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“Bringing Hope to the Hobby”

FTCA Director

FTCA Director

Lee Kachner
Admin
You would think that the guy coordinating the FTCA effort would be more in tune with the forum community in order to connect with those of you that truly made FT what it is today. Well, here I am…finally. (I’ll admit that this medium is not my preferred choice, but I’m willing to extend beyond my normal means.)

My hope is to connect with more of you here, and see what’s happening outside of my normal surroundings. I don’t have all the answers to everyone’s questions about the future happenings of the hobby, but I am willing to find answers and lead the charge in “bringing hope to the hobby.” (I want to see my grandkids one day enjoy this space that has been experienced by you all.)

If you have any questions, and you're not just looking to be ugly, reach out to me. I can be reached most effectively through email (ftca.flitetest.com/contact), but I am also going to give this forum format a concerted effort. Thanks for all your help and support thus far.

-Lee
 
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Hai-Lee

Hai-Lee

Old and Bold RC PILOT
It is good to actually find out that an important position holder actually exists.
You may find that the biggest thing that relegates users such as I and most other forum users to the outer limits of the legislative considerations, is the well founded idea that the RC fraternity, (in the vast majority), are effectively a bunch of ignorant and dangerous cowboys who do not even deserve to be considered seriously.

Locally I have tried to actually educate and inform such persons who will listen into such things as how the digital radios actually work, their shortcomings, safety, (I mean actual and demonstrable safety), proper antenna setup, the installation and use of flight controllers and stabilisers as well as being a flight instructor including strange topics such as even model repair techniques.
The result of my efforts are that I have a few very aware students but no where to fly and in inability to get insurance through the so called national associations simply because they do not understand any of the information I have presented to them and they are too self absorbed to do any research for themselves.

Their positions of power are more important to them than the safety of the membership, the insurance risks, the federal regulations and recently even disabled service veterans. Recreational users actually need to smarten up their act, as collectively we are at the fringe of a new industry with autonomous flying vehicles or drones being on the horizon. What space will remain for those who refuse to learn and act responsibly, (to be able to maintain and enjoy the recreational pastime), appears to be effectively zero unless actual and serious education of the sector is commenced soon.

A collection of confused and garbled voices from a number of self interested persons who have little actual knowledge and therefore cannot offer anything to the discussion apart from what appears to be their complaining about their individual self interests is always going to be an easy to dismiss and even greatly annoying entity. Collective and knowledgeable voices actually impress regulators and law makers.

If the collective of users cannot learn, then the sector is doomed to extinction. Heck even the AMA has a lack of knowledge of the current technology and refers its members back to the Chinese manufacturers, (with the Chinese having concerns about intellectual property, copyright and of course their national interest concerns in relation to giving a person from a hostile country sensitive information).

If nothing changes in the hobby sector I am afraid it is soon to cease to exist or remain recognisable.

Sorry for the rant but after almost 5 years of effort in just getting proper safety understood I am disgusted at the determined ignorance and unwillingness to learn anything shown by the vast majority.

Good luck with your efforts.

Have fun!
 
A

alan0043

Well-known member
Hi Lee,

It's nice to see that the director of FTCA is here communicating inside the forum. I have found that the FT forum has been a big help to me. I feel others would say the same thing about being a helpful forum. I believe you will get comments here that you might not get any where else. If the hobby wants to grow we need to stay informed. There is to much dis-information or wrong information out there about the hobby. I believe you can help us out with what is really going on inside the hobby. Please keep us up to date on what is going on in the hobby especially with the FAA.

Please keep the info coming,
Al
 
Mid7night

Mid7night

Jetman
Mentor
Thank you, Lee, for making the effort to connect with people here on the forum. I admit that even I haven't been frequenting here as much as I used to, but it definitely is a better place to talk to people, many of whom you won't find elsewhere. The FB platform certainly makes it easier to "see" to a greater number of fans. The forums, if you use them intentionally, will afford more meaningful and deeper connections. While FB/IG may show snapshots of "what" is going on out there, the forums are where you can answer the "who" and "why" better.
 
Flite Risk

Flite Risk

Well-known member
Hello Lee. Welcome to the forums.

I fly with a bunch of guys we all follow F T avidly. Within the group it was said, sort of in jest that we should organize as the Delaware contingent of the FTCA.
My immediate reply was can we identify as an autonomous membership group? Just because I don't like joining things unless it is to volunteer at Flite Fest.

We all fly at a school in the middle of nowhere, not at a club and it's nice, we are all responsible and don't need an AMA club to be told what the right thing to do is, or dues or fees.

Personally I like flying with other people, we have a group WhatsApp chat together and the camaraderie is really nice. We have even done a build night at a hall we borrowed. (Socially distanced of course)

All that said and sort of contrary to that, I wouldn't mind helping with a build night at a library or Community Center I'm sure one or two of the other guys I fly with would love to help as well.

Either way, it's nice to have some official FT representation on the forums, thank you for taking the time to be a presence here.
-Flite Risk

may it only rain when your batteries are charging.
 
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earthsciteach

earthsciteach

Moderator
Moderator
Hey, Lee! Good to see you on the forums. I've made a concerted effort to be more involved with the forums since Flite Fest. Not really sure why I migrated away for a while. Lots of good stuff going on here. This is a great place to find community based builds and challenges that can be incorporated into Flite Fest. We didn't have any of those this year (I blame the wooziness from Covid and no one really knowing what to expect), but we have in the past. These are some things I'm planning on pitching to you for next and future years.
Keep your A&D Ointment handy! :LOL:
Patrick Murphy
 
SP0NZ

SP0NZ

FT CAD Gremlin
Staff member
Admin
Moderator
Mentor
Hello Lee.

It was good to meet you in person at Flite Fest this year. Very glad to see you reaching out to the FT forum community as well. There are quite a few folks in here who avoid all the other social media platforms who have voices that should also be heard.

My local flying field is a non AMA park flyer only (smaller electric planes) field maintained by a few of the guys that fly there. The field is on property that is owned by the county and we recently signed a contract to be able to fly there for the next 5 years. There are no memberships required, no dues, and no meetings. Anyone is free to show up and fly there whenever they want to. With the upcoming changes coming from the FAA requiring remote ID except at a FRIA's, I would be very interested in getting our field recognized as an FTCA FRIA. I realize that might be months or years out yet, but I would love to know what the requirements will be as soon as possible to start that process.

I've also had several conversations with the owner of the nearest Hobby Town about the possibility of hosting and running some build nights. I'd be interested in knowing if Flite Test or the FTCA might be able to help facilitate or support that.
 
Bricks

Bricks

Master member
For our club I had to dig into the FRIA`s the biggest part is you have to prove you are a community based organization, in other words some type of structured group. Once that is done they require where you do your flying by GPS coordinates, by my understanding was all four corners of the airfield where you fly at. Now all this may change as the final rules at that time were not all up and at that time they would not be out until Nov of 2022. Once you have your FRIA`s status it had to be renewed every four years and you have a window of 90 days to renew.
 
kilroy07

kilroy07

Legendary member
Hey Lee! Bout-time you showed up!... :ROFLMAO:
(Just remember, there ARE quite a few of us here that don't do FB or other social media, so you are more than welcome!)

I'm sure you'll find a great community here in the same FT tradition as those of us you met at Flite Fest this year.

And oh, yea, if no one has warned you about @PsyBorg let me be the first! ;)
 
Flite Risk

Flite Risk

Well-known member
SP0NZ said:
Hello Lee.

It was good to meet you in person at Flite Fest this year. Very glad to see you reaching out to the FT forum community as well. There are quite a few folks in here who avoid all the other social media platforms who have voices that should also be heard.

My local flying field is a non AMA park flyer only (smaller electric planes) field maintained by a few of the guys that fly there. The field is on property that is owned by the county and we recently signed a contract to be able to fly there for the next 5 years. There are no memberships required, no dues, and no meetings. Anyone is free to show up and fly there whenever they want to. With the upcoming changes coming from the FAA requiring remote ID except at a FRIA's, I would be very interested in getting our field recognized as an FTCA FRIA. I realize that might be months or years out yet, but I would love to know what the requirements will be as soon as possible to start that process.

I've also had several conversations with the owner of the nearest Hobby Town about the possibility of hosting and running some build nights. I'd be interested in knowing if Flite Test or the FTCA might be able to help facilitate or support that.
Click to expand...
That sounds like my kind of feild Dan.
 
FTCA Director

FTCA Director

Lee Kachner
Admin
Alright y'all, I'm going to try to comment on each of you as I can. So if I don't get to you right away, simmer down! I'm coming...
I hope to get to know you guys and gals a lot better. We have a great community, and I want to help foster the growth of its future!
There are some things stirring behind the scenes at FT, and I assure you that I will communicate everything I can when I can. As for what is going on at the FAA, I will do me very best to keep y'all posted with any special knowledge I may attain.
Looking forward to the journey!
 
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