During its October 25, 2025, meeting, the Executive Council approved a modest dues adjustment and a small service charge, which will be effective January 1, 2026:
• $4.00 increase for Adult, Senior, Park Pilot, Three Month Trial, and Affiliate memberships
• $5.00 increase for Youth memberships
• $3.00 service charge for credit card or PayPal transactions
• $5.00 increase for club charters
We understand that any increase in cost is unwelcome. This decision was made only after extensive discussion and careful consideration. Over the past few years, inflation and rising operational expenses have affected nearly every aspect of AMA’s work, from insurance and advocacy to events and member support.
Before making this decision, we looked for every alternative, including expanding non-dues revenue, cutting expenses where possible, and reviewing our member programs to make sure they continue to provide meaningful value.
These adjustments will help AMA maintain the high level of service, advocacy, and support that our members expect and deserve, continuing a tradition that has strengthened the model aviation community since 1936.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support of the AMA and the hobby we all share.
(Please note you must be logged in as a member to see the EC motions.)
Here we are fighting to keep members and you do this? You think the numbers are bad now , just wait.
If you have questions or comments please reach out to your district council member. https://www.modelaircraft.org/contact-executive-council
Most of us spend thousands of dollars on our airplanes. I think a three or five dollar increase in membership will be just fine. We have to do what we have to do to keep our flying site, safe and protect our rights to fly !
That’s reasonable, our club has done the same tiny increase for club dues last year. Money doesn’t go as far as it used to, the additional $7 for most members annually, and $5 for the club annually will go places for the organization but won’t hurt us as a club at all. We have been growing since this year’s initiative- showcasing value of membership and advertising help for the clubs. Thank you for all the hard work and consideration. Keep it up!
District 1 AVP
Seems fair. Thanks for the update!
Number 1 – cut all the boondoggle trips of AMA stagger who get to go on vacations to trade shows and events.
Number 2 – cut any funding of the Model Aviation magazine. All it is good for it to mix epoxy one. Other that that is is advertisement for manufactures
Number 3 – reduce or eliminate the exorbitant scholarships being handed out
Number 4 – stop embracing drones, they are NOT model airplanes
Only dissatisfaction is the service charge for credit cards. If a review was done, the processing of checks or cash transactions, would actually be more costly than credit card costs.
I understand costs are rising. But this appears to be double dipping.
Now we will pay it and my complaint has been registered.
Inflation has affected virtually every aspect of the economy. These reasonable increases are essential to maintaining “our AMA” and it’s important work.
I agree with another member that drones are not model airplanes, unfortunately the Fed and FAA rolled us into the designation. It is what it is…
I disagree with another member who stated the monthly magazine is for mixing epoxy!
The magazine is wonderful to read during breakfast and supper as well has downtime.
Personally all the digital world smart phones, laptops etc makes me weary. I like to cutout articles and leave the magazine at the local library…it may recruit someone.
I’d like to see everything become digital. Quit mailing that will save thousands of dollars. Quit printing. Everyone should be fine with email and digital reading at this point. If you want a paper copy, print on your home printer.
Very reasonable. Thanks for all you do for us and for the hobby!
First strike for me was charging extra for the printed copy of Model Aviation Magazine. I enjoyed liesurely looking through the magazine. Digital copy is less convenient for me. I kept my membership for the liability coverage; but as a drone pilot, I no longer feel welcome by the die-hard model airplane crowd. Final straw for me was the disbanding of the local AMA club due to politics. Not sure if the club’s FRIA is still intact but now it does not matter anyway.
Hi Stan,
We appreciate your input. Feedback from members helps us serve the membership more effectively. Please note there is no extra charge to receive Model Aviation print. Members can choose print OR digital with their membership with no additional fee. If members want both, they can pay $9.95 to receive print AND digital.
Okay I’ve been wanting to learn to fly my 3rd plane my previous 2 times didn’t go so well. Both times I thought I could do it and went out on my own. It can become costly trying it the way I was so after buying my 3rd plane it’s been hanging up on the wall for sometime now with me being nervous about wanting to fly but before I just crash this 1 I want to know if there’s anyone available to help me out in learning how. it feels weird asking but I really would like to fly this plane an have some enjoyment out of it
Your best bet would be to reach out to a local club and see if they have an intro pilot program that can help you. Check out our club finder here.
Where would we be without the AMA? Look at everything the FAA could have done to us if there was no one to represent us and be our voice. It’s not 50 years ago. Things change. An increase of $4 divided by 365 days amounts to 1.09, a penny. Surprised it didn’t happen a long time ago.
You don’t need to be rich to be in this hobby, but you can’t be poor.
If a penny a day puts it over the top for you, then you should re-evaluate, and whatever you do, don’t break any props, they cost more than $4.
AMA has access to a real solution, but chooses to ignore it. Cutting programs and increasing dues won’t solve the problem. They have a way to increase members, but the smartest guys in the room thought better. The powers that be know what I’m talking about. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
AMA’s top brass refuses to comprehend my mass and rapid growth program. They still do not understand that I can teach people to fly and learn to teach at the same time on an RC flight simulator, usually within an hour. That can be done 12 months a year and in any building, also in a group setting. Public schools could have students learning this in class. Mass and rapid growth for the hobby is guaranteed. Yet all I get from the smartest guys in the room is, “There are many ways to teach, and your technique is nothing out of the ordinary.” They don’t say that traditional training methods can’t be done using an RC flight simulator.