Hey there Mort! I didn't know you flew (I see you in the Nursing
newsgroup)..

I will admit it sounds like THIS club is overly draconian, but not all are.

I have had the pleasure of being a member of two separate flying clubs
that assessed monthly dues, one of which continues to operate (Bay Area
Aero Club @ KLVJ and "The Flying Group" formerly of KEFD, both in/near
Houston)

Monthly dues in their latest form were about $20/month. For that fee,
you had access to a fleet that ranged as large as 10 planes (this
varied, all were leasebacks), were well maintained, less abused
(subjective, I know), MORE available and all around just nicer looking
than your typical flight school rental fleet. We had online scheduling,
true 24 hour access with keys in a lockbox, the still-functioning club
(Bay Area) truly insures the pilot, plane and occupants so that renters
insurance is not necessary (yes... I did say the PILOT was covered, no
subrogation here).

If you fly more than a few hours a month, the dues "disappear" into the
hourly cost and really arent that noticeable. The appeal to the clubs so
far has been the fleet: Many of the leasebacks have nice (430's, MFD's)
avionics packages, are clean and well appointed inside. Its not a big
deal to rent one over the weekend for a cross country trip. Most of the
local flight schools balk at a long trip in one of their planes, when it
could be making twice as many hours working instruction locally.

So.. yea.. that club in question doesn't seem to be "all that"... but...
I have to wonder.. when you (original poster) joined the club, didn't
they orient you to the organization, and explicitly describe the
check-out requirements and rules? or did you just join up and start
instruction without any knowledge of what the rules were?

Dave

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:

Chris Schmelzer wrote:

Does this make ANY sense to any of you? I can walk across the tarmac
and fly with the private FBO for almost the same price and they are
saying a single hour checkride for a current pilot!

Just really painful after paying monthly dues to the club for so long.



I understand your reticence but I would leave that Mickey Mouse outfit behind
and rent from a real FBO. No dues. You only pay for what you actually do.