The Flying Club of Columbus
Policies and Procedures
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The Clubs Purpose:
The Flying Club of Columbus was formed to promote
aviation safety, education, training, and fellowship through
meetings, social activities, and the use of well maintained and
affordable aircraft.
Section 1
Memberships:
1. Types of memberships:
1. Member
2. Casual Member
3. Honorary Member
4. Administrative Member
5. Non-Member
2. Categories of Memberships
1. Standard Single
2. High Performance and Complex Single
3. Multi Engine
3. Rights of Members
A. Member
1. Right to fly all club aircraft in correct category in which
the member belongs and licensed and qualified to fly after all
checkouts are completed by a club CFI.
2. Right to rent all club aircraft at club member pricing and
to utilize club instructors at club member pricing.
3. Right to attend all club events, safety meetings, and any
other club functions.
B. Casual Member
1. Right to fly all club aircraft in correct category in which
the casual member belongs and licensed and qualified to fly
after all checkouts are completed by a club CFI.
2. Right to rent all club aircraft at club casual-member
pricing and to utilize club instructors at club casual-member
pricing.
3. Right to attend all club events, safety meetings, and any
other club functions.
C. Honorary Member
1. Right to fly all club aircraft in correct category in which
the honorary member belongs and licensed and qualified to
fly after all checkouts are completed by a club CFI.
2. Right to rent all club aircraft at club member pricing and
to utilize club instructors at club member pricing.
3. Right to attend all club events, safety meetings, and any
other club functions.
D. Administrative Member
1. Right to fly all club aircraft in correct category in which
the administrative member belongs and licensed and
qualified to fly after all checkouts are completed by a club
CFI.
2. Right to rent all club aircraft at club member pricing and
to utilize club instructors at club member pricing.
3. Right to attend all club events, safety meetings, and any
other club functions.
E. Non-Member
1. Right to fly all club aircraft in which the non-member is
licensed and qualified to fly after all checkouts are completed
by a club CFI.
2. Right to rent all club aircraft at non-member pricing and
to utilize club instructors at non-member pricing.
3. Right to attend a club event for the purpose of evaluating
the club for consideration of becoming a member. The
prospective new member must receive permission for the
board of directors prior to attending any event.
4. Membership Monthly Dues
1. Members : Fifty Dollars ($50.00)
2. Casual members : Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00)
3. Honorary members : Fifty Dollars ($50.00)
* Instructors monthly dues will be waived after 2.5 hours of non paid service in the current month.
* Other honorary members will have their monthly dues waived with a unanimous decision of the current board of directors at the time of initiation. This waiver
can be overturned by a unanimous decision of the board of directors. The honorary member will receive a 60 day notice in writing upon the suspension of status.
4. Administrative members : Zero Dollars ($0.00)
* Only Board of Directors, Corporate Officers, and Club Aircraft owners are eligible to be an Administrative Member.
5. Membership Initiation Fees
Standard Single :
Member - $ 300.00
Casual Member - $ 200.00
Honorary Member - $ 0.00
Administrative Member - $ 0.00
High Performance and Complex Single :
Member - $ 450.00
Casual Member - $ 350.00
Honorary Member - $ 250.00
Administrative Member - $ 0.00
Multi Engine :
Member - $ 450.00
Casual Member - $ 350.00
Honorary Member - $ 250.00
Administrative Member - $ 0.00
6. Club Credits
There are several ways to earn club credits with "The Flying
Club of Columbus". Club credits may be used for dues,
flight time, or instructor time. Some of the ways to earn club
credits are listed below.
* Instructors may donate instruction time to members and
receive club credits of 25% more in lieu of payment for that
service. (The student will still be charged by the club.)
* perform certain tasks or duties that appear on the clubs
bulletin board and the clubs web site. Each task or duty will
have a club credit associated with it. ie: Wash Inside and
Outside of aircraft and receive a $50.00 club credit.
* Actively recruit new members into the club and receive a
$20.00 club credit. A successful recruitment is defined as a
member that completes all necessary paper work and pays all
initial dues and fees associated with membership.
Section 2
Scheduling, No-Shows and Cancellations:
"Due to the high demand of Aircraft and Instructors our schedule is watched and maintained by our Flight Operations Manager."
1. Scheduling: All scheduling is to be done through our website using our E-Flightmanager Service. Schedules for students default to a maximum 2 hour block unless extended for cross-country purposes or
any other reason deemed necessary by the CFI or management of "The Flying Club of Columbus".
2. No-Shows: Due to the fact that our schedule is so demanding on both the aircraft and the instructors the member or non-member will be charged in full for the aircraft and instructor
for the scheduled time. This will be charged at the time of the no-show, however you can request this charge to be waived in writing to our board of directors for circumstances that you feel
were beyond your control.
3. Cancellations: All cancellations made within a 24 hour period will be treated as a no-show and the full price of the aircraft and the instructor will be charged to the
member or non-member. This will be charged at the time of the cancellation, however you can request this charge to be waived in writing to our board of directors for circumstances that you feel
were beyond your control.
Operations of Aircraft in Flight:
1. Club members may, at their discretion, allow non-members to manipulate the controls of the aircraft, provided such actions do not violate 14 CFR Part 91 and the club
member occupy a pilot position in the aircraft with full and unimpeded access to the aircraft controls. However, while non-members are operating the aircraft, the flying club
considers the club member the Pilot in Command, and the club member will hold the final responsibility and authority for the safety of the flight.
2. Club aircraft shall not be used for hire, charter or other commercial purposes, air races, participation in air shows, towing gliders or sport parachuting.
3. Student pilots who have not yet soloed shall fly club aircraft only with a club CFI.
4. Weather Minimums - Not withstanding any other requirements set forth in this policies and procedures handbook, club members and non-members must adhere to
the applicable weather minimums regarding visibility and cloud clearance per 14 CFR Part 91. These restrictions do not apply when absolutely necessary to
insure a safe and successful outcome to a flight already in progress. Club members may not operate club aircraft when the ambient air temperature is
below -10F or the wind chill factor is below -20F.
Student and Recreational Pilots: Student and Recreational pilots may not operate club aircraft when the forecast or reported weather along the proposed route of flight is less
than five miles visibility or 3000 foot ceiling AGL, except for flights remaining within the CSG traffic pattern, when the required minimums shall be three miles visibility and 1,200
feet AGL. Student and Recreational pilots may not take-off or land club aircraft when the reported crosswind component exceeds seven knots or the difference between reported winds
and maximum wind gusts exceed five knots.
Private Pilots: Private pilots may not operate club aircraft when the forecast or reported weather along the proposed route of flight is less than that prescribed by 14 CFR
Part 91. Private pilots may not take-off or land club aircraft when the reported crosswind component exceeds that prescribed in the aircraft information manual.
Commercial Pilots: Commercial pilots may not operate club aircraft when the forecast or reported weather along the proposed route of flight is less that prescribed by 14 CFR Part
91. Commercial pilots may not take-off or land club aircraft when the reported crosswind component exceeds the demonstrated crosswind component listed in the aircraft POH.
5. Abandoned Aircraft: In the event that the aircraft is abandoned due to weather or and accident or an incident the member or non-member will bear the full cost of returning
the aircraft to CSG.
6. Fuel and Oil: All club members and non-members rent the aircraft based on a dry rate, which means no fuel included. Each member or non-member is responsible for supplying the
appropriate amount of fuel for the time the aircraft is in their possession. The member and non-member is also responsible for the oil levels while out of town. All club aircraft should always be maintained at the appropriate fuel levels. The appropriate fuel levels and also appropriate fuel grade are found in this handbook in the
section called "Club Aircraft". Any member or non member found not returning the fuel level to the appropriate level will be charged a $6.00 per gallon inconvenience fee.
7. Aircraft Maintenance at off site locations: In the event of a mechanical failure off-site (any airport other than CSG), club members and non-members MUST contact club
management before starting any repairs. Club members or non-members ARE NOT authorized to contract for any repairs to the aircraft! If a pilot discovers a mechanical
defect that renders an aircraft unairworthy, The Flying Club of Columbus will make arrangements to repair the aircraft off-site or have it returned to CSG for repairs.
The Flying Club of Columbus is not responsible for travel arrangements for club members or non-members if an aircraft breaks down away from CSG.
8. Cross Country Flights: Itineraries and destination contact information for overnight stays must be filed with The Flying Club of Columbus. Student pilots must provide an itinerary
and destination information for all solo flights without regard to distance. This includes take-off and landing practice at CSG or other local airports.
9. Foreign Flights:
* Foreign flights to Mexico are strictly prohibited in club aircraft.
* Flights to Canada, Alaska, Bahamas, or any other foreign destinations must be requested through the board of directors. If approved the member will receive written permission by
the board of directors and must be signed by the Chairmen of the Board and the owner of the aircraft desired.
10. Night Operations: Night operations by solo student pilots is prohibited. Student pilots night dual training is allowed. Night cross-country flights greater than 25 nautical miles are
prohibited for a pilot meeting any of the following conditions: has fewer than 100 hours total time; has fewer than 5 hours of night flying experience as PIC; or has fewer
than 5 hours of instrument instruction time.
11. IFR Operations: An instrument-rated member may operate an aircraft in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) provided that he/she: (1) has 150 hours total time, (2)
3 hours of simulated and/or actual IFR in the preceding 90 days. Pilots not meeting the minimums above or who are not current per the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) shall not
act as PIC of a club aircraft in actual IMC. A pilot receiving instruction from a club instructor is permitted to fly in IMC providing the instructor meets the currency requirements of
"The Flying Club of Columbus" and the FAR.
12. General Flight Operations:
Members are expected to exercise caution when starting and operating aircraft near other aircraft, vehicles or people. Members and non-members are requested to avoid driving or
parking their vehicles on ramp areas except temporarily to load or to unload baggage. Club aircraft are to be taxied slowly, at a speed no faster than a walk, on all ramp areas.
No member or non-member may taxi an aircraft through or into a tiedown. When parking an aircraft the pilot should stop on and parallel to the taxiway centerline and push the
aircraft back into the tiedown using a tow bar, if provided. When moving aircraft are on the same taxiway, and opposite direction the arriving aircraft is required to shutdown and
push back out of the way.
All pilots and passengers in club aircraft must use all furnished restraining devices provided in the aircraft during take-offs and landings; good operating practice dictates that
these devices be used throughout the entire flight.
No student touch and goes are allowed in club aircraft on any runway less than 4000 feet unless accompanied by a club flight instructor. Touch and goes are not permitted at any
time in aircraft with more than 200 total horsepower, turbo charging, complex aircraft, or which have a placard prohibiting touch and goes.
Intentional spins may only be done in designated aircraft.
Operations on dirt, sod, or gravel runways or at any airport that is not published in the Airport / Facility Directory requires prior approval by the club manager or Director of
Flight Safety (except in an emergency). In addition, it is the responsibility of the member or non-member to obtain proper permission from the airport operator prior to using any
restricted airport. For any flights over 50 nautical miles or over mountainous terrain, the member may be asked to submit a flight plan to be reviewed by a designated club
flight instructor. The club strongly encourages all members and non-members to file a flight plan with the local Flight Service Station for all flights of 50 NM or more.
13. Accident Reporting:
"The Flying Club of Columbus" takes every possible precaution to insure a safe training and recreational flight environment. In the unlikely event of an incident or accident
members and non-members are to follow these steps:
A. Verify and check the health of each occupant and seek medical attention if needed.
B. Secure the aircraft by notification of local law enforcement.
C. Notify "The Flying Club" at (334) 214-0217.
D. Neither the Pilot nor Passengers are allowed to move or tamper with the aircraft.
Section 3
Operations of Aircraft on Ground
1. All members and non-members are responsible for clearing the aircraft of all personal belongings and trash. In the event that the aircraft has not been cleared of trash an
$50.00 assessment may be added to the member or non-member's bill.
2. Any damage to the aircraft's exterior, interior, and/or avionics caused by the member or non-member will be the responsibility of the member or non-member.
3. Any squawk is to be reported upon checking in the aircraft through the e-flightmanager system being utilized by "The Flying Club of Columbus".
4. Fuel and Oil is to be brought back to the appropriate levels according to the "Club Aircraft" section of this manual.
5. All club aircraft are to be properly returned to the appropriate hanger or tiedown assigned to the aircraft.
Section 4
Aircraft Check-Outs and Currency
Check-Out Procedures:
Prior to acting a PIC of any club aircraft, club members and non-members must obtain an aircraft checkout from an authorized flight instructor for each type of aircraft the club
member or non-member wishes to rent.
Aircraft checkouts will consist of a minimum of one hour of flight instruction and sufficient ground instruction to familiarize the club member or non-member with the
operating characteristics of the aircraft. Required flight maneuvers include, but are not limited to, the following;
* flight at minimum controllable airspeed;
* stalls and stall avoidance;
* steep turns;
* normal, short and soft field take-offs and landings;
* Emergency procedures.
Initial checkouts for new club members will also include local airfield procedures and typical arrival and departure patterns.
Currency Requirements:
Club members and non-members must maintain aircraft currency in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91 (90 days category and class, tailwheel currency if applicable, night
currency and IFR currency if applicable). Pilots who fail to maintain currency in any of the required categories must obtain a currency review from a club flight instructor prior to
acting as PIC of any club aircraft for which their currency has lapsed.
Club members and non-members may not act as PIC of any club aircraft unless they have completed a biennial flight review within the past 24 calendar months. Club members
and non-members may not act as PIC of any club aircraft unless they have a valid medial certificate, as described in the Federal Aviation Regulations.
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