
At our flying club in Vernon,
B.C. we stay active all year. Obviously, there
is not as much flying in winter months as there
is in the summer, but the health of the club is
defined then more by the social activities. With
less than one hundred members, it is
diversified, active, dynamic and interesting.
The core activity is actually not the flying,
but the coffee hour each and every morning at
the clubhouse. The normal average attendance is
about one to two dozen members, mostly the
retired pilots. Like most flying organizations
in the country, the age group in this club tends
to lean to the senior side. Of the relatively
younger fellows, several are still involved in
working at their careers and at their
businesses.
We are not a flying school and
there is no club airplane for rent, however the
majority of members are aircraft owners. The
number varies between fifty and sixty who have
their own airplanes. At last count, at least
eighteen RV’s are at home on this airport, some
still under construction, but most are flying.
As with any organization, it
takes a certain amount of money to operate a
flying club. Expenses to maintain a clubhouse
include taxes, mortgage, utilities and
insurance. The club is also committed to a few
community services. Members’ annual dues are the
biggest source of income, but we host various
fund-raising and community events through the
year. Every flying club in the country seems to
rely on functions such as pancake breakfasts,
fly-ins, bar-b-ques, and social gatherings to
help out with their expenses. B.C. pilots have
for many years come to know that Vernon puts on
the best “rust remover” seminar in the area.
Every spring in May the club hosts knowledgeable
speakers presenting aviation and safety talks
and discussions. Members here also work to
gather items for an annual storage locker
auction. And donations come from a few sources,
including families whose children have been part
of our COPA for Kids event.
We are very fortunate to be
situated at an airport with supportive
management. The businesses on the field are good
to deal with, the security is efficient yet
reasonable, and the general public for years has
not had a problem with aviation in their
community. However, we may be experiencing the
first wave of change in public acceptance of
this airport. We’re “coming of age” with the
rumor of disgruntled neighbors taking up a
campaign against the noise. The problem is not
uncommon, and as airports grow, new business is
almost inevitable. When there are more airplanes
flying, the sound level goes up too. We know
that there is less flying in the private sector,
but as the economy improves, so too does
commercial aviation. Even without scheduled
airline service, many airports are home to
glider operations, training schools, FBO’s,
parachute businesses and charter companies, all
producing their own “airplane noise”. Even as
the flying clubs are shrinking, we all face the
same challenges in protecting our freedom to
fly.
As a former member of two other
flying clubs, and from regular reading of
newsletters published by many more, I know we’re
not unusual or outstanding in any way. Our
members share common interests, either building,
flying or just similar backgrounds. We have
retired military and airline pilots, bush and
charter pilots, along with a couple of former
aviation business operators. Most are private
pilots however, who simply like to fly for the
fun of it. Our fly-outs tend to be spontaneous
and weather dependent. The fly-ins are well
organized. The feeling of camaraderie is highly
defined in this club, and it’s not difficult to
find parts or help from someone who will
volunteer when the need arises. The single, most
serious concern expressed by most pilots is that
we’re all getting older, and new younger people
are just not signing up. There is a fear that
flying clubs have become, or are on the way to
becoming “old boys clubs”, a label that tends to
keep younger pilots away to an even greater
degree. Many discussions have centered on how we
can change this and attract a new generation,
people who can bring new ideas and new life into
private aviation.
Like it or not, we also face the
challenge of a public perception that we’re a
bunch of old, rich guys and have shut ourselves
out from the general population. It tends to
give flying clubs a “Fort Apache” image. Only
certain folks are welcome here. Of course
nothing could be further from the truth, but
there’s work to be done to dispel that myth. Our
public profile could always stand improvement.
Part of the problem in doing it though, has to
be recognized as Transport Canada and the
restrictive regulations they impose on aviation.
It starts with the security at most airports. As
they drive by an airport, the non-flying public
is met by high, chain-link fences, the back
walls of hangars, search lights and security
cameras. There are official looking black
pick-up trucks on patrol, outfitted with
flashing lights, signs and emblems on the doors,
driven by uniformed guards. It is hardly a site
that says “new members and public welcome”. It’s
necessary in some cities and larger airports,
but it seems a bit overdone at small ones too.
Here at Vernon, I will admit that there are no
“guards” on duty, but with all the gates and
fences and signs, it’s no wonder new inquiries
and memberships suffer at a flying club.
There are many suggestions out
there of methods to change that perception, and
to show people that flying is an achievable
dream for them. The old ways when someone had
the dream and was able to reach out for it by
simply hanging around the field, have given way
to the need for us, the pilots and flying club
members to reach out. Our job description now
says it is our turn to step forward to welcome
and encourage them. That could include more open
houses at the clubs and airports, to working
with students at the flying schools. Regulations
and insurance reasons often preclude offering
rides to newcomers, but showing off our
airplanes even in static displays is another
possibility to get folks close to and
comfortable with small aircraft. Airshow
attendance has always been spectacular, which
proves the interest in aviation is already
there.
Most pilots admit to being
bitten by the flying bug at a very early age.
That must still be happening with kids today. It
would be a good place to start as we push for
the survival of aviation. COPA for Kids events
held across Canada always face lineups of young
aviators, eager for the right seat spot! Another
and somewhat simpler way to get the kids into
our domain is to encourage schools to plan field
trips to the airport. And to further advance our
“agenda”, it wouldn’t hurt to submit positive
aviation articles to local newspapers. Good news
and airplanes are not heard about much in those
publications.
I surf the web quite frequently
to find newsletters from other flying clubs and
keep up on their activities. I would also like
to encourage anyone with good, proven ideas for
promoting the good things we need to get out, to
respond to my e-mail address below. We can share
information and keep a good impression out there
for the non-flyers by working together a bit
more. COPA works hard to promote and protect G.A.
But there will never be a time we can simply
relax and say the job is done. I believe we’re
falling further and further behind. Look around
the table at your next flying club meeting. Are
there any “young” pilots looking back? I think
we need to see some younger men and women walk
through the door to welcome to the ranks.