Aero Clubs: The Ideal Avenue for Flying Activities
Aero Clubs are great organizations for those with the heart for flying activities. Also commonly referred to as flying clubs, aero clubs are basically special interest organizations molded by a roster of members with a particular passion for flying, as these individuals engage in various flying activities, sure to satisfy their flying urges.
Commonly, Aero Clubs feature many flying activities which members all greatly and actively participate in. These flying activities include flight trainings, which involve how to actually fly an aircraft, how to form a flying plan, the basics of pilot supplies, and other aircraft maintenance related tasks. Social flying activities like airport to airport jaunts, and even sponsored air shows, are more of the recreational variety of flying activities. Some non-profit Aero Clubs go as far as actually operating an airport, which basically tops all flying activities when talking about flying activities for aero clubs. Also, during emergency situations, members of aero clubs take part in various emergency rescue operations, the varieties of which involve aircrafts.
Generally, there are two major categories of aero clubs; the equity and non-equity aero club. Both classes of aero clubs are the ideal venues for flying activities, but differ from each other in a "financial" sense.
Equity Aero Clubs
Equity flying clubs are the class of flying clubs where roster members actually have to "buy into" the club, owing a share or portion of whatever asset, or assets, is/are credited to the equity aero club's name. More often than not, this asset is usually an aircraft, which, though the utilization of an equity aero club's monthly fees, is maintained by the equity aero club.
Financial concerns such as insurance fees, hangar rental fees, and annual aircraft maintenance and checkup fees, are among the many financial concerns which the monthly fees of equity aero clubs are geared to cover.
As aero clubs, equity aero clubs stand to be the more "pricy" variety of aero clubs.
Non-Equity Aero Club
Opposing the more "pricy" value of Equity Aero Clubs, Non-Equity Aero clubs are the class of aero clubs where members don't actually have to "buy into" the club, as most non-equity aero clubs don't have any aircraft assets attributed to the club, but rather rents out aircrafts, in the successful flow of a club's flying activities. Monthly dues are taken in by non-equity aero clubs for such costs.
So if you have the heart to fly, engage in the flying activities which are offered by aero clubs. You won't regret it.