2015-12-04

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and Best Buy are teaming up to

educate consumers purchasing drones this holiday season. As part of a

recently formed relationship with AMA, Best Buy locations will display

brochures with AMA safety guidelines on store shelves and also feature

regulation and safety information on the store receipts of drone

purchases. In addition, Best Buy is offering one-year AMA memberships

for purchase.

“Safety has always been our number one priority. By teaming up with Best

Buy, we hope to help even more new drone operators learn how to fly

responsibly,” said Dave Mathewson, executive director of AMA, the

largest community-based organization for recreational model aviation

enthusiasts. “We have long said that education is the best way to

promote safety and that’s why we’re excited to enter into this

relationship with one of the nation’s leading retailers.

The safety brochures are currently available in more than 1,000 Best Buy

stores across the U.S. The “Fly Responsibly” message is appearing on all

receipts for drone purchases in stores, and online on pages where drones

are sold. In addition, Best Buy employees who sell drones are required

to complete an online training course, in part focusing on safe and

responsible use of the technology. The safety brochure distributed by

Best Buy is available here.

Best Buy has also begun selling AMA memberships in stores and online.

AMA membership gives consumers access to up-to-date information on

potential drone-related regulations, as well as access to local clubs

where consumers can take their drones to fly and receive instruction

from experienced operators.

Since late 2014, Best Buy has been selling drones including models from

DJI, Yuneec, Parrot and 3DR technology.

In November, Best Buy’s drone

buying guide was one of the top-viewed buying guides available on BestBuy.com.

The relationship with Best Buy is the latest part of AMA’s ongoing

education efforts, which includes the Know Before You Fly campaign. AMA

created this campaign along with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle

Systems International (AUVSI). The campaign was launched in December

2014 in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to

provide drone users with the information and guidance they need to fly

safely and responsibly.

About AMA

The Academy of Model Aeronautics, founded in 1936, continues to be

devoted to national airspace safety. It serves as the nation’s

collective voice for more than 185,000 modelers in 2,400 clubs in the

United States and Puerto Rico. Headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, AMA is

a membership organization representing those who fly model aircraft for

recreation and educational purposes.

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