flyer templates for clubs that lack design expertise.
🔹 08:20: The hosts emphasize the importance of social media in club success and share a story about a club that benefitted from proactive digital engagement. They encourage clubs to explore and utilize the toolkit for long-term sustainability and growth.
UASidekick and Airspace Awareness for Model Aviation
🔹 10:19: AMA renews its partnership with UASidekick, a platform that offers real-time airspace awareness, instant LAANC approvals, and flight planning for drone pilots and model aviators.
🔹 11:49: Jason Cansler, COO of UASidekick, joins the discussion, explaining the platform’s history and its evolution to simplify access to airspace. The mobile app provides easy-to-use features like airspace maps, compliance checks, and emergency service integration.
🔹 14:31: The conversation covers the benefits of the app, particularly for AMA members who receive access to its basic features for free. Cansler highlights its role in advocating against unnecessary FAA restrictions on model aviation.
🔹 21:12: A live demonstration showcases how the app helps pilots locate flying sites, check airspace restrictions, and access direct contacts for airports in case of flyaways or emergencies.
Club Spotlight and Community Highlights
🔹 26:20: The Foothill Flyers of Greer, South Carolina, are recognized as AMA’s Club of the Month. The club, established in 2016, successfully shares space with an ultralight airport, demonstrating effective collaboration between full-scale and model aviation enthusiasts.
🔹 30:31: Chris Reibert wins the iFly AMA Facebook Group Cover Photo Contest with a picture from the Rochester Aero Modeling Society’s Frozen Finger Flying event, highlighting the joy of winter flying.
Educational Features and AMA Member Benefits
🔹 37:57: The latest Model Aviation magazine issue features an article on converting RC aircraft into control-line planes, demonstrating a creative way to repurpose old aircraft.
🔹 41:33: Registration opens for the 2025 National Aeromodeling Championships (Nats) as AMA gears up for its 100th edition in 2026.
🔹 43:09: AMA members receive special discounts on rental cars through partnerships with Enterprise and National, alongside various other membership benefits.
Closing Announcements and Upcoming Events
🔹 44:40: The hosts preview upcoming events, including the Perry Swap Meet and the Toledo RC Show. They also encourage viewers to engage with AMA’s social media platforms and explore membership benefits.
🔹 46:15: The episode wraps up with gratitude to the show’s sponsors and an invitation for new members to join AMA.
Sponsors: