Identifies Important Things Groups Should Know When Setting Up A Club

AOPA has released a new tool that it says will steer members through the critical steps of starting a flying club. “AOPA’s Guide to Starting a Flying Club” identifies the most important aspects to consider when bringing a club from inception to full operation.

“This guide was created to provide a useful roadmap to pilots starting a club,” said Woody Cahall, leader of AOPA’s flying club initiative. “It addresses the biggest roadblocks to starting new flying clubs and it provides commonsense advice that pilots will be able to apply when launching clubs all over the country.”

Each chapter in the guide covers a specific topic of interest from how to choose the right aircraft to insurance considerations. AOPA has also assembled a collection of sample documents, forms, and other useful resources, such as sample operating rules and aircraft lease agreements.

AOPA’s 2012 research on flying clubs proved the overwhelmingly positive impact clubs have on the GA community. The survey found that more than half of all active pilots are past or present members of a flying club and virtually all of them consider club membership as a positive experience.  

AOPA’s efforts around flying clubs are aimed at building a stronger community in which more people earn pilot certificates, pilots are more active and the flying lifetime of pilots is extended.
 
In addition to the new starter guide, AOPA provides many other resources to help strengthen existing clubs and encourage new ones, including the AOPA Flying Club Insurance Program, aircraft finance program, and “Club Connector” ... a monthly newsletter that allows clubs to share information, resources, best practices and work together on issues of mutual concern.

There are also flying club webinars and the AOPA Flying Club Network Facebook Page.

“There are more than 600 flying clubs in the U.S. and AOPA is committed to helping grow that number,” said Cahall.  “Flying clubs have introduced thousands of people to the fun and camaraderie of flying. As the general aviation industry seeks to reverse rising costs and diminishing pilot numbers, flying clubs are one important solution to keeping general aviation strong and growing.”

FMI: www.aopa.org