An affordable way to join aviation is via joining a flying club, with members-owned membership fees going towards upkeep of aeroplanes and airfield maintenance costs.
Plus One Flyers operates a fleet of over 60 airplanes and charges hourly rates that are wet-based and based on tach time; making aviation more accessible for pilots and enthusiasts alike.
1. Do Your Research
If you are thinking about joining an aviation club or community, it is essential to conduct extensive research. Begin by asking around to discover which clubs exist in your locality; search online; visit aviation websites and read up on various clubs; attend an event held by any that interest you; this gives you an opportunity to meet members and learn more about what the club has to offer.
As part of your research on clubs, it’s important to find out the type of aircraft they own and fly regularly. Some clubs rent their aircraft out while others own and operate them themselves; rental clubs may be best for student or private pilots looking for cost savings while ownership clubs might provide you with an opportunity to own one of your own aircraft. If you are ready to purchase an aircraft yourself then ownership clubs might provide more value.
Consider also the size and demographics of any club you consider joining, since finding one with people from various walks of life who share an enthusiasm for aviation can provide you with opportunities to meet people with similar interests that will aid in furthering your aviation career.
Before joining any club, it’s essential that you establish its affiliation with either a national organization or being independent. Membership of national organizations may provide extra advantages like discounts on flight training and aircraft rentals. Finally, find out if there’s an officer or board of directors responsible for overseeing maintenance, safety, and other key aspects of running it effectively.
As part of your due diligence, be sure to ask about membership fees and whether there is an aircraft buy-in option, which can allow you to have a financial stake in it and help lower insurance rates. Furthermore, it would be worthwhile determining whether there is a strong culture of safety and an efficient procedure for booking time on their aircraft.
2. Attend an Event
Aviation clubs bring together people from various walks of life who share a love for aviation. Members may be pilots themselves, while others enjoy flying, building or restoring aircraft. Others may be passionate about modeling aircraft radios cameras – these clubs provide the ideal way to meet like-minded individuals while getting involved with local communities.
One of the easiest ways to decide whether a club is right for you is attending one of its events – anything from a BBQ or aviation-themed guest speaker can serve as an introduction. Plus, this is also an excellent chance for members to get to know one another better while experiencing what the club stands for!
As part of your preparation, take time to find out whether the club welcomes all levels of experience, if there are any specific requirements (for instance requiring certain pilot certificates for its airplanes) that could impact you – knowing all this beforehand helps avoid surprises or disappointment.
Joining a flying club does have its downsides, however. One is the risk that another member will book the aircraft you wish to use before you do – which may be especially frustrating if you are new to aviation. Also, as with any group membership, personality clashes or political intrigue could arise within your club – something worth keeping in mind before making any definitive decisions about joining or not joining one.
Joining an aviation club remains an excellent way to fly. By pooling their membership fees, flying clubs can rent more aircraft than would otherwise be available if each member owned their own individual planes; also included is maintenance and upkeep costs which eliminate the worry over expenses related to aircraft maintenance and upkeep. Furthermore, flying clubs offer diverse fleets which help pilots gain experience across a wide variety of models and types – ultimately creating safer pilots who are better at adapting quickly when things change in flight conditions.
3. Contact the Club’s Members
When selecting an aviation club or community that best meets your needs, there are various aspects to take into account. If you intend to pursue flight training at this club, for example, make sure it offers experienced instructors who will remain committed to your progress throughout your flight training experience. Flight schools often switch instructors regularly; therefore it’s crucial that any flying club provides continuity among its instructors if this is important to you.
Consider whether the club offers an impressive fleet of aircraft. Some clubs will have an assortment of aircraft while others might specialize in one type; gaining experience with various kinds of planes is invaluable when looking to purchase your own plane in the future.
Many aviation clubs feature full maintenance departments to oversee the upkeep of their aircraft fleet. This can be especially beneficial to new pilots who don’t want to worry about spending too much on maintenance costs. Furthermore, such clubs relieve rank-and-file members by handling mundane tasks such as scheduling repairs and record keeping themselves.
If you’re thinking of joining a flying club, it is advisable to reach out and speak to some of its members and learn about their experiences. Furthermore, inquire if there are any unique currency requirements beyond FAA ones so all members remain informed and up-to-date with training requirements for flying aircraft owned by the club. This will ensure all aircraft is being operated safely by each pilot within.
Some flying clubs also employ a safety and education officer who oversees training, WINGS program and insurance liaison activities within their club. This can be particularly useful for new pilots who need guidance to stay current.
Some clubs require their members to pay an ongoing monthly membership fee in addition to an initial membership fee and deposit, covering the costs associated with using the club aircraft. This fee typically utilizes Tach Time as opposed to Hobbs Time as it tracks engine RPM for measuring aircraft usage time on runways.
4. Join the Club
There are various ways you can become involved in aviation community. One option is joining a flying club, an organization where pilots and aviation enthusiasts gather together to fly, share their passion, build friendships and mentor/train. Flying clubs provide numerous advantages including reduced flying costs, wide aircraft selection and mentoring & training opportunities. Another way is joining local charitable organizations which use aviation skills to assist those in need while providing you with rewarding life-enriching experiences that could also enrich their own.
If you’re curious about joining a flying club, use AOPA’s online Flying Club Finder to locate one near you. With over 650 clubs throughout the US alone, finding one shouldn’t be difficult! Flying clubs are not-for-profit and member owned, meaning any fees collected go toward maintaining aeroplanes, airfield maintenance costs, hourly flying rates and administrative costs as well as keeping flying affordable for more people than would otherwise be possible.
As part of your club selection process, be sure to talk to existing members about what it’s like being part of their group. This is especially important if you plan on becoming a pilot – their experiences will give an idea of what life as an FC pilot entails. Some clubs require all members take on some level of management responsibility in managing the club as part of maintaining an enjoyable culture and good member/owner relations.
When choosing the ideal flying club, take the time to carefully assess all your options. Depending on your interests and goals, this could involve searching for an aircraft fleet with more diverse aircraft or an airport with facilities tailored specifically to them; for instance if pursuing your private pilot license is on your agenda in future then look for clubs offering Cessna single engine and Piper twin engine aircraft as these could provide better opportunities.