NATS Information - From Bob Kane, Nats Event Director (updated August 6, 2025)

 

We are trying something new for the Advanced class at the NATS. There is a clause in the competition regulations (14.2) that use to apply to Masters only, but now can be used in any class with 15 or more pilots. So this year, Advanced will fly a preliminary/finals format with 6 pilots advancing (pun) to the finals on Friday. The pilots will be be announced at the Thursday evening meeting where the FAI and Masters finalists are announced.

 

I have just learned all NATS pilots must register their aircraft with the FAA and take the TRUST test for recreational flyers. The TRUST test can be found here:

 

https://trust.pilotinstitute.com

 

You will need to create an account (it's free) and take the test.

To register your aircraft, you will need to create an account here:

 

https://faadronezone-operator.faa.gov/#/rec-flyer

 

It cost $5. Once you have an account, you register your airplane(s).  Here are examples of my own aircraft registration. Note, serial number is no longer required. Remote ID is not required at the AMA flying site:

 

FAA Model registration

 

FYI, the deadline for passing the judging certification for the NATS is Monday, August 18th. If you are not certified, you have almost two weeks to complete the certification. But please don't wait until the last minute. 

 

NATS Protest procedure:

This policy mentions the  Nats Manager- JC Zankl and the Nats Administration Director - Yolanda Jones. 

PROTESTS

Regardless of Protest Procedures listed in the AMA Competition Regulations, the following procedures will be adhered to at the Nats. In the event that a competitor feels that they have been improperly judged, timed, or had some other grievance, their only course of action is to file a protest.

A protest is not to be considered a negative reflection on those officiating the event. It is just a step to decide what is fair and correct. The AMA Competition Regulations cover protest procedures, however at the Nats, because of the size, the number of people involved, and somewhat large geographical area the meet uses, an alternate procedure has been established.

PROTEST PROCEDURE

The protest procedure is as follows: The Event Contest Director is the initial contact with the competitor. They should simply accept the written protest along with the $75 protest fee. The Event Contest Director will then turn it into the Nats Manager immediately after receiving completed paperwork. If the Nats Manager is not available, then go directly to the Nats Administration Director.

The competitor should present a written explanation of the protest. The information on the written protest is what the protest is about and shall include the applicable rule. Even if the protest is incomplete, it should be accepted as is. It is the competitor’s responsibility to present their case.

The Nats Manager will then assemble a jury. The Nats Jury will be composed of the Nats Manager and two suitably qualified people of their choosing with knowledge of the event. The CD of the event in question may not serve on this jury. The ruling will be issued in writing. The decision of the jury is final and cannot be appealed any further. The goal will be to complete this process within 1 hour of the filed protest or within reason.

If the protest is upheld, the $75 protest fee will be returned to the competitor filing the protest. If the protest is denied the $75 protest fee will be retained by the AMA.

The final authority is the Nats Jury.

TIME FRAMES ALLOWED

Nats management and competitors must realize that a protest requires prompt action to ensure the competitor does not receive an additional penalty by losing valuable time on the day the event is being flown. To that end, the following procedure must be used, within reason:

•              Protests must be lodged within one hour of the alleged infraction. Protests not lodged within that time frame will not be considered.

•              The Nats Jury will rule on the protest typically within one hour of receipt of the appeal. The final verdict is to be delivered to the Event Contest Director and the pilot that filed the protest.

•              Should an infraction occur at the end of a day of flying, the competitor wishing to lodge the protest must immediately notify the Event Contest Director that a protest is forthcoming within the hour. The Event Contest Director  the Nats Manager or Nats Administration Director. The Nats Manager or Nats Administration Director will ensure that two other qualified people are on-site to serve on a jury. All above mentioned parties are to remain on site until the protest is resolved.

 

Just so everyone is aware, Many pilots will be judging at least twice during the NATS, not including the Finals.  The days of having to judge only once went the way of 72MHtz transmitters.  The flying and judging schedules are being finalized this week and will be available online.

 

The only way to avoid judging more than once is to recruit more NATS pilots. Work on your buddies for 2026.  It is a team trial year, lets shoot for 100 pilots.

 

Judge Certification Requirements (Same as 2024)

Please note that the US Nationals judging assignments are largely staffed by competitors, and that (on average) each entrant is required to judge at least (1) round of the competition.  Failure to do so will result in that competitor to forfeit their highest score in the preliminaries (for Master and F3A), and their highest score of the 8 flown in Sportsman, Intermediate, and Advanced.  As we are flying new sequences in all classes (other than Sportsman), every judge (competitor) is required to take, and pass, the Judge Certification Test.  Failure to pass the test by Midnight (12:00 AM EDT), Tuesday, July 30th, will result in the competitor not being allowed to fly their Round 1 & 2 flights that day.  Failure to pass the test by Midnight (12:00 AM EDT), Wednesday, July 31st, will result in the competitor not being allowed to fly their Round 3 & 4 flights that day (and so on).  If this sounds harsh, please keep in mind that we are depending on competitors to be trained and available to fulfill their judging assignments.  If they are not, we have to locate acceptable replacement judges on very short notice.  Please help avoid this unpleasant situation by completing the Judge Certification requirement as early as possible.  Also note that NSRCA members can take the test for free as part of their membership.  If one is not an NSRCA member, there is a $5 fee to take the exam.

 

Pilot schedules will be uploaded next week.

Note: The schedule has been modified to balance the judging load.  Advanced and Masters will fly in the Morning, FAI and Intermediate/Sportsman will fly in the afternoon. I will update the full schedule shortly.

 

A reminder you must take the judge certification test if you are not currently certified.   You can review the material and take the test here:  Judge Certification Test. You must create an account on the NSRCA.US site and pay a $5 fee if you are not an NSRCA member.

 

All forms of registration are now closed. We have 63 registered pilots:

4 Sportsman

4 Intermediate

17 Advanced

18 Masters

20 FAI

 

 

Aircraft size, weight, and voltage limits:

 

Sportsman: Any AMA legal airplane

Intermediate: No weight limit, 2000mm+ 1% (20mm) = 2020mm length and span, 51 volts + 1% = 51.51 volts

Advanced: (5500 + 1% per FAI rules) + 2% AMA rules for a total of 5666g, 2000mm+ 1% (20mm) = 2020mm length and span, 51 volts + 1% = 51.51 volts

Masters: 5500g + 1% (55g) 5555g, 2000mm+ 1% (20mm) = 2020mm length and span, 51 volts + 1% = 51.51 volts

FAI: 5500g + 1% (55g) 5555g, 2000mm+ 1% (20mm) = 2020mm length and span, 42.56 volts + 1% = 42.9856 volts

 

We will not be measuring voltage at model processing due to the various connectors and safety of the staff.  We will count cells.

 

July 17, 2025: Due to the large number of entries in Advanced (403), 2 flight lines will be used.  This is necessary to fit all the flights into the allotted time.  Also, Advanced has been moved to the afternoon so they will be available to judge Masters (404)

 

 

You must take the judge certification test if you are not currently certified.   You can review the material and take the test here:  Judge Certification Test. You must create an account on the NSRCA.US site and pay a $5 fee if you are not an NSRCA member.

 

You can use a Flight Coach type of GPS recorder in your aircraft during the NATS.  But is is for personal analysis only.  You may not use the data to protest a score or otherwise slander the judging panel.

 

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED   You can register by phone but there is a late fee. Your name will not be listed on the T-Shirt.

 

How to navigate the AMA NATS Registration process

 

Dates

August 18 - August 22, 2025

AMA International Aeromodeling Center

5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302

 

Please register early, it helps with plannning !!!!!!

 

NATS Personnel 2025

Site Directors

Site 1: Joe Winterrowd

Site 3: Al Glenn

Site 4: Larry Diamond

 

Scoring

 

Scott Smith

Peter Van Heusden

 

Judging Staff

 

Jon Carter

Don Ramsey

Mark Hunt

 

Special Events

Jessy Symmes

Event Director

Bob Kane

AMA 

Yolanda Jones

JC Zankl

NSRCA

Monroe Michaelis

 

 

 

 

 

Event Schedule

RC Aerobatics - Sites 1, 3 & 4

Monday August 18

Event Registration and Model Processing

   - Support Staff, 8 AM - 9 AM, McCullough Center

   - All Competitors, 9 AM - 3 PM, McCullough Center

Pilots Meeting, 6 PM, McCullough Center

Tuesday, August 19

8 AM - 12 PM, Site 1 & Site 3, Masters (404), Preliminary Rounds 1 & 2

8 AM - 12 PM, Site 4, Site 4, Site 4, Advanced (403), Rounds 1 & 2.  Two lines will be used.

1 PM - 5 PM, Site 1 & Site 3, FAI (406), Preliminary Rounds 1 & 2

1 PM - 3 PM, Site 4, Site 4, Sportsman (401) and Intermediate (402) Rounds 7 & 8, Rounds 1 & 2

Wednesday, August 20

8 AM - 12 PM, Site 1 & Site 3, Masters (404), Preliminary Rounds 3 & 4

8 AM - 12 PM, Site 4, Advanced (403), Rounds 3 & 4  Two lines will be used.

1 PM - 5 PM, Site 1 & Site 3, FAI (406), Preliminary Rounds 3 & 4

1 PM - 3 PM, Site 4, Site 4, Sportsman (401) and Intermediate (402), Rounds 3 & 4

Thursday, August 21

8 AM - 12 PM, Site 1 & Site 3, Masters (404), Preliminary Rounds 5 & 6

8 AM - 12 PM, Site 4, Advanced (403), Rounds 5 & 6  Two lines will be used.

1 PM - 5 PM, Site 1 & Site 3, FAI (406), Semifinal Rounds 1 & 2

1 PM - 3 PM, Site 4, Sportsman (401) and Intermediate (402) Rounds Rounds 5 & 6

7 PM - Finals Announcement, McCullough Center

Immediately after the Finals Announcement Meeting Ends - FAI Finalists Equipment Impound (registered fuselages), McCullough Center

Friday, August 22

7:30AM - 8:30 AM FAI Finalists Equipment Impound Release, McCullough Center

8:30 AM - 3 PM, Site 1, FAI (406) Finals Rounds 1, 2, & 3

8:30 AM - 3 PM, Site 3, Masters (404) Finals Rounds 1, 2, & 3

8:30 AM - 12 PM, Site 4, Advanced (403), Finals Rounds 1, 2, and 3

12 PM – 3 PM, Site 4, Sportsman (401) and Intermediate (402) Rounds 7 & 8

Awards Banquet, Location Vera Mae's Bistro 

Suggested attire:  Business Casual (shirt with collar, pants, closed toe shoes.  e.g., no T-shirts, shorts, or flip-flops).

6 PM Doors & Bar Open

8 PM Dinner Served (Desert Served After Meal)

8:30 PM Program Begins

10:00 Bar Closes

10:30 PM Event Ends

 

The following information is for the 2025 AMA Precision Aerobatics Nationals.  Please click on the document to display the information.  If you click the NATS News logo above you'll be taken to the AMA NATS News page.  NOTE - The following links are for information that we hope to provide as it becomes available.  If you click a link and get an Error page, it simply means the information is not yet available.

Judging Assignments

 Flight Orders

 Semi-Finals and Finals Flight Orders

 F3A Unknowns

 Results will be posted after the day's flights have been completed.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Results (all classess) Results (all classes) Results (all classes) Results (all classes)