I'm considering joining a flying club this week. This one's the closest
club to where I live, the members, the planes, and the online scheduling
system seem to be great, and I think I'm ready to make the commitment (e.g.,
buy a share in the fleet).

Since I've never joined a club before (have always rented from the FBO where
I trained), I wanted to solicit tips or important questions to ask before
paying the application fee (e.g. based on hindsight of those now in clubs)??

I've been a member of the same club since 1976. The club has been in operation
since 1961. KalAire Flying Club in AZO.

First of all - define "club". Is this a company or individual who owns an/some
aircraft and sells you (membership fee) the right to fly his aircraft or is
this a partnership where you are actually purchasing a share of the aircraft.
Ours is the latter and I wouldn't, personally, join the former.

Secondly, if you are buying a share, is it a share of a corporation or a share
of the aircraft? Ours is a not for profit corporation set up for the purpose
of owning (an) aircraft available for use by its shareholders.

Thirdly, how is the price you pay determined and who sets the price you get
when you depart. Ours is a set share price, reviewed annually, that incoming
members pay. The transaction is handled by the club. The incoming shareholder
who is buying your share pays the set price and you are reimbursed the set
price less any amount owed to the club.

We charge $50/ mo and $54/ wet for our Archer. The hourly rate is tied to the
price of fuel at our FBO. When fuel goes up .10 the rate goes up a buck and
vice versa.

The monthly fee goes for hangar rent, fixed costs, and regular maintenance.
Part of the hourly rate goes to an engine overhaul/replacement fund. We all
expect to pay an assessment for the actual overhaul cost above the fund
balance.

Some of our rules - we only have a few.

You must be a current private pilot to join.

You must be signed off with an instructor designated by the club (2 of our
members are instructors).

You must pay your bills on time or your aircraft use privileges are suspended.

You may only reserve the plane for 2 sign ups in the future. We use
AircraftClubs.com

If you reserve for longer than a week, you must have board approval (3 board
members elected once a year. If you reserve for two weeks or more you must
have approval of a majority of the members.

If you wreck the plane you pay the deductible.

Keep the airplane clean and tidy as if it was your own (it is).

There are other rules but these are the basics. Our by-laws are 7 or 8 pages.
We don't have any of the nit picky stuff I've seen in some of the other
postings like no grass strips etc. We keep it pretty basic, we have a great
aircraft we keep well and fly well. More than half our members are instrument
rated. One is a former DE, One is a 747 pilot.

Like I said - I've been a member since '76. It works great for me. I fly
probably 50 hours a year probably 70/30 business/pleasure.

Drew
N679HC
AZO