I have been informed that the membership of AMA includes 3rd party insurance now (to the tune of 20lakhs).  This organisation seems to be taking serious steps towards becoming the first national level association for aeromodelling enthusiasts in the country.  Since no one has gone so far as these guys have, I have decided to join their efforts.

Yes, there are some concerns about the fees, and the fact that it is a too much of a Delhi focus.  End of the day, these are minor issues, and the overall leadership seems to be a bunch of dedicated folks, who wants to do something for this hobby in our country.

I see other good things coming out of this.  For example, I expect in the near future, we will see samples of individuals going to the WPC to get import licenses for radios before importing, instead of waiting for the shops to do it. The AMAI has made some contacts with the WPC in this regard.   

Looking forward to further good things coming out of this (as opposed to all talk so far).

Add to that, they have an updated website too : http://www.amai.in

Anwar, perhaps you should link it from your Master links/resources page on this forum ?

Quote from: anwar on May 17, 2010, 02:26:05 PM
I see other good things coming out of this.  For example, I expect in the near future, we will see samples of individuals going to the WPC to get import licenses for radios before importing, instead of waiting for the shops to do it. The AMAI has made some contacts with the WPC in this regard.   

You are spilling the beans Anwar bhai!! few people here won't me amused. I ended up going silent on the 'Other' forum for being pro 'Empowering Thy Flyer Fraternity' !

Hope this actually happens beyond just being on agenda/papers! Even today, hardly any high end Radio is Type approved and sold absolutely legally. And I see quite many takers for such high ends.

I am not sure I get the point. Rest assured, we are open to spilling any kind of beans   (Even though I am not sure who would get upset with this kind of information).

The Futaba 8FG is a serious radio, and it has type approval for someone.  I wish folks from Chennai are able to call up Arvind (Rotor Hobbies) and check if they are the ones who got the approval for this radio. If not, what kind of radio they got the import approval for ?

This forum exists to completely empower the individual fliers first (whether it is Hobbycity news or being able to individually get type approval for radios), at the same time provide a level playing field for all hobby stores.

Also, someone was commenting in private to me that this AMA is just another club, and other clubs in the country are going to soon get ACI's blessings, so this is nothing really to get excited about.  The Delhi focus was another issue.

My response was as below :

Quote
<let_me_not_name_names> bhai -

I am well aware of that.  But the following points do carry merit.

1.  No other club was able to get this so far, despite years to talk.  You should also see how the RCDhamaka guys tried to approach the ACI and not even a meeting could be arranged.

2.  It makes sense to have one apex level (club of all clubs) to raise issues, than having a "coalition government" !

3.  Even if other clubs get the approval, it offers more choice to the modeler, but does not take away from the value add of the AMA.  All we want is a piece of paper to say this is authorized, and have some rules around forming locals clubs and conducting this hobby in a safe manner.

4.  I do not mind supporting the folks who make it happen the first time, unless and until I see something sinister in their activities/behavior. Of course egos will be piqued now, that is expected. 

5.  I have not openly professed any support of the forum to AMA, as you can see. You can also see others like Sai are willing to be a part of this, as no one seemed to have tried to do what they have done so far.

6.  They started as a Delhi club, but they are putting an all India face now. That effort is a step in the right direction.

7.  This forum will never be a part of any collection of money etc We will provide equal opportunity for any club to profess their virtues and seek new members.  It is upto the individuals to make decisions, trust others etc.  Personally, I would like to see one organization that can unify the voice of all RC enthusiasts in India.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with you suggesting that other clubs may get ACI approval soon publicly on the forum.  That would just be a cautionary/heads-up note, if you feel passionately about it.

Regards,
Anwar.

Additional details about insurance coverage from Vijendra Nagar, President of the AMAI :

Quote
Insurance: AMA is covered for a liability of Rs.20Lakhs a year ,on designated flying field,we have designated three so far and for every addition of the field an additional fee of Rs.1500.0 will be added to the premium.The rules are a part of the application for membership,flying under these conditions is covered.

There is no additional fee for insurance,it is covered in the membership fee.

So it is important to get your local field accredited by the AMAI.  Along with that, it is important to follow the safety instructions of the AMAI, which are common sense rules anyways.

It is fun to see the "crab mentality" (no crab can escape because the others pull them down!) expressed by some folks towards this effort   Other than the fee structure which can take some adjustment in terms of having a local club only fees (the overall fees is lower, and part of it is paid to the AMAI) AND becoming more inclusive as a pan-India body in its governing council membership, so far the effort is the only one of its kind.  People should give such efforts at least a chance !

It is good to have connections (however feeble or strong they are!).  Some of the folks associated with AMA (and DMA) come from various walks of life which can all help with gaining better official recognition for this hobby.

Case in point, this picture of our member Capt. Ramesh Tahlan, with someone who probably is not well known for his RC activities

From the DMA gallery at : http://www.amai.in/gallery/10

Quote from: anwar on May 18, 2010, 04:45:58 PM
Case in point, this picture of our member Capt. Ramesh Tahlan, with someone who probably is not well known for his RC activities

Anwar,
Though i appreciate you updating this thread with the developments from AMA, and the openness of this forum, I am not sure how justified it is to take a picture from the DMA page and post it here, without permission from Capt. Tahlan. Had you linked to the page, it would have been a different story.
-Gaurav

Gaurav - That was an accidental omission, which I have corrected now.  Thank you for pointing it out.  I was not able to get the direct link to the image to work (that was the initial plan), which would have acknowledged the source automatically. When that did not work, I made the local copy, and missed adding the link to the post. 

And my intentions are clear that this is in support of the AMA, and my policy on anything posted about the AMA is amply clarified at  http://www.rcindia.org/rc-locations-and-clubs/recognition-of-aero-modellers-association-of-india-(n-delhi)-by-aci/msg20656/#msg20656  where I have clarified that "any privileged information will be removed if requested/objected".

Also, even though this is public information, I had sent a note to Mr Ramesh about posting this here again, and that I will remove it if he see this unfit. I was just trying to illustrate that the folks who are putting efforts behind AMA are well known in the RC circles, and have contacts that can help make things better for everyone (if things work as intended).

Finally, when your developers reproduced quite a bit of the board structure of RC India on the forum created for AMAI, they made a bunch of spelling mistakes in the "RC Equipment" section   Words like "electric" and "techniques" are mis-spelt ! I guess RC India being open, such give and take is normal ?

In general, we try to respect copyright information as much as we can, and I intend to lead by example

No issues, Anwar, Just wanted you to acknowledge the link.
Re: reproducing the board structure, well you have done such a great job, that once you have seen the structure, you tend to just think of it as the best. In any case, AMA forum is only restricted to use by members and yours is an open forum, so nothing really to do with each other.

Quote from: anwar on May 18, 2010, 09:46:23 PM
... folks who are putting efforts behind AMA are well known in the RC circles, and have contacts that can help make things better for everyone (if things work as intended).

Keep the good work Anwar bhai, these small omission happens, and I bet sporty people like Ramesh sir would not mind such illustrations.

Rahul Gandhi's dad, Late Mr Rajeev Gandhi, who was HAM himself, helped the HAM community get huge waiver in Customs duty on import of HAM Radio Transrecievers, which stands at mere 5% today if I am right.
What could be better for the the R/C fraternity that similar highly influential people, if not such customs waiver, make import of R/C stuff hassle free.

Hoping for the best.

PS: wouldn't it be better that we create a clean, 'Sticky' thread on AMAI membership where only mods/Mr Ramesh post , so that there is less clutter.

In short AMAI is good or bad? 

Quote from: vinay on May 19, 2010, 05:47:24 PM
In short AMAI is good or bad? 

Only time will tell  how AMAI will turn out





Sanjay

A small correction
He is Group Capt Tahlan, not just Capt. (in Navy and Air force terms it would be same) but in Army terms it would be much junior
In short you could call him Groupie or Gp Capt

From what I see on the AMAI list, it has already panned out a bit in the north and a bit in the south, with regional chapters now in Allahabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gurgaon, Lucknow, New Delhi, Noida and Punjab.  Looks like this would be first effort to build an all inclusive club.

There are details being ironed out, especially regarding institutional membership etc, but these are issues that will be sorted in due course. I, for one, am excited to see this happening

hi all and and Anwar,
1.  I saw that Anwar had picked up and image of me and Rahul Gandhi and pasted it on this forum. And dear friend Gaurav had pinted out something, so i thought it would be right to say someting, Anyone is welcome to pick up any image taken by me, No issue, i do not want copyright as it is for the larger interest of the hobby , which i feel every one must enjoy. So, by all means, if some image helps u, so take it, i will be previlaged.
2.  I also saw Capt mentioned. hahaha, guys, my in laws till today still call me Pilot Officer which is the first rank when i joined the fighter branch of the IAF, so when they introduce me as Pilot Officer, it does make me feel young, hahaha.
3.  And lastly, any club can become associate member directly with ACI. Have no apprehensions.
4.  Aeromodelling rocks man, if i did not have rc as my hobby for last 43 years or so, i would have either become a drunkerd or gone mad. My wife always wondered, why after flying 3 sorties in a Russian figher, where u sweat like a pig, would come home and walk straing into my hobby room. Man, it felt great and relaxing, hope it is the same for u guys.
4.  Happy Landings.

Ramesh, please enlighten me... What is the difference between group caption and caption?? Does Group Caption caption a group of captions??

Deepak,
A Capt is in the army is the second rank, in the Airforce a Group Capt is the 5th rank, and the first rank when u start wearing those leaves on ur shirt collars, and  in the Navy, the Capt is the same as the Gp Capt in the air force.
Take care buddy, hope u not deciding to join the armd forces now, though, mind u, the pay is attractive now.  hahaha.
Ramsh Tahlan

I have gone past the sell by date to be in the army, approaching take it easy times now Ramesh... just curious.

Aeromodeller for 43 years  and , Ramesh you would be a great source on this forum. Do you have any place online of your aeromodelling career. Or is the AMAI site?

hi all,
Good news, We had a meeting with AMA managing committee on Saturday, and the fee structure has been sorted out totally. It is now really good and structured to encourage every one to join.  It is based on a long term strategy. The membership has jumped from 35 to over 50 overnight.
Happy landings to all
Ramesh Tahlan (RS for DMA, N Delhi)

tg,
I am not just for the AMA croud, i am  for the rc world.
i have some bad habbits. I dont touch an rc engine, unless i read the booklet that comes with it from page one to page last. I find 90% of modelers who will not look at the manufactures booklet. 95% dont know how to run in an engine.  Being a fighter pilot, we had to pass 2 tests before we were allowed any where near the aircraft, one was Checks and Procedures - pass marks 80%, and second was Emergencies - pass marks 100%. And i have continued with the same habbit with the hobby.
One day i reached a field in Delhi, and 2 modellers were strugling in getting the OS 75 to start, after 5 min i could not hold back and commented that any OS engine should start in 2 flicks. So, in a very challenging voice i was told - ok u start it. I did some basic stuff of my own ( actually by the book) ie, adjusted all needles to what the mannual says, sucked in fuel, and u will not beleive it , on the 2nd flick, the engine fired. hahaha, well u can imagine what would had been my plight if it had not fired hahaha, may be the gods were on my side.
Buddy, it is so thrilling, when, with me in Delhi, and i get calls from Pune and Lucknow from friends who r on the field, and i am helping them sort out engine problems, 2 and 4 stroke, over the mobile phone. hahaha, its thrilling. and to my utter surprise i have not failed till now.
Ramesh Tahlan

I was about to fill up the membership form but I think I need clarification....

On the AMAI membership form, page 2 AMA rules there is the following clause

"8. I will not operate model aircraft carrying pyrotechnic devices which explode or burn, or any device, which propels a projectile
of any kind."

Given the fact that most electric models have LiPO cells which are likely to explode on crash, does this mean that flyers of electric models cannot become members?
MAYBE this is a statutory line that needs to be reworded because even the nitro fuel burns

regards
Pankaj

Batteries are batteries and fuel is fuel (and both are not really "pyrotechnic devices").  Fire-crackers and rockets are not really in the same class

I am curious about the new club membership details etc.  There are no details even on the AMA discussion list.

Quote from: PankajC on May 24, 2010, 02:56:34 PM
"8. I will not operate model aircraft carrying pyrotechnic devices which explode or burn, or any device, which propels a projectile
of any kind."
regards
Pankaj

I believe Nitro Methane is more prone to explosion than what LiPos have been demonised for. this would make all power R/c planes out of purview.

Pyrotechnic devices includes apparatus which are designed to to explode including Chemical, Triggering fuse and other electronic devices like triggers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrotechnic

Any chemical/apparatus which *MAY* explode due to malfunction does not come into Pyrotechnic  apparatus.

This clause is for safeguard from flyers who may like to put small firecracker, drop bombs, etc for exhibition purpose. Though such displays do take place in the west, they are very much regulated and carried over in fields outside the city premises. I guess this a reasonable clause, considering the security concerns of authorities, infact this is the one of the nightmare of R/C planes authorities have - terrorists dropping some kind of bomb (plastic explosive ? have they arrived in their hands ?)