Our Story
For well over forty years, Siskiyou County R/C'ers has provided a safe and beneficial environment in which members of the community can enjoy radio-controlled model aircraft activities. Our club began flying radio-controlled model aircraft from a taxiway at the Siskiyou County Airport (KSIY) around 1972. On September 27th, 1996, and through the efforts of club member Garry Korpi, a License Agreement was entered into with the County of Siskiyou in California and the name Siskiyou County R/C’ers was adopted. The "R/C’ers" continued to operate under the programming of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA chartered club #3744). This nationwide community-based organization promotes safe and responsible flying practices, provides R/C clubs and its members with personal injury and liability insurance, and works with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help develop reasonable governmental rules and regulations that allow the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Additionally, through its website, the AMA provides an exhaustive body of radio-controlled model aircraft safety information.
At the beginning of 2013, due to a misinterpretation of certain FAA rules, Siskiyou County R/C’ers was asked to cease flying operations at the Siskiyou County Airport. For roughly two years the “R/C’ers” searched for a flying site. Finally, through the efforts of club member Brent Cowley, a flying site was identified and our club was given permission to fly from a dead-end street on the west side of the city of Montague, California.
Early in 2018 Nina Whitehurst, a hangar owner at KSIY, contacted club member Marl Bell regarding the “RC’ers” ouster from KSIY. She suggested a path by which the club might be reinstated. Nina also sought the help of County Supervisor, Lisa Nixon. Through the efforts of Nina Whitehurst, Lisa Nixon and Marl Bell, pertinent rules were reinterpreted by FAA administrators. AMA’s Public Relations and Government Affairs Team and the AMA’s Flying Site Assistance Coordinator played a crucial role in this favorable FAA reinterpretation. This provided a possible path for our club to resume model flight operations at the Siskiyou County Airport. Subsequently, the County Transportation Manager, Melissa Cummins and her staff worked with Marl Bell to develop a new Agreement between the Siskiyou County R/C’ers and the County of Siskiyou. Ultimately, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for our club to resume flight operations at the Siskiyou County Airport! The new Agreement was signed on October 30th, 2018. All members of Siskiyou County R/C’ers would like to sincerely thank Nina Whitehurst, Lisa Nixon, Melissa Cummins, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors and the following members of the AMA for their help: Tony Stillman, Tyler Dobbs, Angie Martin and Chad Budreau!
Siskiyou County R/C’ers continues to operate within the programming of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (chartered club #3744). We are so very grateful that members can now choose to fly at either location: The Siskiyou County Airport or the street in the City of Montague.
At the beginning of 2013, due to a misinterpretation of certain FAA rules, Siskiyou County R/C’ers was asked to cease flying operations at the Siskiyou County Airport. For roughly two years the “R/C’ers” searched for a flying site. Finally, through the efforts of club member Brent Cowley, a flying site was identified and our club was given permission to fly from a dead-end street on the west side of the city of Montague, California.
Early in 2018 Nina Whitehurst, a hangar owner at KSIY, contacted club member Marl Bell regarding the “RC’ers” ouster from KSIY. She suggested a path by which the club might be reinstated. Nina also sought the help of County Supervisor, Lisa Nixon. Through the efforts of Nina Whitehurst, Lisa Nixon and Marl Bell, pertinent rules were reinterpreted by FAA administrators. AMA’s Public Relations and Government Affairs Team and the AMA’s Flying Site Assistance Coordinator played a crucial role in this favorable FAA reinterpretation. This provided a possible path for our club to resume model flight operations at the Siskiyou County Airport. Subsequently, the County Transportation Manager, Melissa Cummins and her staff worked with Marl Bell to develop a new Agreement between the Siskiyou County R/C’ers and the County of Siskiyou. Ultimately, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for our club to resume flight operations at the Siskiyou County Airport! The new Agreement was signed on October 30th, 2018. All members of Siskiyou County R/C’ers would like to sincerely thank Nina Whitehurst, Lisa Nixon, Melissa Cummins, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors and the following members of the AMA for their help: Tony Stillman, Tyler Dobbs, Angie Martin and Chad Budreau!
Siskiyou County R/C’ers continues to operate within the programming of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (chartered club #3744). We are so very grateful that members can now choose to fly at either location: The Siskiyou County Airport or the street in the City of Montague.