I Just Got My Membership With A Flying Club

[Derek]

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Here is a picture of the flying site. It's about 10 miles from my house. They have a long gravel driveway that leads from the country road to the airstrip. They have a very nice clubhouse with vending machines and trash cans. There is a very nice pavilion type shelter with park benches and benches to work on your models. There is a very nice paved runway and the grass on the other side of the runway is always cut very short to act as a grass runway. I'm very much looking forward to this.

As I understand it, I will spend a few flights with a club instructor. That's understandable. They want to "know" that I know how to setup my equipment and they want to "know" that I know how to fly. Once I prove myself, I can come and go as I please....anytime of day or night (potential for night flying). I paid a "one time fee" of $30 as an initiation fee and my annual dues of $60. Next year, I will just have to pay $60. I mentioned the club instructor, above....fortunately, I have already met the guy and I have spoken with him many times at my LHS....so, I'm somewhat familiar with the guy that will be looking over my shoulder, lol.

The weather is really starting to break around here so I'm hoping to be able to meet up with the club instructor very soon. I did do a bit of flying at my usual spot the other day. It was fun....no crashes, lol.

I'll be sure to share pics and video from the new club site.

[DOG]

Hey Derek. Looks like a nice place to fly. Hope that the members are friendly and not to many rules to follow. Good luck and enjoy! Pics & Videos please.

[Tony]

Sounds really good D, hope you have some fun flying there

[pvolcko]

Wow. Great field. And very reasonable price for the facilities they offer. I don't know how you managed to not join for so long.

[Derek]

Sounds really good D, hope you have some fun flying there

Thanks Tony! It's definitely going to be a lot of fun.

Wow. Great field. And very reasonable price for the facilities they offer. I don't know how you managed to not join for so long.

Yeah...I didn't mind paying the money so that I can fly with the club. I've been to a few of their fun fly events and they do a really good job. Most of them are 15+ years older than me but they all seem to be really good guys.

[danhampson]

That looks like an awesome flying field, i wish there were something like that around here.
Good luck with the club Derek you should have loads of fun there.

[Graham Lawrie]

Cool Derek:)

[xaero]

Cool Derek. I bet you will enjoy it alot.

One of the best things with be in a flyingclub here in sweden is, it is a insurance in the membership that cover accidents. For example you crash your model in a car so do the insurance cover the damage for it. I feel that is very good. That and all the fun togheter with other people with the same interest is the mainreason to why im a member in the club.

[murankar]

I can't wait to join my club. I just found out the actual costs of the club. Its 60 for the first year and 10 for every year after. Not to bad for me I think, plus it covers their fun fly events which are basically limited to members and guests.

[Vipertech13]

Wow that is a nice field! I'm a little jealous, great find that close to home.

[Derek]

Thanks Gerald! It really is a nice looking place. Very open.

[Lee]

That looks like a great site Derek, and the price is amazing.
The facilities at my nearest club are similar to that, but 10 times the price to join

[Derek]

10 times the price? That's insane!!!

[wolfman76]

WOW!!!! very nice looking derek only thing i got at my field that compares to that vield is we also have a paved runway at the Chicago Model Masters airfield and that is a steal of a price to pay for all of that great deal bro enjoy....

[Derek]

So, that was March 11 when I started this thread. Here we are, nearly 4 months later, and I've not been able to fly at the flying field. They gave me a "pilots checklist" and they said that I can't fly there until this checklist has been completed by a club instructor. The checklist basically is a paper that I would have the instructor look over my initial plane (checking linkages, checking control surface deflections, etc, etc). Then I'd do a range check and then a flight demo for the instructor. This checklist and initial flight is just to show them that I am knowledgeable about my plane and that I am skillful enough to take off, fly, and land safely. All that is easy enough.

The problem is....I haven't been able to contact anyone from the club to meet me at the flying field. I've been at the flying field several times, since March 11, and no one is there. I've left messages on their Facebook page and I still get no reply.

Back in March when I got my membership card, I paid the club $90 ($30 initiation fee, $60 club dues). I'm gonna be pretty pissed off if I've paid this money and I get nothing in return. I don't just donate $90 because I have $90 just sitting around.

Ok...I'm done venting. Ugh!

Thanks for listening, guys!

[DOG]

Hey Derek. I had a problem with a flying club down here. It didn't cost me money but if they don't want you in their so call "Click" they wouldn't pay attention but when it comes to money collection....... they're your friend then. To this day on, we just fly in my back yard and have fun.

[DamhDearg]

That's not cool Derek.
There comes a time when you being patient and reasonable with someone turns into them taking the piss.
Your not the type to jump into confrontation for no reason, $90 is not pocket change even considering the hobby your in.

Don't feel bad for complaining dude, I hope you can get your money back and find some good people to fly with!

[pvolcko]

That blows. My ideas:

This is the Flying Circuits club in Fort Wayne, right? Picture on the website looks the same at least.

Their latest newsletter says Tuesday evenings are for beginner training. Thursdays are also training evenings. Have you gone to the field on either of these days in the afternoon/evening? Says in there that there is a contact person for beginners to arrange assignment to an instructor and whatnot (name and phone number for the person in the newsletter), have you called them?

Newsletter also has a listing of official instructors with phone numbers, have you called any of them to try to arrange a time to meet and get certified?

If you believe you've made reasonable efforts along those lines, then you can and should contact the club president or VP directly (phone and email provided in newletter) and explain the issue you're having and ask for help in getting certified. If you still can't get any response or get people to stick to agreed times/dates: go to a club meeting and demand full refund and explain that you will be contacting the AMA district VP and AMA national to voice your dissatisfaction with your experience at the club. This last bit is the so called "nuclear" option, because it can have blowback consequences for you if the club is in good with the district honcho or AMA national. BEing that you're so close to AMA HQ, this is probably a good bet.

<flame suit on>
Keep in mind, a lot of clubs are organized and run by retired guys who operate on a totally different willy nilly schedule compared to us youthful, vibrant working folks. They like to do a lot of stuff during the work week and work hours and avoid human contact on weekends when us poor schlubs finally have a moment.
</flame suit>

[Derek]

Yes, I did go to the field on many ocassions and no one was there. I did call two of the"instructors" and left voicemail...got no reply.

On my way to work today, I did call the president directly and explained the situation. I told him that ive Ben to a club meeting, paid my money, and the "assigned" instructor stood me up when we were suppose to meet. I said I wanted my money back. He did apologize and he did talk me into reconsidering. About 5 minutes later, I get a call from a retired instructor saying that he will meet me anytime that is good for me.

Im going to try this again. We'll see what happens

[Tony]

Good luck on that D. Hope you get to show this guy what your made of.