AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2019 - 84

GETTING OFF THE GROUND

Resources to start or grow a club

JEFF HATCHER, left, recently joined Jim Johnson, center, and Nils Johansen as partners

in this Beech Bonanza F33A. Although Johnson has been involved in several partnerships, this is the first ownership experience for both Johansen and Hatcher. Their
airplane is based outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

84 | AOPA PILOT June 2019

Johansen, of Gallatin, Tennessee,
trusted Johnson's recommendation
of Hatcher. It's a different dynamic
to know someone so well-as he and
Johnson did-and buy an airplane,
than to add a partner to an existing aircraft. Hatcher is "doing a great job," said
Johansen, who is glad to see the airplane
being flown more. This is Johansen's
first ownership experience, as well. "I've
never owned an airplane, but I've always
dreamed about it," he said.
Hatcher paid the insurance premium's increase, and said it wasn't too
bad. Completing the instrument rating helped, as did additional training
from the American Bonanza Society's
Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Program.
Another partner accompanied him on
his first 20 hours in the airplane.

aopa.org/flyingclubs

"I've always dreamed of owning a
Bonanza. For me, being only a 400-hour
pilot, being able to get in a partnership with
two [airline transport pilots]-it's a learning opportunity." It's helped him expand
his horizons, flying trips to eastern North
Carolina and western Tennessee. And his
wife really enjoys flying in the Bonanza,
too. "She never really liked the Cessna,"
Hatcher said. "Now she'll fly anywhere
with me."
AOPA
EMAIL mike.collins@aopa.org

CRISSY PURCELL

Google calendar for coordination. "If it's
something like a fly-in breakfast, we'll all
hop in the airplane and go together. We
enjoy each other's company," Johnson said.
"It's worked out really well."
Jeff Hatcher of Hendersonville,
Tennessee, bought in six months ago.
He's a 400-hour private pilot with a fresh
instrument rating. He had been involved in
the maintenance of his flying club's Cessna
172, so ownership wasn't daunting. "The
next step was a partnership," he said.
Hatcher knew Johnson from around
the airport, and that he was involved in
other partnerships. "I talked with these
other guys and asked them how it went," he
said-considering it due diligence. Because
Hatcher had only met Johansen once, he
grilled mutual acquaintances. "It's kind of
like a job interview," Hatcher said.

Flying clubs are a
great way to reduce
your cost of flying, and to meet
and spend time
with fellow pilots.
To help more pilots
experience the special
benefits of flying club membership, AOPA developed an array of
resources to help you find out more
about flying clubs in your area, join
an existing club, or even start a
new club.
"We've helped start 10 clubs this
year," said Steve Bateman, director of AOPA's Flying Clubs Initiative,
in mid-April. At Sun 'n Fun, AOPA
President Mark Baker recognized
the Midway Flying Club, based at
Mid-Way Regional Airport south of
Dallas, as the 100th club the organization has helped to launch. The
club, with seven members and a
Cessna Cardinal, started in late 2018.
AOPA has helped to launch 112 clubs
in the past three years.
"The program is working. People
are realizing that flying clubs are a
great way to keep flying," reducing cost and providing camaraderie,
Bateman said. "This year, we've been
the busiest we've ever been."
A redesigned website offers an
array of downloadable resources.
AOPA's Flying Club Finder helps
people to discover flying clubs
in their area. Clubs can join the
AOPA Flying Club Network, to
connect with other clubs and for
increased visibility. The monthly Club
Connector newsletter shares the
practical experience of other clubs
and a new flying club workshop-
five are scheduled this year-brings
clubs together to share information
and for mentoring.
-MC

https://www.aopa.org/community/flying-clubs

AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2019