Membership — Three Chopt Flying Club

We are currently interviewing prospective members. To join the Club you make a joining contribution (refundable in most cases) and pay an annual fee toward the aircraft's fixed costs. Regular Members can pay the annual fee monthly.

Membership levels

Comparison of the three membership levels
	Regular Plus	Regular Basic	Associate
Refundable deposit*	$8,000 one-time	$500 one-time, then $25/month toward an $8,000 principal (can be paid off early)	$20
Non-refundable cost	$90.83/month	$90.83/month, plus 4.5% APR on the outstanding principal — starts at $28.13/month and decreases	$40/year
Voting rights	Yes — one vote	Yes — one vote	No
Aircraft access	Full, after checkout	Full, after checkout	Cannot solo Club aircraft†
Best for	Pilots who can fund the deposit up front	Pilots who would rather build the deposit over time	Family, social members, and student pilots training elsewhere

* Principal refund policy: the Operating Agreement sets this out specifically, but in short you can get your refundable amount back as long as the Club can afford it; otherwise you join a queue to be paid out when a new member replaces you.

† Family Student Pilots may use Club aircraft, but their use is limited per the Operating Agreement.

What it actually costs to fly

A Regular Plus member flying 50 hours in a year, all in:

Annual dues — $90.83 × 12	$1,090
Aircraft — 45 tach hours × $56.50	$2,543
Fuel — about 475 gallons	$3,325
Total for the year	$6,958
Per hour flown	$139

Assumes 50 hours on the Hobbs, billed at roughly 0.9 tach hours each; about 9.5 gallons per hour at $7.00 per gallon; and no loan interest, which a Regular Basic member would add. Fuel is the number that moves — the price changes constantly, so treat it as a ballpark and check with Signature Aviation for the day. The $8,000 deposit is not included because it is refundable.

For comparison, the FAQ puts sole ownership of a comparable aircraft at around $20,000 a year.

Regular Member requirements

Regular Members have one vote and may fly our aircraft. To become one you must:

Hold at least a private pilot certificate
Hold a current medical certificate
Pass an interview with our Board of Directors

Checking out in the Mooney

To solo N3275F you need:

100 hours total time
A Club instructor sign-off
Either 20 hours of retractable-gear time plus 5 hours in the Mooney, or 10 hours in the Mooney

You can receive instruction in the Mooney before meeting these minimums, including working on your instrument rating. Several of our members joined with fewer than 100 hours and built the required time while earning their instrument rating in the Mooney.

Associate Members

Associate Members take part in our social activities but cannot vote or solo Club aircraft. You need only a desire to share your interest in aviation and a recommendation for membership from a Director.

If you do not yet have your private pilot certificate but are interested in the Club, we encourage you to join as an Associate Member while you train with one of the local flight schools on their aircraft. Contact us if you would like information about local flight schools.

How to join

If this sounds like something you would like to do, get in touch — we will match you with a sponsor who will take you through the process.

Email us to express interest
We match you with a member sponsor
Meet the Club — at a cookout or a visit to the hangar
Interview with the Board of Directors
Review and sign the Operating Agreement and membership application
Pay your membership deposit and first dues
Complete your aircraft checkout with a Club instructor