I’m not sure where it ranks on my list of life achievements, but I finally did something I’ve thought about doing for a long time. I joined a flying club.
I took my club check ride this week with Jon Friedman, a former Navy F-4 pilot turned oral surgeon, who also serves as the club’s president. Now I'm looking forward to settling into the normal scheduling flow with the other members. As many readers already know, there are tons of reasons for joining a flying club. For me the main motivation has always been centered on affordability. There’s simply no cheaper way I can think of to retain flight currency and enjoy all the benefits general aviation has to offer than by spreading the cost among dozens of other people whose main motivation isn’t to turn a profit, but simply to turn a prop.
But cost wasn’t my sole motive for wanting to be a member of a flying club. Being part of a club also brings with it the sort of scheduling flexibility that’s a rarity when renting from busy flight schools. Not that all flying clubs have such liberal scheduling policies, but mine is incredibly lenient when it comes to signing airplanes out. Want to keep the airplane overnight? No problem. Want to fly somewhere for the weekend? Go for it! Want to stay for a whole week? Or two? Great! A few members may even beg you to come along! A convenient online and phone-in reservation system makes scheduling a breeze.
That brings me to the third reason for joining a flying club: the chance to socialize with other aviators with the same level of dedication and passion for flying. Now, admittedly this group, the 150th Aero Flying Club at Morristown Municipal Airport (KMMU) in Northern New Jersey, isn’t quite as close knit as when the club was formed back in 1960 by a cadre of pilots who worked together at nearby Bell Labs. Still, there are picnics and plane washes and, thanks to the immediacy of e-mail, messages forwarded among all 60-plus members, containing everything from maintenance status updates, to aviation news, to just plain old fun flying tidbits that are easy to miss if you’re not on the lookout for them.
There’s even a club blog of sorts at the very entertaining website www.110knots.com. Created by member Mike Bennett, the site is packed full of great stories and videos of flights in club airplanes. Even if you’ve never heard of the 150th Aero Club, the site is well worth a visit.
Speaking of the airplanes, the club currently has three: a 172N Superhawk, a 172SP and a 182RG, all IFR-ready and equipped with some surprising gear, including an HSI in the 172SP.
What I didn’t realize before joining is that members become part owners of club airplanes. And it’s an all-volunteer group, with members encouraged to become involved in non-flying duties and activities. I also didn’t anticipate the security training required to gain access to the tiedown area where the airplanes are parked, which involved taking a 45-minute course and test before receiving a photo ID gate badge. (And that’s all I’m allowed to say about the process. Honestly. The TSA takes this stuff very seriously.)
But club members and other tie down users are happy to comply. And why not? Flying is a fantastic activity, whether it’s your hobby or vocation, and no amount of airport-related TSA scrutiny is likely to change that. Heck, we’re just happy to be in the club.
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Submitted by Jeffrey C Smith on April 27, 2011.
I agree, a flying club is a great way to keep flying. Especially given the growing cost of owning and operating even a small single engine airplane. I belong to a small club on Bowman Field (KLOU) in Louisville, KY and we have less than 20 members sharing a 1977 PA-28-161 (Wings Flying Club). It's been around a long time too although most of the current members are less than 5 years. We have CFII's and an AP as part of the club so it's a great way to work on new certifications and be part of the annual inspections. It is an eye opening experience for someone who would love to have their own airplane but has realized that the initial cost of an airplane is just the down payment, even if you paid all cash in full. In the past two years we have had the engine replaced, it had 2800 hours on it, then we had deferred maintenance to be done this year during the annual. We've spent $30K on it and it's still a 1977 Warrior although in very good and safe condition.
If I had owned this alone, I would have been grounded or selling the plane for significant loss no doubt. Meanwhile, I am working on my instrument rating with a club CFII despite the high cost of 100LL. Scheduling can be a challenge on weekends sometimes but overall everyone tries to be courteous and flexible. If we get to be too booked with too many members we will look for another plane, maybe a complex airplane so the members can pursue commercial ratings. I still have a craving for a tail dragger for fun flying but I can wait and meanwhile keep my skills up and learning new ones.
Submitted by Cuban8 on April 27, 2011.
I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of joining a flying club. The same day I took my Private checkride on 1970, I moved from the FBO to a club called Crosswinds, located at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati. We had a great club and good equipment. Unfortunately, our aircraft were leasebacks through club members. When tax reform killed leasebacks in the late 80's, it was time to fold our wings.
I then moved to Victory Aviation, a local club based at Butler Cty. Regional Airport (Hogan Field) on the north side of Cincinnati and I've been flying with them ever since. Victory started life in 1964 as the Xavier University flying club, later changing to Victory as an independent club.
As we rapidly approach out 50th anniversary, we currently have five aircraft and 75 pilots in the club. All our planes are hangared, are well equipped (GPS, including Garmin 430's in three), and have well-maintained paint and interiors and excellent mechanical maintenance. Out fleet includes two C-172s and three Pipers: an Archer, a Dakota, and a six-place Saratoga.
We have several excellent instructors in the club, including an airline instructor pilot and a past Flight Instructor of the Year for our region.
We have regular plane-wash/cookout events, Safety/Tour Group meetings, and Tour Group trips (5-7 per year). Tour Group trips have included Oshkosh (every year), two Cape Canaveral trips for shuttle launches (both launches went of on time), day trips to Chicago (when Meigs was still open) the Vanderbilt Estate, Huntsville Space Center, Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, local dinner flights, etc. We have a very active group and always come back with some funny new story to tell.
We take our flying very seriously, but we take our horsing around and practical jokes equally seriously. Needless to say, we have a lot of fun! While the cost saving is a very important part of the equation, the camaraderie and friendships are an equally important part...and that's something you can't put a price on!
Submitted by HOWIE6 on April 27, 2011.
I too must agger . Belong to a Cardinal club out of certral NJ . 12 members ,and never had a hard time getting the plane . Was cheaper to fly then a C150 . I think that there is a opening as one of my friends has moved away. If any one is intersted drop me a line at howie6@verizon.net and I will put you in contack with him . this is a great club . Howie
Submitted by bsalai on April 28, 2011.
I also agree that flying clubs can be a great way not only to fly, but to get involved with a flying community. I joined Artisan Flying Club (Rochester, NY) (mikepell.com/artisanaviation/) before I got my ticket, did all my training in club airplanes and have been a member ever since. Artisan has 19 members and 4 airplanes, so availability is very good. Long trips are no problem, I just returned from a four day trip to Maine and Massachusetts.
One big advantage to a club is that there is no reluctance to address maintenance issues promptly, spreading the cost over 19 members really eases the pain, so the planes are always in tip top condition. I worry that if I had my own plane, I might be inclined to delay expensive maintenance that we just do routinely in the club.
We have a slogan, which I've found to be pretty accurate,
Like having your own plane, only better.
If you have a club in your area check it out, you will like what you find.
Brad
Submitted by stphoto1 on April 28, 2011.
150th Aero is a great club. I would not be flying without it. Great friendships and well maintained equipment with reasonable rates.
Stephen Taylor
VP 150Th Aero Flying club
Submitted by myflightblog on April 28, 2011.
I cancelled one club membership and started up with another one based on reasons two and three in your post. The first club was not doing anything to promote social activities and as a result it was hard to find people to share flight time with. At my new club, Leading Edge Flying Club, there are a variety of social activities and I have had many opportunities to share the cockpit with fellow pilots and defray the costs of flying.
I published a post about my reasons for making the move on my aviation blog.
I had followed Mike's blog at 110knots.com for a few years and enjoyed flying with him on a NY sightseeing flight in one of the 150 Aero planes last summer when I was visiting New Jersey. Good times! Enjoy the camaraderie at the new club!
Submitted by chavasy on April 29, 2011.
Freestate Flying Club (google us!) has a great group of folks and a very well maintained C-172 at College Park, MD (cgs). 15 folks to share the costs, and plenty of availability. Much more airplane than I could afford on my own, with better availability than an FBO.
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