Competition is King
President’s Perspective
By , AMA President | richh@modelaircraft.org
As seen in the April 2023 issue of Model Aviation.
FOR MORE THAN 100 years, competition has been the driving force behind innovation and new technologies within the aeromodeling pursuit, and it has fostered growth and expanded interest in the hobby. From the first time two modelers flew their models at the same place and at the same time, they endeavored to see who could build the best model aircraft, fly the fastest, perform the most precise aerobatics, or achieve the greatest level of precision.
Over time, social activities such as fly-ins, specialty aircraft, and recognition events, have, to an extent, overtaken traditional model aircraft competitions, especially in the RC world. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Social events go a long way toward building camaraderie within and among the aeromodeling community. They broaden the participant base and provide an opportunity for aeromodelers to share their passions for model aviation with likeminded individuals. Throughout this time, competition has remained a driving force for new technology and advancements in building materials, propulsion systems, and microelectronics.
For the past 87 years, AMA has served as the premier national organization supporting, coordinating, and sanctioning both competitive and noncompetitive aeromodeling events in the US. AMA also serves as the conduit and national representative for international competition. On the global stage, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) serves to organize and coordinate intercontinental and world championship competitions.
Founded in 1905, the FAI is a non-governmental and nonprofit international organization with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide, ratifying world and continental records, and coordinating the organization of international competitions. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Following is an excerpt from the April 2022 CIAM Flyer, published by the FAI and edited by Emil Giezendanner, that is available on the FAI website:
"The FAI Members are represented by their ‘National Air Sport Controls’ (NACs). In the United States the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) serves as the NAC for all aerosport activities and represents the U.S. at the FAI General Conference. Moreover, AMA is delegated as the NAC for all U.S. aeromodelling activity through a Letter of Agreement (LoA) with the NAA and represents the aeromodeling community at the FAI Aeromodeling Commission, Comité International d’Aéromodelisme (CIAM).
"The FAI General Conference the supreme policy-making body, defines the aims of FAI, determines its Statutes and By-Laws, and elects the President and the Executive Board. The General Conference convenes once a year.
"The FAI Executive Board is the principal executive body of FAI, responsible for implementing the policies and decisions made by the General Conference.
"The Air Sport Commissions control the activities of the different disciplines governed by FAI: Aerobatics, Aeromodelling, Amateur-built aircraft, Astronautical Records, Ballooning, Drones, General Aviation, Gliding, Hang Gliding and Paragliding, Microlights and Paramotor, Rotorcraft and Skydiving.
"The Technical Commissions control nonsporting activities such as Aviation medicine, Education and Environmental matters.
"The FAI Secretariat is managed by the Secretary General, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the federation. In 1998, after 93 years in Paris, the FAI moved its headquarters and Secretariat to Lausanne, the Olympic Capital."
Introduction: Competitive sport needs rules
"With the exception of very traditional sporting disciplines, rules are constantly adapted to social and technical changes. Performance increases in e.g. athletics have influenced the infrastructure of sports facilities. In the interest of safety, protection of the environment and the prevention of injuries, developments in technical sports such as motor racing have also led to clear rules in the form of limitations being imposed. Establishing and updating such rules is the responsibility of national and international sports associations. The latter ensure that the same conditions apply throughout the world."
The FAI as global guardian of aviation sport
"The FAI has more than 100 national aviation sport associations as its members. The rules for the various types of air sports are gathered under the umbrella of the FAI, with its commissions being responsible for updating them for all 13 aviation sports disciplines. They oversee the organisation of large international competitions such as world and continental championships. In addition, there are various commissions dealing with issues such as environmental protection, education and health."
Aeromodelling falls under the FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM)
"The rules for the 11 classic aeromodelling disciplines and a large number of subdisciplines can be found in FAI Sporting Section 4—Aeromodeling. The Sporting Code is continuously adapted by the relevant expert commissions. Requests for new categories or rule changes can be introduced via these sub-committees or by national associations. The CIAM plenary meeting (delegates from the members countries) makes the final decision. Other working groups are responsible e.g. for the homologation of electronic devices used in the models as well as education and young people. Apart from the 11 aeromodelling sports categories, CIAM also oversees the two rather exotic disciplines of drone sports and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle UAV."
Variety and sophisticated technology
"Aeromodelling with all its disciplines and sub-disciplines can be confusing and requires huge administrative effort. The Secretariat in Lausanne provides professional organisational support to the commissions’ work, planning and organisation of conferences and large sporting events as well as media relations and the administration of membership and sports licenses."
Organization of the FAI Aeromodelling Commission CIAM
"Plenary Meeting: Yearly meeting of the CIAM Delegates (delegated from the NACs). Selecting of the Bureau Members and voting rule changes.
"CIAM Bureau: Consists of the President, 3 vice-Presidents, the Secretaries and the Treasurer. The chairmen of the subcommittees are members of the bureau, too.
"Subcommittees: Subcommittees are consulted for advice on sporting matters and education. Subcommittee members are registered by the NACs as experts."
Each summer, aeromodeling communities from across the nation come together to compete and participate in the annual National Aeromodeling Championships, commonly referred to as the Nats. Although we often think of the Nats as AMA’s focal aeromodeling event, this annual, comprehensive aeromodeling competition actually predates the AMA. The Nats was first hosted by the NAA in 1923, and this summer, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this premier event at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana.
This year’s IAC schedule is packed full of exciting aeromodeling events. The season kicks off with The AMA National Fun Fly, scheduled for June 23-25, and continues with a huge celebration of the 100th Nats, commencing on Thursday, July 6, following the July 4 holiday. The Nats continue through the end of the month and are immediately followed by the FAI F3C/N World Championships for Model Helicopters, slated for August 2-9. At the closing of the World Championships, stick around for the International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) helicopter Jamboree, running through Sunday, August 13.
Registration is open now. Make 2023 the year you visit the IAC in Muncie. See you there!
Keep ’em safe, keep ’em flying, and continue to enjoy this great hobby!