Your Additional Support is Needed!

     The Military Toy Replica Act bill—which forbids defense contractors from requiring licenses or fees to be paid for the use of military likenesses and designations—passed the House of Representatives in May, but now it needs to be included in the Senate version of the Defense Bill.

     The vote will take place later this summer or in the early fall. Then both bills go to Conference, where the final bill is hashed out.

     Please contact your senator to support the bill so that there is as much visibility on the Senate side as there was in the House. The House received an enormous number of calls and letters, which aided in the bill's passage.

     You can find your senator's contact information at www.senate.gov. You can find additional background information on this campaign at www.modelaircraft.org/supportletter.asp.  MA

—AMA Headquarters

AMA Revises Its Introductory Pilot Program

     In ongoing efforts to better serve its members, AMA has made significant modifications to its long-standing Introductory Pilot Program (Intro Pilot Program).

     The Intro Pilot Program has been available to clubs for many years. It has generated much interest and many new members, but it has never fully matured into anything more than just another program. Many factors have contributed to this lack of interest. However, some significant modifications have been initiated in an effort to revitalize the program.

     These changes include less labor-intensive record-keeping; online access to registration and reporting; lengthened introductory period (from 30 to 60 days); more recognition and rewards for the instructors, clubs, and students; and the potential for more worthwhile benefits to the clubs in the near future.

     With these modifications in place, the Academy invites all current chartered clubs to revisit the program and seriously consider getting involved as a means of improving community relations, attracting new members, and establishing new neighbor-friendly flying sites, just to name a few potential benefits.

     Please keep close to the AMA Web site for more details and guidelines. MA

—Jay Mealy
Programs Director

Welcome, AMA Life Members!

    The Academy recently welcomed new Life Members Ronald D. Dale II (Wabash IN) and Jay Mealy (Muncie IN).

    For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262.  MA

—Membership Department

Also in this month's In the Air section in Model Aviation:

• Up to Day 10 of Nats 2006

• AMA Member Sets Electric Helicopter World Record

• Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA: September 1981

• A New Pilot Takes Off

• AMA Members: Don't Do Dumb Stuff!

• Frequently Asked Questions about the Administration/Operations Department