Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
Click here: Membership Application and fill out the Jot Form Application. The Vice President will contact you after your submission.
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Where is the club located?
The hangar owned by Aero Fliers is located at the Akron Fulton Airport (KAKR) in Akron, Ohio. The Aero Fliers hangar is at the North end of the field, close to Summit Air.
How do I schedule an aircraft for use?
The club uses an on-line scheduling system, Flight Circle. As a member you are provided access which will allow you to schedule the aircraft at your convenience.
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Am I able to take the aircraft for an extended trip?
As a member, the aircraft are available for you whether it is for a short practice flight, lessons, or an extended trip cross country for a long vacation. Non-instrument rated or Instrument rated but not current requires pilots to review the weather and their flight plan with a club CFI for approval. Our goal is to avoid getting the airplane stuck somewhere. Details can be found in Pilot Currency and Proficiencies.
How am I charged for the use of an aircraft?
Flying time is based on the Tachometer not Hobbs time. Members are billed monthly for their dues and flying time. Payment is expected by the 15th of each month.
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Do I pay for fuel?
No, the club rates are "wet rates", meaning the fuel cost is part of the hourly rate.
I need an instructor, what do I do?
The club has private contractor instructors available with the ability to provide training ranging for private pilots looking for currency or advanced ratings. We do not set the instructor's hourly rate, but they are currently charging about $40/hr.
I am a student pilot, can I still join?
Unfortunately, with the current insurance environment, we cannot have student pilots in the club.
Can I use instructors from outside the club?
No, for insurance reasons, the instructors must be affiliated with the club.
What do I need to do to get checked out in the aircraft?
Each aircraft requires a check out by one of our club instructors. The check out time will be dependent on pilot experience and comfort level of both the pilot and the instructor. At a minimum, the check out will be a BFR. For instrument pilots, it will be a IPC. Full details can be found in Pilot Currency and Proficiencies.
Do I need to carry insurance?
Your decision to carry supplemental flying insurance and how much is a personal one. As a member, your monthly dues provide you with coverage under the club's policy. Your insurance coverage with the club is not renter's insurance, it is owner’s insurance. As a member, you are part owner of all three aircraft.
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The following is the condensed version of our membership rules and regulations. The in-depth version is in our documents section and will provide much more detail. Aero Fliers limits the number of active flying pilots to a maximum of 49 at one time to provide our members with good availability of aircraft.
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Aero Fliers does not employee instructors, but the instructors are club members. They set their own hourly rates for instruction.
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Initiation Fee, One-time access fees, and monthly dues are all plus tax.
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In an effort to promote fuel efficient flying and to more closely align flight time with aircraft reserve accounts, flight time is calculated on Tach time, not Hobbs time. Block time is a reserve into which members will be able to deposit funds, initially $1000, and thereafter in increments of $500. This block time reserve can then be used to pay for any airtime on any of the Aero Fliers aircraft at a 10% discount.
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Refer to Membership SOP and Membership Types SOP for full details.
1. Initiation Fee. An applicant accepted for membership in the Club shall be deemed a provisional member upon payment of an initial deposit of $2000. The fee will allow the provisional member to choose ANY ONE aircraft to fly after checkout with a club CFI. At the discretion of the Board, the initiation fee may be paid in monthly equal payments for a period not to exceed 4 months.
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2. Add-On Aircraft. Members wanting to fly one or more aircraft have the option to add on with a one time access fee of $500 per aircraft. Members have the option to try the aircraft for a maximum of 5 flights within 45 days before committing to the add-on.
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3. Access Fees. The Access Fees are set by the Board to cover fixed expenses of the Club. The dues, along with aircraft rental, and assessments are due when invoiced and payable by the 15th day of such month.
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TABLE 3-1 Access Fees
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4. Hourly Usage Fees. Payment for use of the aircraft is based on the type of aircraft flown and the flight time calculated per Article VI, Section B, Item 3 in the Code of Regulations. The hourly charge for each type aircraft are provided in Table 4-1.
Block Time. Block time is a reserve into which members will be able to deposit funds, initially $1000, and thereafter in increments of $500. This block time reserve can then be used to pay for any airtime on any of the Aero Fliers planes at a 10% discount.
TABLE 4-1 Aircraft Per Tach Hour without block time Per Tach Hour with block time
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5. Fuel Surcharge. During times of rapidly rising cost or increasing price volatility of aviation fuel the Board may elect to assess a fuel charge until such time the new cost of fuel can be incorporated into the hourly usage fee. The fuel surcharge will be based on a base price and an hourly consumption per Table 5-1.
TABLE 5-1
Aircraft | Rate with block time | Rate without block time |
|---|---|---|
Simulator (CAT II BATD FAA approved) | $40 | $45 |
Beechcraft Debonair (C-33A) | $220 | $244 |
Cessna Skylane (C-182) | $207 | $230 |
Mooney M20k turbo | $195 | $216 |
Category | Entry share | Monthly dues | Plane Privileges | Membership Privileges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Inactive | Existing Member | $150/annual | None | None while inactive, can only switch once per 24 months |
Instructor Member | None | $420/year | Training Only | Only schedule planes for training, annual payment may be prorated, no liquidation rights |
Trustee | Existing Member | $20/mo | Existing | |
Base Monthly Dues | $2,000 | $70/mo | One aircraft | Full membership rights, access to one aircraft, liquidation rights |
Add on 2nd aircraft | $500 | Additional $25/mo | Two aircraft | Full membership rights, access to two aircraft, liquidation rights |
Add on 3rd aircraft | $500 | Additional $15/mo | Three aircraft | Full membership rights, access to three aircraft, liquidation rights |
Base Inactive Plus | Existing Member | $35/mo | One aircraft | Can only fly with Club Instructor No liquidation rights |
Inactive Plus add on 2nd aircraft | Existing Member | Additional $12.50/mo | Two aircraft | Can only fly with Club Instructor No liquidation rights |
Inactive Plus add on 3rd aircraft | Existing Member | Additional $7.50/mo | Three aircraft | Can only fly with Club Instructor No liquidation rights |
Simulator 6-month | Existing Member | $320 | Simulator | Unlimited access, 12 months |
Simulator 12-month | Existing Member | $480 | Simulator | Unlimited access, 6 months |
Aircraft | Gallons per hour |
|---|---|
Beechcraft Debonair (C-33A) | 15 |
Cessna Skylane (C-182) | 15 |
Mooney M20K | 12 |