RCHA Membership Declined :-(

[pchristy]

The very fact that the RCHA set up a separate insurance scheme - however short-lived - is clear proof that the BMFA do NOT have a monopoly. There is nothing to stop anyone organising their own personal insurance, or even group insurance.

Making it economically viable is a different matter, as Stuart has discovered.

The fact that not even 500 people were prepared to support the scheme speaks for itself!

All the BMFA is saying is that it insists on BMFA insurance for BMFA sanctioned events. It is not unreasonable for an organisation to wish to maintain some kind of control over events that it is organising.

I really don't understand the accusation of "monopoly" - there quite clearly isn't one!

And frankly, if as much effort was put into changing the BMFA from within - not impossible, as I've proved more than once - as was expended by armchair critics, then we would all be a lot better off!

[waveydavey]

I'm sorry to hear this Stuart, as you know RCHA insurance was welcome at our flyins and we applauded your efforts in providing an alternative.

I think it's a shame that the BMFA has deemed to close shop and failed to see that they would have benefited from the advancement of the hobby that the RCHA will provide.

I will also join with standard membership.

[mattydred]

well i still going to fly and the bmfa can stick their membership/insurance up their ass.

[DarkTherapy]

If your in a club that supports Heli's and planks then why would you want 2 sets of insurance?? RCHA only covers heli's whereas BMFA covers all.

[mattydred]

If your in a club that supports Heli's and planks then why would you want 2 sets of insurance?? RCHA only covers heli's whereas BMFA covers all.

rcha insurance covers you to fly planes and helis

[DarkTherapy]

rcha insurance covers you to fly planes and helis

lol, not at the moment it doesnt

[waveydavey]

The very fact that the RCHA set up a separate insurance scheme - however short-lived - is clear proof that the BMFA do NOT have a monopoly. There is nothing to stop anyone organising their own personal insurance, or even group insurance.

Making it economically viable is a different matter, as Stuart has discovered.

The fact that not even 500 people were prepared to support the scheme speaks for itself!

All the BMFA is saying is that it insists on BMFA insurance for BMFA sanctioned events. It is not unreasonable for an organisation to wish to maintain some kind of control over events that it is organising.

I really don't understand the accusation of "monopoly" - there quite clearly isn't one!

And frankly, if as much effort was put into changing the BMFA from within - not impossible, as I've proved more than once - as was expended by armchair critics, then we would all be a lot better off!

I think people use monopoly in the wrong context Pete. What most are saying, me included is that affiliated clubs feel as if they have no alternative than to tow the BMFA line. I think this is unfair, where most events such as flyins, Charmouth excluded, are club ran. It makes no difference to the BMFA as an affiliated club whether the club allows the use of RCHA insurance at said events. As long as the club have agreed that the insurance supplied by the RCHA or other body/organisation is suitable for the purpose of a flyin etc. I went through this with Manny Williamson earlier this year when we took the decision to allow pilots with RCHA insurance to fly at our events.

For BMFA arranged events then that is different.

As for flying without insurance, which is your prerogative, you must be mental.

[Paulice]

Well I'm all for the RCHA,
Yes i'll get bmfa for when i'm in the UK, but i've joined RCHA as i believe it will bring great things to the model heli world.
I feel it's a shame we could not manage to get 500, it's not a lot really.

[mattydred]

As for flying without insurance, which is your prerogative, you must be mental.

i will have insurance

£5 million public liability insurance cover for all of your flying or otherwise, at home or in Europe.
£15.50
Full 12 month membership with insurance cover
1st August 2010 to
31st July 2011

[pchristy]

It makes no difference to the BMFA as an affiliated club whether the club allows the use of RCHA insurance at said events.

Actually, that's not quite right. As an affiliated club, the CLUB (and perhaps more importantly, its officers) is also protected by BMFA insurance. In the event of the CLUB being held liable for an incident, the club would only be protected if all the participants were also covered by BMFA insurance.

At least, that's my understanding of the situation.

But no-one insists that a club has to be affiliated.

Most people on here are probably too young to remember the "Roy Nudds" affair at the BMFA many years ago, but it split the BMFA down the middle. Half my club left, vowing never to have anything to do with the BMFA ever again. They joined another nearby non-affiliated club, sorted out their own insurance, and carried on flying quite happily.

There is nothing to stop anyone doing this!

BUT (and its a big but!), if you do that, you can't call the BMFA up if you have flying site issues (for example), you won't be able to enter BMFA events, and perhaps most importantly, you won't have the clout of over 30,000 members behind you when it comes time to negotiate the insurance terms.

As someone once said, if you owe the bank £100, that's YOUR problem. If you owe them £1million, its THEIR problem!

30,000+ members carries a lot more clout than 500, when negotiating with the "powers that be"!

[mattydred]

bmfa sucks

[Johnda]

I don’t know if the BMFA shuts over the festive period, however if it does those that intended to purchase insurance from RCHA remember to get your BMFA insurance before they shut otherwise if you intend on flying after the 31st you won’t be covered.

[Gaza07]

Dont the BMFA and LMA fly at each others events with no problems ?

[ChrisB]

I am surprised rcha could not manage 500 members from it's own forum

The trouble is the vast majority of fliers I know either don't use the forum or have never heard of it in the first place.

[LipolyGone]

I am surprised rcha could not manage 500 members from it's own forum

The trouble is the vast majority of fliers I know either don't use the forum or have never heard of it in the first place.

Says the man with www.bmfa.org.uk in his sig