2021 Flying Club Survey Results Are In!
Every year for the past 5 years, the Flying Clubs Team has surveyed our Network Flying Clubs to find out more about how they operate and what challenges they are facing. We are always so grateful to the clubs that take the time to fill out these surveys, and one lucky club won a shiny new Sporty’s PJ2 Radio! More on that later…
From this survey we learned some surprising and promising things. Clubs flew 21% more this year than last year, and we also found that more clubs are adding members and maintaining wait lists. It is very exciting to see flying clubs fly more and grow more, because it shows that pilots everywhere are realizing the benefits of club membership. It can’t all be good news however, flying clubs reported an average insurance premium increase of 17%, up from 15% last year. We are continuing to work on this issue and encourage clubs everywhere to take an active role in their safety and pilot proficiency cultures. It is very helpful to have a documented way to show that your club is a safe one, so why not try Wings for Clubs! You can learn more in this month’s safety section.
Flying Clubs Radio Year in Review
This year Steve and Drew recorded twelve new editions of Flying Clubs Radio! We were all over the place with topics, ranging from new member checkouts to discussing ways your club can prepare for the future while attracting new and younger members. Be sure to check back often for more editions, we have a full list planned for 2022!
AOPA You Can Fly Scholarship Applications Still Open
If you or someone you know is interested in learning to fly or earning an advanced rating, we encourage you to apply for one of our scholarships! The James C Ray Foundation has graciously sponsored a number of scholarships for high students and teachers as well as primary and advanced student pilots of all ages. To apply, you must have completed the written exam for the rating you are working on. We recommend that you check out the resources Sporty’s offers to help you study for these exams. A test prep guide makes a great holiday gift!
To learn more about these scholarships, click here.
What a Year It Has Been…
This past year wasn’t without its challenges, but the flying clubs initiative had a very successful year! We supported the formation of 33 flying clubs, presented scores of FAASTeam Wings Programs, and attended meetings with clubs all over the country. Steve and Drew were able to make in person appearances at fly-in events in Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. We also unveiled a NEW flying clubs presentation focused on the benefits of flying clubs for newly licensed pilots. We are crossing our fingers and tentatively planning some more in person events next year, so stay tuned for more on that! Thank you so much for a wonderful year in the flying clubs world, we hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous 2022. We’ll see you all in the new year!
Thank you,
Steve and Drew, your flying clubs crew
