Aloha,
I recently received the following e-mail from Mr. Harrington. I don't know if the complaint to the AMA was about our club or our soaring sites. I suspect that this is a fairly common occurence at all the clubs and all their flying sites.
There is nothing in the AMA rules that specifically prohibits consumption of alcoholic beverages at a flying site but there is an alcohol prohibition in the AMA Safety Code as Mr. Harrington points out. The mention of alcohol consumption in the AMA rules is the prohibition from flying in a contest while intoxicated.
However, a violation of the Safety Code does invalidate the AMA liability insurance. The insurance was a primary reason for many of us joining the AMA in the first place. I, personally, have no problem with alcohol at the flying sites, since I have yet to see anyone get out of hand or get intoxicated so I make no judgement here. Still, I was asked to post this letter to our club news-letter and since we don't have one, I posted it to our website. I know you will all read it and make your own decisions.
Duane Asami
SoarMaui R/C
- - - - - - - (Letter Follows) - - - - - - -
From: "H. Michael Harrington"
To: Hawaii County RC Club, Maui RC Modelers, Maui Island Soaring Operation, Leeward Aeromodelers, Kona RC Flyers
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 08:12:25 -1000
To all: The attached letter is reproduced below. I would appreciate your adding this letter to your club's newsletter.
Mike
January 9, 2001
Dear Club Officer:
Aloha and Hauoli Makahiki Hou.
At the turn of the New Year I thought I should write to each of the clubs
within the area for which I am responsible. I want to wish each of you a very meaningful 2001 and hope that all of your endeavors are successful.
The main purpose of this communication is in regard to a recent
communication from AMA HQ regarding an anonymous complaint about drinking at Hawaii flying sites during flying activities. I am not going to pass judgment on anyone here; however, I do wish to point out that the AMA Safety Code specifically prohibits the consumption of alcohol prior to and during flight operations (2001 Safety Code, General Guidelines #11). The term "flight operations" includes acting as a mechanic for oneself or another modeler and acting as a spotter/helper for another pilot.
I recognize that there are those who do consume a beer or two, but I urge you to be responsible during flying activities. This may well extend to the post-flying session drive home. No one wants to see our friends or innocent people get hurt. Moreover, we do have a responsibility to each other, our clubs, the AMA, and to the landowners to assure that we are in control of our models at all times. If someone were to have an accident while under the influence, my guess is that our AMA insurance might not be valid due to safety code violations.
I hope that each of clubs will use care to assure that members and guests behave in a responsible manner in the future.
As always, please feel free to contact me if I can be of service.
Mahalo,
H. Michael Harrington
AVP District X Hawaii-Guam
Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences and
Biosystems Engineering
