Membership fee's
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 0
From: Savannah GA & Portsmouth UK
Are you right to assume Flying Clubs charge flying fees? Mine is not a training organisation and does not operate any aircraft. It charges around 100 quid a year which includes all landings. If I paid 5 quid a landing it would cost me far more.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 1
From: Cambridge, England, EU
They can charge whatever they like for whatever they like. Just as you or I can charge our customers whatever we like for whatever we like.
Of course there comes a point where a business runs out of customers ... but if a business isn't running out of customers it isn't overcharging, is it.
Of course there comes a point where a business runs out of customers ... but if a business isn't running out of customers it isn't overcharging, is it.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 0
From: Midlands
The term “flying clubs” is used for a variety of completely different organizations. At one extreme you have a school based a regional airport who just hires aircraft. You can have a Club which runes the airfield it is based on and runs all the facilities. A third option is a shed on an unlicensed strip with a group of like minded people who share the cost of the shed and the coffee fund.
My club falls into the middle group, charges quite a stiff fee, but then everything else is very cheap, or free.
Rod1
My club falls into the middle group, charges quite a stiff fee, but then everything else is very cheap, or free.
Rod1
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 0
From: 75N 16E
Many "clubs" charge an annual fee of £80 - £150. This often gives full use of the airfield even when flying you own aeroplane of in someone elses when you are a PAX. This is good value for money, rather than pay £10 per landing, you can come and go as you please all year.
If I didn't get that then I wouldn't join.....
If I didn't get that then I wouldn't join.....
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
From: South Yorkshire
Yes, they are right to do this. The operations of the flying club in any form is likely to have some fixed overheads that have to be defrayed across the entire membership. If you want a clubhouse, an internet connection, a coffee machine, a place to keep stuff, etc. It all has to be paid for whether or not anyone flies.
Whether or not a 'joining' fee is justified, is down to the club. Many organisations run on such tight profit margins that even the administration of a new joining member has to be charged for. However, I would regard any joining fee above £5 as excessive, unless the joining process delivers some exceptional value, e.g. a checkout on the club aircraft.
tp
Whether or not a 'joining' fee is justified, is down to the club. Many organisations run on such tight profit margins that even the administration of a new joining member has to be charged for. However, I would regard any joining fee above £5 as excessive, unless the joining process delivers some exceptional value, e.g. a checkout on the club aircraft.
tp
...Joining fee imo is another way to screw money out of you
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,401
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
No it isn't - it's a way of deterring time wasters.
Taking a reasonable sum off new members and charging them a monthly subscription also encourages them to take advantage of the low rental costs which can then be offered. Total cost to them actually breaks even if they do 6 hours per year compared with costs incurred at places where the subscriptions are lower, but the rental costs higher.
'Flying schools' don't have many rich owners or shareholders, of that you can be sure!
Taking a reasonable sum off new members and charging them a monthly subscription also encourages them to take advantage of the low rental costs which can then be offered. Total cost to them actually breaks even if they do 6 hours per year compared with costs incurred at places where the subscriptions are lower, but the rental costs higher.
'Flying schools' don't have many rich owners or shareholders, of that you can be sure!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: London
I think tacpot has got it about right. A non profit making Club, who has a clubhouse etc needs to cover those costs. I think if the organisation is profit making then it is not really a club.
The Club I am involved in, used to have a joining fee and a minimum flight time requirements and we got rid of those some years ago and it has turned out to be to the benefit of the Club, so I have doubts about joining fees as being a fair charge.
Membership Fees are a fair way of distributing those fixed costs involved in providing facilities. If we didn't charge in this way, the flying rate would have to go up and we all know how people feel about that!
The Club I am involved in, used to have a joining fee and a minimum flight time requirements and we got rid of those some years ago and it has turned out to be to the benefit of the Club, so I have doubts about joining fees as being a fair charge.
Membership Fees are a fair way of distributing those fixed costs involved in providing facilities. If we didn't charge in this way, the flying rate would have to go up and we all know how people feel about that!
