FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Answers on cost, the buy-in, aircraft, home base, instruction, and founding membership. Still have a question? Email us.
How much does it cost?
A one-time buy-in of $5,000, flat monthly dues of $150, and $150.55/hr in the Warrior — per tach hour, wet, so fuel is included. You pay the hourly rate only for the hours you fly.
What experience do I need?
75 hours total time and 60 hours as pilot in command, plus a current medical or BasicMed and a current flight review. There is no time-in-type minimum — the club checkout covers that. Our insurance does not cover pilots over 78.
Are student pilots accepted?
No. Members hold at least a private pilot certificate. We treat the airplanes as our own, and primary training is hard on them — more landings, more wear, and more risk of damage, which raises what the club pays in insurance and repairs.
What aircraft do we fly?
Today, one: 1976 Piper Warrior (PA-28-151, 160 hp), N8528C. Four seats, 160 horsepower, and a basic IFR panel. A $100 hamburger, a weekend away, or an hour of approaches — without thinking about the bill.
In the next 6–12 months we plan to add two more planes, if our membership keeps growing: a second everyday airplane with an IFR GPS, and a more capable traveler with an autopilot.
Where is the club based?
Essex County Airport (KCDW) in Caldwell. As the fleet grows, additional aircraft may be based at nearby airports such as Morristown (MMU) or Lincoln Park (N07).
Do I need to be an instrument pilot?
No — you can join and fly VFR. The Warrior has a basic IFR panel: two navs, ILS and VOR, with ADS-B Out. Its GPS is approved for VFR only, so it flies ILS, localizer and VOR approaches but not GPS approaches. The second airplane we plan to add will have an IFR GPS.
What is the checkout like?
A flight with an instructor covering the airplane, club procedures, and normal and emergency operations. You pick your instructor from the club's approved list and pay them directly. Each make and model needs its own checkout.
How does scheduling work?
Online, first come first served. Nobody gets priority and there is no limit on how far ahead you can book. You hold four reservation points at a time: a same-day booking costs none, up to four hours costs one, up to a day costs two, and longer costs three. Points come back when the flight is done or cancelled.
Can I take a plane away for a weekend?
Yes, and there is no daily minimum — you pay for the tach time you fly, not for the days it is away. While we have only one airplane, reservations are capped at three days — longer needs two board members to approve, as does a trip covering parts of two weekends. That cap goes away when the second airplane arrives.
Do I have to fly a certain amount to stay current?
Two hours as pilot in command in club aircraft every 90 days, or a flight with a club-approved instructor, plus one instructor flight a year. If you fall behind, a short flight with an instructor puts you back on the schedule.
Can I train for more ratings, or use my own CFI?
Yes, and we encourage it. Work on an instrument, commercial, or CFI rating in club aircraft — it makes you a better and safer pilot, which is good for you and good for the club.
Use any instructor on the club's approved list, member or not. An instructor has to be permitted by our insurance to get on the list, and only some are approved to do checkouts. You pay your instructor directly.
Can I bring passengers?
Yes, subject to the FARs and our insurance. A passenger cannot act as pilot in command, and no flight may be flown for hire.
How does fuel work?
Fuel is included in the hourly rate. Bring the plane back with no more than 30 gallons — a full airplane costs the next pilot useful load they might need — so fuelling for your own trip is your job. Buy fuel away from base and the club credits it back to your bill up to the home-base price, against a receipt.
How does billing work?
One bill a month, out by the 5th. It covers that month's dues plus the flying you did the month before, and it is due by the 20th. We require electronic payment by bank debit.
Am I covered by the club's insurance?
The club carries hull and liability insurance, and members are named as insureds for flying club aircraft. The policy also waives subrogation in favor of members, so the insurer cannot come after you after paying a claim. You have to meet the insurer's pilot requirements, which is what the minimums and the checkout are for.
We do encourage you to carry your own non-owned aircraft insurance — a renter's policy covering your personal liability, plus hull-deductible coverage for the deductible you would owe the club after a claim. It is usually inexpensive.
What happens if I break something?
Report it — squawks are normal and reporting one is never held against you. If it is not airworthy, ground it and tell the president or maintenance officer.
For damage, the member flying pays the club's insurance deductible whether or not it was anyone's fault, and you get a hearing before anything is assessed. This is what non-owned aircraft insurance with hull-deductible reimbursement is for — it is not required, it is inexpensive, and we strongly encourage it.
Who maintains the airplane?
The club arranges all maintenance with its mechanic. You are never expected to organize or pay for a repair yourself. If you are qualified you may do owner-permitted preventive maintenance, with approval in advance and properly logged.
What's a founding member?
A founding member helps launch the club by putting in capital up front, or by doing the unpaid work of getting it started. Everyone pays the same $5,000 buy-in; a founder lends the club more on top of it — typically $5,000 to $15,000 — as a documented, refundable loan the club repays as it grows. In return, founding members hold the governing vote on major decisions during the founding period. Dues, rates, and aircraft access are identical to every other member's.
Is my money protected if I lend the club more as a founding member?
Yes. Anything above the standard buy-in is a documented, refundable loan, repaid ahead of other member payouts as the club grows. Members who guarantee club financing are also protected by a written indemnification agreement.
Who runs the club?
A board of three — president, treasurer, and secretary — elected by the members. Founding members hold the vote on major decisions during the founding period, after which every member votes equally.
Is this a nonprofit?
Yes. We are incorporated in New Jersey as a nonprofit corporation and operate as a 501(c)(7) tax-exempt social club. The governing documents are published here.
What happens if I need to leave the club?
People move, change jobs, or stop flying — it happens. You let the board know and go on the exit list. Your membership passes to the next incoming member, and their buy-in pays you out, up to 90% of what you paid. Until it transfers you stay responsible for dues, and after six months on the list you can switch to inactive status to pause them.
When you join, you are required to remain a member for 18 months. We require this so nobody treats the club as cheap rental or time-building. If your circumstances change before then, the board can let you start the exit early at their discretion.
Members wanted
Thinking about it? Apply now.
Apply whether or not you can be a founding member. We have our first airplane; we are signing up the members who will fly it and help us get our second and third planes.