Base Aero Club or FBO?
06-20-2007, 08:08 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Desk :(
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Base Aero Club or FBO?
Not sure if I should post this in the Flight School section, or Military, so I picked here because of the Jargon...
Anyway, I got passed over for LtCol during my "staff" tour. Since I wa late to rate, I don't have enough "retainability" to go back to requal. So I am doing y stint at Osan, and then get to go back to Eglin to do my last bit of time before mandator retirement.
Since I'm not doing any military flying anymore, in your OPINION,, is it better to go do some flying at a base aero club (and deal with all the SVS BS) or find a friendly FBO and pay maye a bit more? Would like to stay out of debt since retirement is right around the corner you know.
Anyway, I got passed over for LtCol during my "staff" tour. Since I wa late to rate, I don't have enough "retainability" to go back to requal. So I am doing y stint at Osan, and then get to go back to Eglin to do my last bit of time before mandator retirement.
Since I'm not doing any military flying anymore, in your OPINION,, is it better to go do some flying at a base aero club (and deal with all the SVS BS) or find a friendly FBO and pay maye a bit more? Would like to stay out of debt since retirement is right around the corner you know.
06-21-2007, 07:44 AM
#2
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,293
Ir depends on how much flying you want to do. If you just want to maintain currency, out in town could be less hassles.
If you need to have "200 hours in the last 12 months" or something like that in order to apply for an airline job, the aero club might be cheaper.
It also depends on where you're loacted. There's a HUGE amount of general aviation in central florida, it probably doesn't get much cheaper than that...not sure how it is up around Panama City but my guess is still pretty cheap.
If you need a couple hundred hours in a year, it might also make sense just to buy a small single-engine airplane and sell iy when you're done. A high-time engine would be pretty cheap and still fulfill your mission. Just try to resist the temptation to take that high-time single-engine direct from Panama City to Tampa Bay
Maybe go via Talahasee. The normal break-even point between renting and owning an ASEL is about 100 hours/year.
If you need to have "200 hours in the last 12 months" or something like that in order to apply for an airline job, the aero club might be cheaper.
It also depends on where you're loacted. There's a HUGE amount of general aviation in central florida, it probably doesn't get much cheaper than that...not sure how it is up around Panama City but my guess is still pretty cheap.
If you need a couple hundred hours in a year, it might also make sense just to buy a small single-engine airplane and sell iy when you're done. A high-time engine would be pretty cheap and still fulfill your mission. Just try to resist the temptation to take that high-time single-engine direct from Panama City to Tampa Bay
Maybe go via Talahasee. The normal break-even point between renting and owning an ASEL is about 100 hours/year.
06-30-2007, 07:55 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Brown
Posts: 1,126
Have you looked into a part time job flying for Amerijet or some King Air operator? Assuming you have C-12 experience, that might be an easy thing for you to do. I know of others in non-flying jobs in the USAF who have taken a part time civie job in order to remain current. I also am certain you could get a job at any regional when you get out and could work your network while you accrue more recent flight experience. On retirement pay you could probably still feed the family on RJ FO wages, at least for a while.
07-01-2007, 07:55 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: B737/FO
Posts: 227
I did both during my non-flying tour at KWRI in the 90's. Civilian was more interesting, more laid back, more challenging (tiny uncontrolled airstrip), and more expensive. I ended up switching to the base aero club. Less expensive, and I found flying in the military environment more familiar and comfortable. I enjoyed doing both, but $$ was the deciding factor.
Don't know for sure, but I don't think either way makes a difference to the airlines. You are much better off trying to find part time/contract work in something bigger than a piston, though.
Don't know for sure, but I don't think either way makes a difference to the airlines. You are much better off trying to find part time/contract work in something bigger than a piston, though.
07-02-2007, 08:04 PM
#6
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Would you believe the cancelled ACE the day I was supposed to start... I never got any C-12 time. I am pretty much an all jet guy.
Hadn't thought about the partial ownership. Heck, I know a guy at Eglin when I get back there! Wonder what he will think...
I did the Aero Club thing at FFO and some at Eglin, and it was just hassle after hassle. ESPECIALLY if you have 3000 hours in jets and heavies. They go for the lowest common denominator philosophy. Not to mention that Eglin does the Navy's pre-Flight Screening program, so scheduling is a nightmare.
Hadn't thought about the partial ownership. Heck, I know a guy at Eglin when I get back there! Wonder what he will think...
I did the Aero Club thing at FFO and some at Eglin, and it was just hassle after hassle. ESPECIALLY if you have 3000 hours in jets and heavies. They go for the lowest common denominator philosophy. Not to mention that Eglin does the Navy's pre-Flight Screening program, so scheduling is a nightmare.
07-02-2007, 09:11 PM
#7
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Joined APC: Apr 2005
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I also did both during my (final) two year non flying tour: I got my CSEL and CFI through the aero club, then taught part time at a local FBO.
Unless you buy or can find a really good deal on block time, I'd say stay with the aero club. You probably won't be able to beat the price on an hourly rate, and the facilities will generally be nice and the planes well maintained. Sometimes the maintenance at your local mom-and-pop FBO can be less than what you're used to.
On the down side, you'll have to deal with the usual USAF BS of monthly safety meetings and stan/eval tests for every airplane, but for someone just getting into general aviation, that's not entirely a bad thing.
Don't worry about not being current in jets when you get out. I hadn't flown anything bigger than a Beech Duchess for two years when I interviewed, and it wasn't an issue at all.
Good luck,
Z
Unless you buy or can find a really good deal on block time, I'd say stay with the aero club. You probably won't be able to beat the price on an hourly rate, and the facilities will generally be nice and the planes well maintained. Sometimes the maintenance at your local mom-and-pop FBO can be less than what you're used to.
On the down side, you'll have to deal with the usual USAF BS of monthly safety meetings and stan/eval tests for every airplane, but for someone just getting into general aviation, that's not entirely a bad thing.
Don't worry about not being current in jets when you get out. I hadn't flown anything bigger than a Beech Duchess for two years when I interviewed, and it wasn't an issue at all.
Good luck,
Z
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