“The Armed Forces Aero Club is
a not-for-profit organization that maintains a fleet
of club owned aircraft primarily for recreational use by its members.
We commit to maintain
a competent training resource for basic and advanced ratings overseen
by a training officer
as an important but secondary mission. We seek to promote general
aviation through
social activities, public education, and charitable donations of time
to our community.”
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Who May Join:
Veterans
of Military Service, Employees of the Federal Government, the State of
California, the County of San Diego, the Cities located within San
Diego County, members of the armed forces or the organized reserve
components of the armed forces, retired members of any of the above
organizations, and the dependents and immediate family members of any
active Club member. Service academy midshipmen or cadets, college
students enrolled in an ROTC program, and basic or advanced student
pilots with no military or civil service affiliation are also eligible.
If you have any questions or doubts as to your eligibility, call one of
the Board Members.
Ways
To Get Information and Join:
1. To
expedite the application process, submit our APPLY
TO JOIN AFAC form online.
2. Call 24 hour Answering Service (858) 874-AFAC.
3. Call or email a Club Officer listed below on this page or attend a
Club meeting.
4. Visit Crownair's Executive Airpark (formerly Gibbs Flying Service) (858) 292-1181 and see our aircraft.
Private Pilot Certificate:
After joining AFAC, a member can select an instructor of their choice from
the list of approved AFAC Instructors, or request assistance from the
AFAC Training Officer. The instructor will provide information on
aircraft, procedures and general requirements for getting started.
The FAA requires a MINIMUM of 20 hours
instruction and 20 hours of solo time before you are eligible for a
Private Pilot Certificate. However, FAA studies report that the
National Average is 71 hours (42 dual & 29 solo) at an average
cost of $13,365 ($135/hr aircraft and $60/hr instructor) to attain the
Certificate. This also includes typically about 21 additional ground instruction hours.
Certificated
Pilots:
You
may want to get checked out in one or more AFAC aircraft.
Instructors: If you would like to instruct in
AFAC,
contact the AFAC Training Officer.
Training
and Check Out:
AFAC
Instructors provide instruction for Private, Commercial, Instrument,
Flight Instructor, and ATP Certificates. All flight instruction is
arranged on a personal basis between the member and their instructor.
Operations: All aircraft except the ones we lease
when necessary based on demand, to be operated exclusively by AFAC,
are owned by the members of AFAC. All are based at Crownair'sExecutive Airpark, formerly the Gibbs FBO at Montogomery Field.
Insurance: While operating an AFAC aircraft,
individual members and AFAC have Bodily Injury and Property Damage
Liability coverage. Members may be liable for damage resulting from
negligence, carelessness or pilot error up to but not exceeding $1000
per incident or accident.
Club
Meetings:
Normally
held in February, May, September, and December on dates and locations
announced by email and in the monthly "Brief Sheet" newsletter, which
is posted under Club Information. The location is generally at the
Montgomery Field Operations Building in the Conference room, a hangar,
or other place on or near the airport, depending on what activity is
planned.
Monthly
Newsletter:
The
Brief Sheet is published on this web site or sent to Active members on
request each month, and contains information about AFAC activities and
aviation articles. Members are encouraged to write articles for the
Brief Sheet. New edition posting notices are sent out first through Facebook
and Twitter,
followed by email via ScheduleMaster to active members.
Once
a Member, Always a Member: As a member of AFAC, you are
permanently
listed as an Active or Inactive Member. You may inactivate your
membership if you are no longer able to fly with AFAC. (Deployed, move
from the area, etc.) When you return to the area, you may reactivate
your AFAC membership for a nominal fee.
Contact
Info: Use the table below to reach
individual
Board Members. Effective July 1, 2015, the AFAC business mailing
address for payments and all Club correspondence, which is handled by
the Treasurer, is: