NeST-RC Club Membership Information:
If you are interested in joining NeST-RC, we would be excited to welcome you aboard! Read on, this is the information that you need!
AMA Membership Required
First, you must be a member in good standing in the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). AMA membership provides the member with up to 2.5 million dollars of liability insurance. In most cases, it also includes a subscription to Model Aviation, the monthly magazine of the AMA. Student members under 19 join AMA for free, but do not get the subscription to Model Aviation (unless they pay an additional fee).
NeST-RC Club Dues
NeST-RC has developed a world-class flying site for RC aviation. Unfortunately, the materials and equipment for construction and maintenance of such a site are relatively expensive. To date, all of the labor to build and maintain our site has been provided by the members on a volunteer basis. The club collects annual dues from its members to pay for the maintenance materials of the site. New members also pay a one-time “field improvement fee” equal to their annual dues. Annual dues are discounted for family members of regular “open” members living in the same household, and for student members. Dues are paid through the end of the calendar year and are prorated based on the new member’s join date. Club dues for new members are detailed in the table below:
Club Dues Schedule
| Join Date | 1/1 - 6/30 (full rate) | 7/1 - 9/30 (25% off) | 10/1 - 12/31 (75% off) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Membership | $100 | $75 | $25 |
| Student Member (Under 22) | $40 | $30 | $10 |
| Family Membership (Same household as open member) | $25 | $18.75 | $6.25 |
For existing members, dues renewals are due on January 1st, with a 20% penalty applied if paid after March 31st. The field improvement fee is not prorated.
Bylaws and Field Rules
NeST-RC was chartered under a bylaws document that defines the structure of the club, its officers, dues schedule, grievance and discipline procedures, etc. We have also developed a set of Field Safety and Courtesy Rules that are designed to enhance safety on site. It is the responsibility of all members and prospective members to review and agree to the content of these documents. Any questions or concerns about them should be addressed to the club officers.
Safety First
New members must be able to demonstrate positive control of their aircraft before being released to fly solo at NeST-RC field. While accidents and incidents can happen to anyone, NeST-RC is committed to making sure that pilots flying solo on the flight line are competent and safe. We provide free flight instruction with experienced instructors to anyone who requests it, or anyone who requires remedial help. NeST-RC adheres to the AMA Safety Code, and a copy of those rules, as well as the NeST-RC Field Safety and Courtesy Rules are posted on a banner inside the shelter at the field.
Per AMA requirements, one of our club officers is a “safety coordinator“. Please feel free to contact our club safety coordinator to find out more about the safety protocols at NeST-RC.
Membership Application
Print out our Membership Application, fill it out completely and send it to the address indicated at the bottom of the form. Once processed, our club secretary will send you a laminated membership card. The membership card lists the combinations for the locked gate and cabinet at the field. If you prefer, you can fill out the online membership application (coming soon). Your membership will not be active until we have your completed application, your dues payment (including the field improvement fee), and have verified your AMA status.
Regulations
People flying RC aircraft at NeST-RC are expected to be good citizens. Gas powered aircraft create noise, and if not carefully flown, may pose a danger to life and property. The AMA has attempted to work closely with the FAA to prevent government regulation from making it difficult or impossible to fly. But, this also means that we need to be aware of the regulations that do exist, and follow these. For information on these regulations, check out the AMA Regulations page.
Why Do We Associate with AMA?
Over the last 80 years, the AMA has grown to be the largest model aviation organization in the world, chartering over 2500 clubs and representing 195,000 members nationwide.
The AMA is our collective voice, protecting our rights and freedoms to fly R/C aircraft without stifling government overreach. The AMA uses email, the network of AMA-sanctioned clubs, and their web site to keep members informed about subjects and issues related to our hobby. They often provide advice and recommendations for members to appropriately and legally address these issues. Let’s face it, our hobby has come under some pretty severe scrutiny in the past few years. “Drones” and irresponsible drone owners have given the government legitimate cause to intervene with laws to keep manned aviation, as well as people and property on the ground safe from inadvertent drone mishaps. The AMA has worked tirelessly to ensure that our freedoms to fly model aircraft as hobbyists remain unburdened by unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.
The AMA organizes and sanctions over 2000 competitive model aviation events each year. National title competitions are often held at the AMA headquarters located in Muncie Indiana, just 40 minutes northeast of our field.
The Flying Site Assistance Program of the AMA provides clubs help with finding, keeping and maintaining flying sites. They offer financial grants to pay for up to 10% of flying site improvements. NeST-RC has been awarded two of these grants in the past.
Finally, while individual AMA membership provides each member with liability insurance coverage, chartering a club under the AMA provides the club with similar coverage. Unfortunately, in today’s litigious society, that sort of fiscal protection is absolutely necessary.