One of the most rewarding parts of being a pilot is by sharing your experiences and flight time with your friends. Not everyone has the benefit of having friends who are pilots, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some. Joining a flying club can be the best way to experience the different aspects of aviation that you would normally miss by going on with things alone. Aside from providing good friends and good company, a flying club can provide enthusiasm, confidence, and most importantly, ongoing flight education that reaches past your student flight training and into your future with aviation.

Whether you’re going to fly professionally and continue to get ratings, or just use your pilot’s certificate for recreational purposes, joining a flying club is always the right move. Many flying clubs require little more than a minimal annual dues, sometimes only as much as $40 or $50 a year. Most flying clubs meet on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, where pilots can share their knowledge, keep each other up to date on the latest airport or FAA regulations, talk about weather conditions, and most of all plan to fly places together. These types of clubs often arrange club fly-in’s to local restaurants at neighboring airports, and some plan even more ambitious cross country flights. At a good flying club you’ll meet aircraft owners, aircraft renters, and even some non-pilots who joined the club just for the love of flying. Together you can go and see places you wouldn’t normally have thought of without the benefit of meeting all these other people.

Choosing a flying club might be as simple as going down to your home airport and seeing that there’s only one available. Sadly, rising fuel costs and reduction in disposable income has put a big dent in General Aviation as a whole. Still, pilots who love to fly will always find a way… and these pilots generally stick together in their flying clubs and flight communities. Find yourself a flying club that’s local, and that flies out of an airport you’ll be comfortable with. Ask them where they meet, and when their next meeting is. Most of these clubs will be thrilled to have you, and will invite you to sit in on a meeting or two so you can see how they operate.

Some flying clubs maintain video libraries for flight training purposes, and many have close relationships with an FBO or home air base. Joining a club could get you special privileges at such an FBO. Sometimes your dues can even grant you the benefit of reduced aircraft rental rates. If you’re an aircraft owner, you’ll find pilots who will be willing to fly with you just for the joy of being in the skies. Most of them will offer to split fuel costs, or grab the stick for the return trip. And even if you don’t own an aircraft, a local flying club will put you in touch with people who do. Building relationships with other pilots will teach you much more than any book or video ever could, and flying with other flying club members is the best teacher there is. Observe their flying techniques, seek out unknown airports, and if you’re a very experienced pilot, you can even share your own knowledge with others.

Tags : Airport, Flying Club, Pilot