Thinking about starting an RC flying club or model aviation club in your community? It might be easier than you think.

You only need five current AMA members to start an AMA Chartered Club.

Becoming an AMA Chartered Club can give your group access to valuable benefits and resources, including club liability insurance, flying site assistance, grant opportunities, help navigating airspace and regulations, programs for introducing new people to model aviation, and resources to help your club grow.

Whether you already have a group of friends who fly together, have access to a potential flying field, or simply want to build a model aviation community in your area, AMA can help you get started.

What Is an AMA Chartered Club?

An AMA Chartered Club is an organized group of AMA members officially chartered through AMA.

AMA clubs bring people together around a shared interest in model aviation. Depending on the interests of its members, a club can support RC airplanes, helicopters, gliders, drones, Control Line, Free Flight, and other forms of model aviation.

A club can provide much more than a place to fly. Clubs create opportunities for pilots to learn from one another, teach beginners, organize events, work with youth and community organizations, and build lasting relationships around aviation.

AMA has more than 2,000 chartered clubs across the United States, creating a nationwide network of model aviation communities.

How Many People Do You Need to Start an AMA Club?

Only five current AMA members are needed to start an AMA Chartered Club.

You don’t need dozens of members, an established organization, or years of experience running a club.

If you already have five AMA members who enjoy flying together, you have one of the most important pieces needed to begin forming a club.

That makes starting an AMA club an option for groups of nearly any size, including friends who regularly fly together, groups looking for a dedicated RC flying field, existing informal flying groups, or model aviation enthusiasts who want to establish a new local community.

What Are the Benefits of Starting an AMA Club?

AMA Chartered Clubs have access to programs and resources designed specifically to help model aviation clubs operate, find and maintain flying sites, introduce new people to the hobby, and grow.

Here are some of the biggest benefits.

Club and Officer Liability Insurance

Chartering with AMA provides liability insurance coverage for the club and its officers.

This can be especially important when operating a flying field, hosting club activities, or working with a private landowner, municipality, park, or other organization.

AMA clubs can also explore insurance options related to flying site owners and club activities.

Help Finding and Protecting an RC Flying Field

Finding a suitable place to fly can be one of the biggest challenges for a new RC or model aviation club.

AMA’s Flying Site Assistance Program helps chartered clubs with flying site issues. Assistance can include identifying potential flying sites, preparing presentations for prospective property owners, planning the layout of a flying site, and working to retain an existing flying location.

So, if your group wants to start a club but doesn’t have the perfect flying field yet, that doesn’t necessarily have to stop you from getting started.

Access to AMA Club Grants

AMA and the AMA Foundation offer grant opportunities for eligible chartered clubs.

For example, the Flying Site Improvement Grant can provide funding toward qualifying flying site improvements. Other programs can support community outreach, club growth, disaster recovery, safety, and efforts to introduce new people to model aviation.

These opportunities can help clubs turn an ordinary flying site into a stronger long-term home for model aviation.

Help With FAA Rules, Airspace, and Flying Sites

Navigating FAA requirements and airspace can be challenging for an individual club.

AMA provides assistance and resources to help clubs understand regulatory and airspace issues affecting model aviation.

Many AMA club flying sites have also received FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) status. At a FRIA, pilots can operate eligible model aircraft without Remote ID broadcast equipment while following applicable requirements.

For a group trying to establish a long-term flying site, having AMA’s experience and resources behind it can be a significant advantage.

Programs to Help New Pilots Learn to Fly

A strong club doesn’t just provide a place for existing pilots to fly—it creates new pilots.

AMA’s Introductory Pilot Program (IPP) helps participating clubs and instructors introduce newcomers to model aviation in a structured environment.

That can make it easier for your club to invite someone to the field, put a transmitter in their hands, and give them their first experience flying a model aircraft.

Today’s first flight could become tomorrow’s newest club member.

Resources to Help Your Club Grow

Starting the club is only the beginning.

AMA provides chartered clubs with resources covering topics such as membership growth, flying sites, community outreach, youth engagement, club leadership, safety, events, grants, and more.

The AMA Club Toolkit also gives club leaders access to webinars, presentations, guides, and other resources designed to help clubs succeed.

You don’t have to build your club completely on your own.

Do I Need a Flying Field Before Starting an AMA Club?

A potential flying site is certainly valuable, but don’t assume that you need to have every detail figured out before exploring the chartering process.

AMA specifically provides Flying Site Assistance to help clubs find new flying locations and retain existing ones.

If your group is looking for a field, AMA can provide information and resources to help you evaluate potential locations and approach property owners.

This is one of the advantages of organizing as an AMA club rather than trying to solve every challenge as an informal group.

Can I Start an RC Club With Friends?

Yes.

In fact, a small group of people already flying together can be an excellent starting point for a new AMA Chartered Club.

If at least five of you are current AMA members, you meet the minimum membership threshold to begin forming an AMA club.

Your small weekend flying group could eventually become a permanent club, establish its own flying site, teach new pilots, hold events, and become part of the local community.

What Can an AMA Club Do?

Every club is different.

Some clubs primarily provide their members with a great place to fly. Others become highly active community organizations.

An AMA club might:

• Maintain an RC or model aircraft flying field.
• Teach beginners how to fly.
• Host fun flies, contests, swap meets, and open houses.
• Introduce youth to aviation and STEM.
• Partner with schools and community organizations.
• Hold charity or fundraising events.
• Work with local governments and property owners.
• Help members understand model aviation safety and regulations.
• Bring together pilots who share the same interests.
• Preserve a local place for model aviation for future generations.

Your club can start small and grow into whatever best serves your members and community.

Is Starting an AMA Club Difficult?

Starting an AMA Chartered Club is a straightforward process, and AMA provides resources to help you through it.

The first major step is simple:

Bring together at least five current AMA members who want to form a club.

From there, your group can establish club leadership, create bylaws, complete the necessary chartering requirements, and work with AMA as you get established.

You don’t need to know everything about running a club before you begin.

That’s exactly why AMA provides Club Services, a Club Chartering Guide, flying site assistance, and other club resources.

Who Should Consider Starting an AMA Club?

Starting an AMA club might make sense if you:

• Already fly RC aircraft with a group of friends.
• Don’t have a convenient AMA club or flying field nearby.
• Know of property that could potentially become an RC flying site.
• Want to create a dedicated place to fly.
• Want to teach other people how to fly model aircraft.
• Want to grow model aviation in your community.
• Want access to AMA club resources, insurance, grants, and assistance.
• Want to create a stronger local community around model aviation.

You don’t need to wait until you have 20, 30, or 50 interested pilots.

Five AMA members can get the process started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting an AMA Club

How many members does it take to start an AMA club?

It takes a minimum of five current AMA members to start an AMA Chartered Club.

Can I start my own RC flying club?

Yes. A group of model aviation enthusiasts can form an AMA Chartered Club. If at least five members of the group are current AMA members, they meet the minimum membership requirement to begin the chartering process.

What are the benefits of an AMA Chartered Club?

AMA Chartered Clubs can access benefits and resources including club and officer liability insurance, flying site assistance, grant opportunities, government and regulatory assistance, programs for introducing new pilots to model aviation, and club growth resources.

Does an AMA club get insurance?

AMA Chartered Clubs receive liability insurance coverage for the club and club officers. Additional insurance options and certificates may be available depending on the club’s flying site and activities.

Can AMA help us find an RC flying field?

Yes. AMA’s Flying Site Assistance Program helps chartered clubs with issues related to finding, establishing, improving, and retaining flying sites.

Can AMA clubs receive grants?

Yes. AMA and the AMA Foundation offer multiple grant opportunities for eligible chartered clubs. Programs can help with qualifying flying site improvements, community outreach, growth initiatives, disaster recovery, and other club needs.

What is a FRIA?

A FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) is a location recognized by the FAA where eligible model aircraft can be flown without Remote ID broadcast equipment, subject to applicable FAA requirements. Many AMA Chartered Club flying sites have received FRIA status.

Can an AMA club teach beginners how to fly?

Yes. Clubs can provide flight instruction, and AMA’s Introductory Pilot Program helps participating clubs and instructors introduce new people to model aviation.

Do I need an RC flying field before starting a club?

Don’t assume that not having a permanent flying field prevents you from exploring the club chartering process. AMA provides Flying Site Assistance specifically to help clubs address flying site needs, including finding potential new locations.

Where can I get help starting an AMA club?

AMA’s Club Services team and Club Chartering resources can help guide groups interested in forming a new AMA Chartered Club.

Five Members Can Start Something Much Bigger

Every AMA club started somewhere.

Sometimes it begins with a few friends and a shared love of flying.

But that small group can become something much bigger.

It can become the field where someone flies an RC airplane for the first time.

It can become the place where an experienced pilot passes decades of knowledge to someone just getting started.

It can introduce a young person to aviation, engineering, or STEM.

It can become a community where friendships are built, families spend weekends together, and model aviation has a permanent place to grow.

And it only takes five AMA members to get started.

If you’ve been thinking about starting an RC flying club, you may already be closer than you realize.

Bring together five AMA members and take the first step.