General
The purpose of the Club is to rent well-maintained aircraft and provide first-class flight instruction to its members. Only Club members may act as Pilot-In-Command, re-ceive flight instruction, provide flight instruction or otherwise operate Club aircraft. Only FAA Certificated Flight Instructors who are also Club members and have been authorized by the Club Management and the Chief Pilot may give flight instruction in Club aircraft. The Club does not rent aircraft nor provides flight instruction to the general public.
For the convenience of members, there are three ways to participate in the Club: Regular membership, Associate membership, and family membership. Regular members enjoy full Club privileges including those flight operations for which they are qualified and approved. Associate members participate in the Club social and educational activities, use the front desk for scheduling, but do not have flight privileges. A Regular member can cycle multiple times from Regular to Associate and back again. Family memberships pay ½ of the primary member's club dues. Family members have the same privileges as the primary account holder's membership status. (Family Regular, or Family Associate), Club CFI's must maintain Regular member status in order to instruct in Club aircraft. Members having their aircraft maintained by WVFC must also maintain a regular mem-bership.
Application & Termination
Members wishing to terminate their membership in the Club must send written noti-fication to the Accounting Department on or before the last day of the month in which they wish to terminate. Once the member's last month's dues and security deposit have been credited towards the final balance, any amount owed will continue to accrue interest and late penalties until the balance has been paid in full. Any refund due upon termina-tion will be credited to the members' credit card, if applicable, or a check will be mailed.
Scheduling
Members who are not current or checked out for aircraft are not allowed to pre-reserve aircraft for solo flight until solo flight privileges has been authorized by the chief-pilots office.
It is the member's responsibility to determine if an overnight flight satisfies the Club minimum flight time requirements of two hours per 24 hour period.
If the proposed flight will result in aircraft charges of $400 or more, the member may be required to make an advance payment.
Please let the Front Desk know if you will be more than 30 minutes late for your aircraft reservation. Aircraft not dispatched within 30 minutes of the scheduled time may be released to another member.
Members are expected to return the aircraft keys and the key-book to the Club at or before the scheduled return time. Any member who is unable to return on time must inform the Club office. Repeated lateness, other than that caused by weather or me-chanical delays may make the member subject to penalty.
The Club must be notified of all flight cancellations regardless of reason (poor weather, illness, etc.). Failure to notify the Club at least 24 hours in advance, (to permit rescheduling of the aircraft), may result in a penalty charge of the aircraft rate for the estimated lost flight time up to the daily minimum. The Club will not penalize a member for cancellations due to illness or weather.
Aircraft Charges
If a Club aircraft requires maintenance during a rental flight, the member must ob-tain approval from the Club prior to authorizing any maintenance work on the aircraft. If such approval cannot be obtained, the member must use his or her best judgment in authorizing work, and may be held accountable for expenses for such work. FAA certifi-cated mechanics or repair stations must do any maintenance work performed on Club aircraft. The member must obtain an invoice and/or statement describing all work per-formed on the aircraft, including the signature and license number of the mechanic or repair station.
It is the member's responsibility to provide original receipts for gas, oil, or mainte-nance charges paid directly by the member. The Pilot's Club member number and the aircraft tail number must be included on all receipts. No credit shall be given for receipts submitted more than 60 days after the rental period.
Aircraft Care
Members will be charged for any damage or abuse not previously squawked. Any aircraft damage found by a member during pre-flight inspection must be entered in the discrepancy sheet and initialed by Club personnel before operating the aircraft. Fail-ure to identify and report previously un-squawked significant damage (such as bald spots on tires) may result in the member being charged for the damage. Expendable items such as batteries, tires, etc., will be charged on a prorated basis.
Members are expected to conduct their flight operations in a manner that will allow normal climbs, cruises and descents consistent with careful and considerate operation of the aircraft. In particular, descents from altitude shall be planned in a manner to prevent shock cooling of the aircraft engine due to rapid power reduction. No member may know-ingly exceed the operating limitations of the aircraft except during an emergency.
Off-taxiway operations are prohibited for any reason except aircraft parking. Air-craft operations on gravel or other non-paved areas are to be undertaken with the utmost care and concern for the aircraft and surroundings. Members will be held accountable for the total cost of any damage caused by off-pavement operations, i.e., propeller, paint, etc.
At the conclusion of the flight, the aircraft is to be returned to its assigned parking place and properly secured with tiedown ropes or chains. All control locks, pitot tube covers, and other aircraft protective devices must be replaced. The aircraft interior is to be left neat and clean with all personal belongings and trash removed. In addition, the aircraft ignition and master switch must be turned off. Failure to turn the master switch off will result in the appropriate charge.
Animals are permitted in Club aircraft only if carried in a cage. Members will be charged the full expense for cleaning or damage resulting from the transport of an ani-mal.
No smoking is permitted at any time in Club aircraft or on ramp areas near Club aircraft.
Responsibilities
The Club strives to maintain its aircraft to higher standards than required by the let-ter of the law and to therefore provide the membership with well-maintained, airworthy aircraft in compliance with FARs. It is; however, the responsibility of the pilot-in-command to ensure that the aircraft that will be operated are, in fact, airworthy, meets the member's flight requirements, has all of the required operational equipment, and has all required aircraft documentation. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Club, such as unforeseen maintenance or the delayed return of an aircraft by another member, there may be occasions where aircraft are removed from service or otherwise made unavail-able on short notice. When these situations arise, the Club will do everything possible to provide another aircraft for a scheduled flight, but cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience or expense incurred by the member.
In the case of an accident or incident involving a Club member who is operating a Club aircraft; that member may not exercise his or her privileges as pilot-in-command in a Club aircraft until he or she has the approval of the General Manager and the Chief Pilot. If a Club aircraft is involved in an accident or incident, the pilot-in-command of that air-craft shall be responsible for all costs associated with returning the aircraft to the Club.
It is the member's responsibility to return aircraft to the appropriate WVFC facility. If the member is unable to do so, any costs incurred in recovering the aircraft will be charged to the member. These costs may include, but are not limited to, the rental charge for a ferry aircraft and the cost of the ferry pilot.
Members are responsible for any personal costs associated with a flight wherein the aircraft experiences mechanical difficulties; however, the cost of returning the aircraft to the Club will not be charged to the member unless the member is found responsible for the difficulty.
Aircraft Checkout & Currency Requirements
A member may be required to submit to a checkride by a Club flight instructor any time it is deemed necessary by the Chief Pilot or General Manager. Any member may request a review or recheck by a different instructor if the member feels there is a diffi-culty in completing the required checkout.
In order to act as pilot-in-command of a particular Club aircraft a member must log at least one full hour of flight time and make at least 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop in a Club aircraft of the same make and model, or a Club aircraft which the Club has designated as satisfying the currency requirements for that make and model, within the preceding 60 days for tailwheel and complex aircraft or 90 days for other tricycle gear aircraft.
In order to act as pilot-in-command of multi-engine aircraft the member must, in addition to the above requirements, have logged one hour of emergency procedures training from a Club multi-engine instructor within the previous 180 days. This may be accomplished in a multi-engine simulator.
In order to act as pilot-in-command for aerobatic flight, the member must first com-plete the Club aerobatic course or demonstrate aerobatic competency to a Club aerobatic instructor in each model of aircraft to be used. In addition, the member must have logged at least one hour of aerobatic flight within the previous 90 days and have maintained flight currency, as indicated above, for the particular aircraft being used.
A mountain-flying checkout will be required for any member who wishes to take a Club aircraft to any airport with an elevation higher than 2,000 ft. MSL, or over mountain-ous terrain higher than 8,000 ft.
Billing
All charges are due by the fifteenth of the month. Members on auto-pay will have their credit cards billed within three days after each flight. Members who are not on auto-pay are required to leave a security deposit and are expected to pay for the flight i after its completion. Members who do not pay their bill in full within 30 days of the due date will be considered delinquent and will be subject to penalty charges and membership limita-tions such as suspension of Club flight and scheduling privileges.
Delinquent accounts are subject to a finance charge of 1.5% per month on the un-paid balance (less any security deposit and last month's dues on account). Accounts 60 days past due will be subject to a 15% late penalty of the total amount owed. Members with accounts more than 90 days past due are subject to termination and/or legal action. In addition, the member is responsible for all costs incurred in the collection process. Any member whose payment record is unsatisfactory will be required to increase the security deposit with the Club.
Flight Operations
All pilots and passengers in Club aircraft must b briefed and use all furnished re-straining devices provided in the aircraft during takeoffs and landings.
Only West Valley approved flight instructor's may fly from the right seat, or rear seat of a tandem seat aircraft. Flight Instruction students may apply for a right seat checkout during there instructional period.
No primary student touch-and-goes are allowed in Club aircraft on any runway less than 4000 feet unless accompanied by a Club flight instructor. Touch-and-goes are not permitted at any time in retractable aircraft or aircraft with more than 200 total horse-power, turbocharging, or which have a placard prohibiting touch-and-goes.
All turbocharged aircraft must be given, at a minimum, a five-minute "cool down" period after exiting the runway.
Intentional spins may only be done in designated aircraft - this means Cessna 152s, taildraggers and aerobatic aircraft.
Except in emergencies, operations on dirt, sod, or gravel runways - or at any air-port that is not listed in the Airport/Facility Directory - requires prior approval by the Club Manager or Chief Pilot. In addition, it is the responsibility of the member to obtain proper permission from the airport operator/owner prior to using any restricted or private use airport. For any flights outside of California or over mountainous terrain, the member may be asked to submit a flight plan to be reviewed by a designated Club flight instructor. The Club strongly encourages all members to file a flight plan with the local Flight Service Station and or use ATC flight following for all flights of 100 NM or more.
Commercial use of Club aircraft is not permitted. Members may not conduct "for hire" operations of any kind.
Applicants for membership will be charged an application fee and will be required to place on account a security deposit and last month's dues. The Board of Directors sets the amount of the application fee and security deposit. The application fee may be waived at the discretion of the General Manager.
To schedule an aircraft the pilot must be a Regular member in good standing. Prior to operating a Club aircraft, a member must request a reservation and receive a confirmation. Reservations may be made directly by the member either via the internet, an in house terminal, or via the telephone during normal business hours. For flights out-side the local area or overnight, the request will also include the destination airport and a contact number where the member may be reached. When scheduling via the Internet, this information can be input in the notes section of the Cassi schedule.
Each member is required to record aircraft or simulator usage in the equipments log. The entry must include the member's number, name, date and time of use, and be-ginning and ending Hobbs and tachometer readings (as appropriate). When entering ending time, if the lowest meter digit has begun to move, the next higher number is to be used. If a member encounters a discrepancy between the previous log entry and the current Hobbs or tachometer reading, it must be reported to the office prior to engine start. If a club CFI is present they will document the difference in the logbooks, and office notification will not be necessary. If the discrepancy is not reported prior to engine start, the member may be charged for the entire time.
Each member is responsible for Club aircraft in his or her charge at all times and is expected to treat the aircraft with the utmost care. The member is required to report all known trouble, malfunctions, or damage to a Club aircraft by both recording it on a dis-crepancy sheet in they key-book and notifying the front desk (if open) upon return.
Foremost among the concerns of the Club is that all flight and ground operations be conducted in the safest possible manner. Each member is expected to practice safe and courteous flying program consistent with all airport, state and federal aviation regula-tions. This includes conforming to local noise abatement procedures.
Every member must demonstrate his or her knowledge and abilities in the aircraft he or she wishes to fly, to the satisfaction of a designated Club flight instructor. The checkout will consist of, at a minimum, a review of aircraft systems, ground handling, and flight maneuvers for which the aircraft and the pilot are certificated. For six-passenger aircraft, the checkout will include a demonstration with the aircraft at full gross weight.
Monthly dues are charged to each member whether or not the member made any use of the Club services or aircraft during the month. There is no prorating of dues. All flight charges are due and payable upon completion of the flight.
Members are expected to exercise caution when starting or operating aircraft near other aircraft, vehicles or people. Members are requested not to drive or park their vehi-cles on ramp areas except temporarily to unload baggage. Club aircraft are to be taxied slowly; at a speed no faster that one could still stop with a loss of brakes, on all ramp areas, or at any airport. No member may taxi an aircraft through or into a tiedown. When parking an aircraft the pilot should stop on and parallel to the taxiway centerline and push the aircraft back into the tiedown using a tow bar, if provided. When two moving aircraft are on the same taxiway, and aligned in opposing directions the arriving aircraft is re-quired to shutdown and push back out of the way.
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