As of October 19, 2024 the following information is current.
MEMBERSHIP COSTS:
- Joining fee: $100
- Monthly dues: $150
- Usage fee: $96 per tach hour wet.
City and state sales taxes are already included in the joining fee, dues, and usage fee. The hourly tach rate is a “wet rate,” which means fuel (and taxes) are included in the rate.
FAQ:
- How is the club’s Cessna 172 equipped?
The 1956 straight-tail Cessna 172 is powered by a 145 HP Continental O-300. It had its venturi vacuum system removed and its AI/DG replaced with a uAvionix AV-30-C. The AV-30-C controls a uAvionix tailBeaconX combination transponder and ADS-B Out. A portable uAvionix pingUSB provides ADS-B In traffic to members that use tablet EFBs. Otherwise equipped with standard comm radio and VFR instruments with EGT and CHT gauges on one cylinder. Empty weight of 1304 lbs (2200 lbs MTOW) yields a useful load of 896 lbs and full fuel (37 gal usable) payload of 674 lbs. Good for three adults and luggage. - Can I take overnight trips in the plane?
Yes! The main objective of the club is to allow members to schedule the plane when you need it for as long as you need (within reason.) And there are no minimum daily charges. By contrast, renting a plane for a week from a flight school is secondary to its mission so often can’t be done unless booked a couple weeks in advance. With only a few members the schedule for our airplane is often wide open. If someone else has booked the plane when you would like it you may be able to negotiate a schedule change with that person. - Can I use the plane for business?
A member may use the plane for business travel so long as the business use is incidental to the use of the plane. Please see the AOPA article Flight Incidental to Business for one explanation of “incidental to business”. - I don’t have a pilot license – can I join the club and use the plane to earn a private pilot certificate?
Unfortunately no. Our insurance requires pilots of the airplane have at least a private pilot certificate. - Where is the airplane located?
The airplane is currently based at the Rapid City Airport and hangared with Westjet Air Center. - If it is at Rapid City Airport, wont I need to apply for an AOA Badge and have to renew it every year?
No! It’s a hassle to renew those badges every year. Because members access the plane via Westjet Air Center they are treated as itinerant pilots for security purposes. When you want to fly you just call Westjet and ask them pull the plane from their heated hangar. When you arrive you go through their FBO offices to get access to the plane. Same ease of use on return: park the plane in front of their FBO and ask them to top off the tanks and put the plane back in their hangar. - Do I need renter’s insurance to pilot the plane?
No! That’s a savings to members of hundreds of dollars per year if purchased individually. As a club member you will be added as a named pilot to the club’s insurance policy which also makes you one of the insured. The plane is covered for hull and liability with a $500 not in motion deductible and $2500 in motion deductible. - I’m interested, but may I examine the airplane before joining?
Absolutely. In fact we insist. Email to us at info@pactolaflying.club to set up a time to examine the plane. - Who owns the plane?
The plane is leased from a member of the club. - I have other questions or concerns about the club, including its future plans and such before I submit an application.
Email us with your concerns or questions. Members are in charge and can change any aspect to which they mutually agree. Because it is a non-profit members will be expected to pitch in and help in keeping the club operating smoothly, including offering suggestions on improvements or changes.
HOW TO JOIN:
Read and and the fill out page 14 of the Pactola Flying Club Membership Package form (the underlined green text is a link to the PDF form.) It contains the bylaws and operating rules and is best filled out using Adobe Reader and then emailed to us at info@pactolaflying.club . There is no cost to apply and no obligation is established. Your submission will be kept confidential. (Much of the annoying intrusive information is required by the insurance company when a new member is added as a named pilot. We wouldn’t know what to do with much of the information they seem to require.)
ABOUT US:
The Pactola Flying Club is an aviation social club encompassing the eastern area of the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is open to anyone who has earned at least a private pilot certificate. The club was incorporated as a South Dakota nonprofit corporation in January 2023. It began flight operations in March 2023 when it signed a one year lease to a 1972 Cessna C-150. In March 2024 it signed a lease to a 1956 C-172. The club began with a five member limit but now allows up to ten members. When that limit is reached we will add applications to a waiting list and alert applicants when a position opens.