Scudrunners

I know this is looking back. Does anyone think that people forming "clubs" or in today's terms "special interest groups" is a viable way to get general aviation interest rejuvenated. I could think of nothing better and giving that warm and fuzzy feeling of the shack, coffee pot, grass strip and a bunch of hobbyists planning a burger or breakfast fly-in. I know the day of the local grass strip is gone in most places but it would be interesting to see if flying farmers and like groups might not be an avenue to explore. Could such groups exist in airports like brampton or others like it or do the schools have so much control they would block such ideas. The idea might be easier in the "flat lands" because there are more strips around.

I think the club concept, with a close knit bunch, is such a great blast from the past.

I think clubs would be a great idea, it’s just a matter of money. That and kicking the idea through transport Canada’s regulatory hurdles.

With that in mind, I think ultralights are the way to go; can be cheaper and the regulations are not quite as on onerous from a training stand point.

Some friends of mine have had incredible success with building up a community of like-minded airplane people through regular barbecues at the airport.

Diversity would also be a good thing. A good mix of people from your Cessna owners to Lazair -- we do tend to gravitate to a group and judge others. We see it no on the commercial side. When I first started out it was pilots helping pilots and there were no company lines drawn. Unfortunately, not the case today. Shit we even have people turning on each other working for the same company.

I know personally we can't like or be liked by everyone but on a professional level that should never enter into it. It seems to happen more often now than then.

A few years ago, I happened to be in Chilliwack and attended a Friday night flying club get together. Amazing time. Always wondered how they did it...maybe somebody from there can share their secret.

I have bumped into a few others.
It seems it needs a few dedicated volunteers. Gas pump for some revenue.
Poker rallies, seminars etc. to engage members.

And a club plane or two.

Glider clubs seem to manage it. Camping facilities, RVs and a weekend of aviation.

I own/formed a club.

I bought the plane, had a hangar and some spare parts.
Mind you this is all south of the border so very different rules, not only from an FAA stand point but also business practices.

It’s successful... but depends on your measure of success. I dropped some good coin upgrading the panel, which is an overall loss at years end revenue counting. However, it’s slowly making its way to profitability.

It’s just coming off of the cold season, (don’t think I need to tell you folks about that) but I do have some ideas for airport cookouts and hangar BSing come late spring/early summer. COVID should be a thing of the past by then.

My club members are all airline pilots, which is nice because I know they have the means to 1) pay for the dues/fee’s and,
2) their ass is on the line when it comes too how they operate the plane. (See point 1)

Always thought if I was to “own” a plane it would be with a group of people. Don’t think most people could justify owning one based on actually hours flown. I mean if you can afford it why not.

Renting from schools with their rules is ridiculous if you want to go for a family trip over a few nights or even just want to fly occasionally. The check outs and time restrictions for over night trips I was quoted turned me right off the idea. Maybe I can make some friends with plane benefits..

What I am seeing is that flying clubs seem to mostly exist in the smaller towns outside of the big metro areas. A lot of them are just a bunch of enthusiastic PPL’s with one or two simple airplanes available for rent and some owner pilots.

The big cities don’t seem to support this model and the “Flying Clubs” have mostly morphed into FTU puppy mills

We’re not allowed to hangout in clubs right now.

The best club I ever visited was the one in the back of one of the buildings of the Evergreen museum.