OCTOPUS FLYING CLUB, INC.
CLUB OPERATING PROCEDURES
November 18, 2008
INTRODUCTION
This document contains the rules and regulations
governing the operations of the Octopus Flying Club, Inc. (the Club), as set
forth by the Board of Directors, under the authority of the By Laws of the
Club.
MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the Club is divided into three separate tiers:
a) Advanced Level 1 (A1)
b) Regular (R)
c) Student (S)
A2, A1, and R memberships are available to any person, approved by the Board of
Directors, who possesses a Private Pilot Certificate or higher rating. S
memberships are available to any person, approved by the Board of Directors, who
is a student pilot or is interested in starting his or her flight training.
2. The total number of memberships in the Club shall not exceed 48. The minimum
number of memberships in the Club is 36.
Advanced Level 1 (A1): Minimum 14, Maximum 36
Regular (R): Minimum 22, Maximum 22 (includes A1 members)
Student (S): Minimum 0, Maximum 10
The minimums in A1 and R can be adjusted at the discretion of the Board of
Directors based on membership above the minimum in higher tiers.
Student memberships do not count toward the minimum membership numbers, but do
count toward the maximum.
3. A special classification of inactive membership exists for members who are
no longer actively flying, but may wish to resume flying in the future. An
inactive member cannot schedule a Club aircraft, and cannot act as
pilot-in-command of a Club aircraft. There is no limit to the number of
inactive memberships, but an inactive membership can be reactivated only when
the existing number of active memberships is less than the maximum allowable
number. Inactive requests must be submitted in writing to the Board of
Directors. The request is either accepted or declined by the Board within 48
hours. If accepted, the membership will become inactive on the last day of the
current calendar month at which time the financial commitment (monthly dues)
and aircraft scheduling privileges are suspended.
4. The Board of Directors may lower the total number of memberships in the Club
at any time and for any duration to ensure a reasonable availability of
aircraft to the Club members.
5. When the Club is at maximum membership, a waiting list will be maintained by
the Vice President of the Club. A $50.00, non-refundable fee will be charged
for an application to join the Club and to reserve a position on the waiting
list. An inactive member, who wishes to reactivate his or her membership, will
be placed at the head of the waiting list.
6. New members are required to provide the Board of Directors with photocopies
of his or her pilot certificate, medical certificate, the latest two pages of
pilot logbook entries, pilot logbook entries of the latest biennial flight
review and pertinent endorsements, and a photocopy of a government issued photo
I. D.
7. Resignation requests must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors.
The request is either accepted or declined by the Board within 48 hours. If
accepted, the membership will be terminated on the last day of the current
month at which point the financial commitment (monthly dues) and aircraft
scheduling privileges cease. The original membership fee will be refunded as
outlined in the Club Bylaws upon receipt of the aircraft keys less any owed
money. If the aircraft keys are not returned within 30 days of the effective
resignation date the membership fee is considered forfeited by the
member.
FEES, DUES, and PAYMENTS
1. A membership fee is required to be paid by all new members upon
acceptance into the club by the Board of Directors. This fee is refundable as
outlined herein and in the Club Bylaws. The initial membership fee is required
to be paid by check. The membership fees are as follows:
Advanced Level 1 (A1): $1350
Regular (R): $1200.00
Student: $500
2. Monthly membership dues are as follows:
Advanced Level 1 (A1): $136 per month
Regular (R): $94 per month
Student (S): $94 per month
Monthly dues for new members will be pro-rated, from the time the member
receives the aircraft keys, to the end of the current month. Monthly dues for
members who resign cease at the end of month in which the resignation is
accepted by the Board of Directors. Inactive members are exempt from the
monthly dues after the end of the month in which the inactive request is
approved by the Board of Directors.
3. Members are permitted to move between tiers as their flying needs change and
as the minimums/maximums in the tiers allow. Movement from one tier to another
must be requested in writing by the member and approved by the Board of
Directors. The move, if approved, will take place on the first day of the
following month. If the member is moving to a higher tier the member is
required to be paid in full up to the membership fee of the new tier they are
moving to prior to being given privileges in that tier. If the member is moving
to a lower tier the club will retain the current paid in membership fee on
account. Members may move up to a higher tier at any time, but must be in a
tier for a minimum of 6 months before moving to a lower tier.
4. The rate for each aircraft usage is listed in the Aircraft Usage Rate
Schedule. The rate includes the cost of fuel. A reimbursement will be made to a
member for fuel purchased at other airports. Reimbursement for fuel purchases
are obtained by deducting that amount from his or her monthly Club invoice. A
copy of that fuel purchase invoice must be submitted within 90 days for credit
to be given. That invoice must clearly itemize the purchase to include the
amount of fuel purchased, and the cost of the fuel. The aircraft tail number,
the date of the purchase, the member’s name, and the place the fuel was
purchased should also be included on the invoice. Fuel invoices over 90 days
are not eligible for reimbursement.
5. Members must record the hours used for each block of time that he or she has
scheduled. Entries must be made in the logbook located in the seatback of the
aircraft. Start and stop time, to the nearest one-tenth hour TACH time, must be
recorded. The one-hundredth hour reading, if available, is disregarded.
6. Any discrepancy between the actual start time, and the previously recorded
stop time, must be noted in the logbook, and should be noted as a separate line
entry. If a previous discrepancy is not noted, the time may be charged to the
following user.
7. An invoice will be sent to each member on or about the tenth of the month.
The invoice includes the dues for the current month, aircraft usage for the
previous month, and any other sum due to the Club. The invoice will also show
payments made, and credits allowed, for the previous month.
8. Members joining the Club after January 1, 2006 are required to maintain a
valid credit card on file for settlement of all account balances. Credit cards
on file will be charged the entire amount owed on the 15th of each month unless
payment via another method has already been received. All other member’s
payments are due by the 25th of each month. Any member who has failed to pay in
full by the 25th will incur a late charge of $20.00. Any member who incurs a
late fee twice in a 12 month period will be required to put a credit card on
file.
9. If a member’s payment is not received by the 25th of the month, he or she
will be suspended from using Club aircraft, and all schedules between the 26th
of the current month and 15th of the following month will be deleted. If
payment is not made by the 15th of the following month, all future reservations
will be deleted.
10. The member will be reinstated after his or her account is made current, but
reservations lost due to the suspension can only be rescheduled if that time is
still available.
11. Any lost aircraft Key will result in a $10.00 replacement charge per key.
12. The keys remain the property of the Club and must be returned to the Board
of Directors upon resignation of membership or upon request from the Board of
Directors.
AIRCRAFT RESERVATION SCHEDULING
1. Aircraft scheduling is administered through an Internet-based
computer scheduling system. Each member is allowed access to the scheduling
system through his or her Internet Service Provider, and by telephone touch
tone prompt. The scheduling system is available twenty four hours per day,
seven days of the week.
2. Each member is allowed to make reservations on a first come, first served,
basis, up to 90 days in advance.
3. Each member is allowed a total of up to 3 reservations on the scheduling
system at any one time.
4. A Regular Member and Advanced Member Level 1 is allowed to schedule up to
200 hours of reservation time, with no limit, other than the member's maximum
amount, on the length of any one reservation.
5. A student member is allowed to schedule a maximum of 6 hours per
reservation.
6. A student member is restricted to scheduling the use of the Club training
aircraft.
7. A Regular Member is restricted to scheduling the use of the Archer (N6151H)
and the Warrior (N9476R).
8. Advanced Member Level 1 is restricted to scheduling the use of the Arrow
(N9111K), the Archer (N6151H), and the Warrior (N9476R).
9. A Regular Member and Advanced Member Level 1 is restricted to scheduling the
Club training aircraft for a maximum of 6 hours per day.
10. The Club training aircraft is currently the Warrior (N9476R). The Board of
Directors may occasionally make other aircraft available to student members,
based on demand and availability of the primary training aircraft.
11. There is no minimum flight time required for any length of reservation,
however, a reasonable amount of time must be utilized, and logged, for every
reservation that remains on the schedule.
12. Reservations may be canceled at any time prior to the start of the
reservation without a penalty.
13. If a reservation is made, and not canceled prior to the start of the
reservation, and no time is logged, the member who made the reservation will be
assessed a penalty.
14. A cancellation made within the first hour of the reservation will result in
a penalty of $10.00, unless a zero-time entry is made in the aircraft logbook,
indicating that the member was at the airport, and had a valid reason for the
late cancellation.
15. A cancellation made after the first hour of the reservation will result in
a penalty of 25% of the hourly cost of the aircraft for each hour of lapsed
time into the reservation, up to a maximum of 25% of 4 hours per day. A
zero-time log entry will not waive this penalty.
16. If a member fails to cancel a reservation, and does not utilize the
aircraft, he or she will receive a penalty of 25% of the hourly cost of the
aircraft for each hour of the reservation, up to a maximum of 25% of 4 hours
per day.
17. The start time of each reservation must be scheduled for the member's
actual arrival time at the airport. If the member's plans are changed, then he
or she must change the reservation start time. If bad weather will delay the
departure of a flight, the member must change the reservation start time to
reflect when he or she will actually get to the airport or start the flight. A
member's arrival time at the airport should be no later than 30 minutes past
the scheduled start time of the reservation.
18. The Club’s “No-Show” policy allows a member to override the schedule of
another member and take their aircraft in the event that the other member has
not arrived at the airport within one hour of the beginning of their
reservation.
19. When a member completes his or her use of the aircraft earlier than
originally scheduled, the remainder of the reservation must be canceled
whenever the remaining time is greater than 30 minutes. If a member is
returning much earlier than planned, he or she must adjust the scheduled end
time as soon as plans are finalized, to give other members the opportunity to
use the aircraft.
20. When a member cannot return an aircraft as planned, due to weather or other
circumstances, he or she must notify the next scheduled user of the aircraft,
and make all necessary arrangements to return the aircraft as soon as possible.
21. All reservations of 4 or more hours in length shall require the recording
of the member's destination on the scheduling system.
22. Exceptions to the scheduling rules can be made by the Board of Directors to
accommodate special circumstances.
PREFLIGHT PREPARATIONS
1. The aircraft squawk book, located in the aircraft, must be reviewed
before each use of the aircraft.
2. Windows must only be cleaned with cleaners approved for aviation windows, or
with water. Windex brand or other ammonia-based cleaners cannot be used, as
these products will permanently cloud plastic widows. Window wipes or cleaning
cloths used for cleaning the windows must be labeled as non-abrasive, as many
paper towel products can scratch the windows.
3. Engine oil level must be checked before each operation of the aircraft, and
added as needed. A notation in the squawk book must be made whenever oil is
added indicating the amount of oil added, the type of oil, the level prior to
adding oil, the date, and the TACH time. Do not overfill the engine oil, as
excess oil will be blown out during flight. The minimum and maximum oil levels
are listed on the club information card in each aircraft.
4. Pre-heating the engine is required if the outside temperature is below 20ºF.
Pre-heating when the outside temperature is below 20ºF will be paid as an
expense of the Club.
SECURING THE AIRCRAFT AFTER FLIGHT
1. Each member is responsible for refueling and properly securing the
aircraft after his or her use of the aircraft. If returning after the fuel
facilities are closed, the member must contact and notify the next scheduled
user of the aircraft, and telephone a request to the fuel supplier for fuel on
the following morning.
2. The fuel used in each aircraft is 100-octane, low lead (100LL) aviation
fuel.
3. Properly securing the aircraft includes: shutting off the avionics master
switch; shutting off all electrical equipment; parking the aircraft on its
proper tie-down space or in the hanger; tying down the aircraft outside or
chocking its wheels in the hanger; securing the control yoke with a seat belt
or control lock; securing the remaining seat belts and harnesses; logging
flight time and squawks; removing trash and debris; locking the window and
doors; installing the cover when parked outside; and installing the cowl plugs.
4. The parking brake must not be used for any length of time. Standard uses of
the parking brake include preflight preparations, engine run-up, and
temporarily holding the aircraft prior to securing the aircraft with tie down
lines or wheel chocks.
5. The hanger doors must be closed, and secured in place after the aircraft has
been removed from the hanger, and after returning from a flight, as wind can
lift and damage the doors if they are not secured in place.
6. Responsibility for refueling and securing the aircraft can only be passed on
to the next user if the next user is present at the aircraft and accepts that
responsibility.
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICE
1. If a problem is found concerning the airworthiness of an aircraft the
Aircraft Maintenance Officer for that aircraft must be notified by telephone.
If that Aircraft Maintenance Officer cannot be reached, a voice message must be
left regarding the nature of the problem, and a telephone call must be made to
the Chief Maintenance Officer. If the Chief Maintenance Officer cannot be
reached a voice message must be left and the member is required to contact one
of the other Aircraft Maintenance Officers. Further, a note concerning the
problem must be entered in the aircraft squawk book by the member that
discovered the problem, and that member must make every effort to notify the
next scheduled user of the aircraft. If it is not possible to notify the next
user, the squawk book must be placed on the pilot's seat as an indication that
it contains an urgent message. E-mail messages for any problem involving the
airworthiness of an aircraft cannot be used as the primary communication
mechanism and may only be used to communicate backup or supporting information.
2. If a problem is found that does not concern the airworthiness of the
aircraft, a note concerning the problem must be entered in the aircraft squawk
book and the Aircraft Maintenance Officer for that aircraft must be notified by
telephone or e-mail
3. The member's assistance with the repair process is always appreciated.
Repairs or maintenance of $100 or less needed to safely complete a return
flight can be made without prior approval, but notification of repairs must be
made to the Aircraft Maintenance Officer for that aircraft and noted in the
squawk book. All authorizations for repairs, adjustments, or modifications, and
the authorization to spend any money to make such repairs, adjustments, or
modifications, over $100 must come from the Chief Maintenance Officer, the
Aircraft Maintenance Officer of that aircraft, or a Board Member.
4. Minor maintenance, such as tire inflation, adding engine oil, and replacing
a burnt out landing light, can be done by a member, and that maintenance work
must be noted in the squawk book.
5. Notification that an aircraft is grounded shall only be made by the Chief
Maintenance Officer or the Aircraft Maintenance Officer of that aircraft.
GENERAL OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
1. Members must follow all applicable federal, state, and local
government laws, and abide by the rules and regulations of any airport visited,
when using any of the Club aircraft.
2. The pilot-in-command (PIC) of a Club aircraft must be a member of the Club.
The only exception to this is when a Club member is receiving dual instruction
from a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and the CFI is the PIC.
3. Club members, who are also flight instructors, cannot give flight
instruction to nonmembers in the Club aircraft.
4. Each member must receive training and a pilot logbook sign off from a CFI,
in each of the Club aircraft, before operating that aircraft as PIC. Each
member must also receive training and a pilot logbook sign off from a CFI, in
each of the Club aircraft, before night operations as PIC. A night time check
out will satisfy both day time and night requirements.
5. The Club’s policy for ‘Pilot Qualifications’ are as follows:
Checkout Requirements for N9476R and
N6151H
Any flying club
member who meets all of the following requirements:
1.
has a
current and effective medical certificate (unless a pre-solo student pilot);
2.
satisfies
the FAA’s flight review requirements;
3.
has received a
check-out from, and written approval of, a certificated flight instructor in
the same make and model (PA28-161 and PA28-181) as the insured aircraft.
Note: Separate checkouts are required in
N9476R and N6151H. This applies to all
pilots, regardless of the number of hours you have in each aircraft.
Checkout
Requirements for N9111K
Any flying club
member who meets all of the following requirements:
1. has a Private, Commercial, or Airline
Transport Pilot certificate;
2. has a current and effective medical
certificate;
3. satisfies the FAA’s flight review
requirements;
4. has at least 100 hours of total logged
flight time;
5. has at least the following logged pilot
time in the same make and model (PA28-R200) as the insured aircraft prior to
acting as pilot in command;
a. 10 hours if member has less than 50 hours
of logged pilot time in retractable gear aircraft; or;
b. 5 hours if member has 50 or more hours of
logged flight time in retractable gear aircraft; or;
c. 1 hour if member has 500 or more hours
total logged flight time and 100 or more hours in retractable gear aircraft;
6. has at least 3 hours logged pilot time in
the same make and model (PA28-R200) as the insured aircraft in the preceding
180 days, or has taken and passed a currency check-out in the insured aircraft
(N9111K), and written approval from a Certified Flight Instructor in the
preceding 45 days;
7. has received a check-out from, and written
approval of, a certificated flight instructor in the same make and model
(PA28-R200) as the insured aircraft.
Note: If you do note meet the 3 hours requirement
in #6 above the requirement specifically states that the currency checkout must
be done in N9111K. A currency checkout
in another PA28-R200 does not meet this requirement. Also note that the currency checkout is only
good for 45 days. To extend that out to
180 days you must get the full 3 hours of flight time as noted within the 45
days.
6. Each member is required to possess a personal copy of the Pilot’s Operating
Handbook (POH) or Pilot’s Information Manual (PIM) for each aircraft in which
they intend to act as PIC. Manuals for each aircraft the member has privileges
in will be supplied to the member and billed to that member unless the member
notifies the Board of Directors that they already possess a copy of the
required manuals.
7. Student pilot members, when using the Club aircraft, must be under the supervision
of a CFI at all times.
8. The aircraft Engine and Airframe Logbooks will be maintained in the locker
in the hangar. The logbooks cannot be removed from the hangar except as
required for a mechanic recording maintenance work or for review by a flight
examiner. The Pilot's Operating Handbook is required to be in the aircraft at
all times and cannot be removed from the aircraft unless prior approval is
obtained from the Chief Maintenance Officer.
9. Smoking is not allowed in any of the Club aircraft or in the Club hangar.
10. Any loss or damage to a Club aircraft, or any loss or damage that results
from the operation of a Club aircraft, will be the financial responsibility of
that member who had custody of the aircraft at that time, up to the deductible
amount of the Club insurance policy.