2016 Hanson Election Email
Richard Hanson Model Aviation Hall of Fame AMA Fellow #69547 Scottsdale, AZ and Fishers, IN | |
The 2016 AMA presidential election may well be the most pivotal election in AMA’s 80-year history, or certainly in my lifetime. I’ve been an AMA member for nearly fifty years and a life-long modeler having started flying control line models at age six, and I can’t remember a time in which there’s been such a rapid change in model aviation. The advent of civil unmanned aircraft and the emergence of new technologies have truly changed the landscape and the environment in which we live and fly. There’s never been a more critical time for the Academy to take a leadership role in the development of policies, regulation and legislation that dramatically affecting our hobby. In this regard I’m proud to have lead AMA’s advocacy efforts over the past eight years, and I believe my experience in managing AMA’s regulatory affairs uniquely qualifies me to lead the Academy in meeting the challenges ahead.
I’ve learned firsthand the important role the AMA plays in advocating for and protecting the aeromodeling community. For nearly 25 years as an AMA District Vice President and more recently as AMA’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Representative, I’ve served to support and defend the interests of the model aircraft enthusiast and to ensure the viability of model aviation for future generations. As AMA’s president I pledge to continue fighting to protect the core principles of model aviation as well as the rights and privileges of all modeler aircraft enthusiasts and aeromodeling disciplines.
The complexity and diversity of the hobby has changed significantly and the AMA has come a long way in serving as the national body for model aviation. In 2012, as a result of AMA’s decades-long achievements in overseeing the model aircraft activity, and as a result of our efforts in advocating for the hobby, Congress recognized AMA as a nationwide community-based organization (CBO) and entrusted the continued safe operation of model aircraft to the Academy in the passage of the first ever “Special Rule for Model Aircraft.”
In recent years AMA has worked to shore up and protect this landmark legislation and has successfully deterred changes that might otherwise diminish its purpose in protecting the modeling community from unwarranted and burdensome regulation. Most recently Congress passed an extension of the 2012 FAA reauthorization bill leaving the Special Rule for Model Aircraft intact. And, in the promulgation of FAA’s final small unmanned aircraft rule the agency affirmed the provisions of the Special Rule and AMA’s role in managing and maintaining the safe operations of model aircraft in the United States.
In its role as the CBO for model aviation the Academy must have effective leadership and an innate vision for the future. The Executive Council must work in concert towards a clearly defined set of goals and objects that focus our efforts toward achieving our primary responsibility of serving the membership and promoting model aviation as a viable and acclaimed recreational activity for adults, families and our youth.
I am honored to be a member of the Model Aviation Hall of Fame. My modeling experience led me to a life-long career in full-scale aviation as a licensed commercial pilot with over 7,000 hours in helicopters and airplanes. I am an accomplished public administrator, serving in leadership roles for over 26 years in public service, and I am a decorated Vietnam helicopter pilot. It was my great honor to fight for this country and to serve 27 years in active duty and reserve component military service.
As president I will work to enhance AMA’s outreach to its members, clubs and special interest groups. I will leverage technologies and social media to improve communications and will support and defend all aspects of the hobby.
I would like to thank the AMA Nominations Committee for their vote of confidence in placing me on the election Ballot, and I am asking for your vote to serve as your AMA President. Please join with me and the AMA Executive Council in helping to move this great organization forward.
I invite you to follow the campaign and learn more about AMA’s advocacy program and the current regulatory and legislative environment by following me on Twitter AMAPrez1, and on Facebook at facebook.com/AMAprez. I also invite you to follow the campaign trail by subscribing to the AMAPrez e-newsletter by clicking here, or by clicking the icon in the banner above.
(Click here to read my published campaign statement)