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The Academy of Model Aeronautics, based in Muncie, Indiana, USA, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of model aviation as a recognized sport as well as a recreational activity. It is the largest organization of its kind with a current membership of more than 170,000 members. Founded in 1936, the AMA is the official national body for model aviation in the United States. They sanction more than one thousand model competitions throughout the country each year, charter more than 2500 model airplane clubs and offer contest sanctioning, liability insurance and the procurement of flying sites. In addition, they also certify official model flying records. All AMA-chartered clubs require their flying members to purchase AMA memberships for said liability insurance. In order to be covered by their insurance, an AMA member does not need to fly at a chartered club's flying site, but members have to follow their guidelines. AMA's insurance coverage is in excess of one's homeowner's or other insurance. With the burgeoning interest in small park flyer aircraft which are often flown outside of sanctioned fields, the AMA now provides low-cost membership and coverage for park flyer enthusiasts. AMA organizes the annual National Aeromodeling Championships, the world's largest model airplane competition as well as providing press coverage of major meets across the country via their monthly publication, Model Aviation. Other publications include Park Pilot for those interested in park flyers or who are enrolled in the Academy's park pilot program; AMA Insider, an online newsletter; Sport Aviator, a no-cost e-zine for new model aviation enthusiasts regardless of membership and as of March 2010, AMA Today, a monthly e-newsletter sent via e-mail to members. Given the unique nature of model aviation insofar as it requires both airspace as well as frequency allocation for radio control, the AMA serves as a liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration concerning aeromodeling safety and operation of model aircraft as it relates to full-scale aviation, most recently with the upcoming likelihood of the start of non-military, commercial and public-use UAV deployment in the National Airspace System over the United States, and how the FAA will regulate such commercial and public use of UAVs, simultaneous with accommodating the needs of recreational and sport flying of radio control model aircraft, with the AMA as an advocate for the aeromodeler. The AMA also works with both the Federal Communications Commission and the American Radio Relay League concerning available radio bandwidth for radio-controlled aeromodelling activities, with the ARRL primarily functioning as a partner for the purpose of the use of selected amateur radio frequencies for aeromodeling. As an associate member of the National Aeronautic Association, the AMA is recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world governing body of all aviation activi ... (expand) (contract)