Has your club applied for the flying club 150 giveaway?

If you would like to learn what’s involved in starting a flying club, and find out whether your club is eligible for the giveaway, filling out the Flying Club 150 Giveaway online application can provide many answers. And on May 21, there will be an opportunity to get more information and talk to others about starting a flying club during a seminar on flying club formation at the AOPA Fly-In in Beaufort, North Carolina.

AOPA President Mark Baker announced the Flying Club 150 Giveaway April 6 during a Pilot Town Hall at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida. The deadline for applications is Sept. 1. The winner will be announced Oct. 1.

A flying club can elevate the aviation experience from an activity you enjoy to a lifestyle you savor and share with those close to you. For many pilots, nothing compares to the fun, affordability, and accessibility that a flying club brings to pursuing their passion for aviation.

Having the right aircraft for its members’ needs is the key to a flying club’s success. That is why AOPA developed Reimagined Aircraft, older airplanes that have been updated from tip to tail. When owned and operated in a community setting like a flying club, Reimagined Aircraft—such as a Cessna 150—open the door to flying for many more people.

AOPA’s Flying Club initiative helped create 10 new flying clubs in 2015—and there are more than 700 flying clubs in the AOPA Flying Club Network today.

How can you become a part of this vital and growing segment of general aviation?

If you are ready to take the first step toward starting a flying club, you will determine the answers to many of your questions by filling out the Flying Club 150 Giveaway application. The application takes you step by step through the process of creating a flying club. Its asks 14 questions designed to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements, and helps you think through the process of starting your club, while highlighting aspects that can have an impact on its success and longevity.

A flying club's basic eligibility requirements include having a minimum of four club members; having a named set of club officers including president, secretary, treasurer, safety officer, and maintenance officer; having a set of bylaws (drafts are acceptable); having received a quote from AOPA Insurance; being listed as a “club in formation” on AOPA’s Flying Club Finder (meaning not yet having an airplane); and completing the online application.

For existing flying clubs, joining AOPA’s Flying Club Network is free, and members get a range of special benefits including free scheduling software, a premium listing in the AOPA Flying Club Finder; access to a unique Resource Library, and invitations to join AOPA at special events.

Prospective flying club organizers and those already working on starting up their flying club are encouraged to attend the seminar, “Maximum Fun, Minimum Cost: Starting and Growing a Flying Club,” May 21 at the AOPA Fly-In at Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort, with Les Smith, AOPA senior director of Pilot Community Development. The seminar will begin at 12:45 p.m. in the You Can Fly Pavilion.