Rules and Regulations
Alameda Aero Club
Member Status and Checkouts
Admission to the club requires payment of a $70 refundable deposit and the first month's dues of $30.
Only active members may fly club aircraft. Dues for active members are $30 per month.
A club member may resign at any time or become inactive one (1) time during any 12-month period. Dues for inactive members are $10.00 per month.
Aircraft checkouts will be in accordance with the Aero Club Insurance requirements. See Club bulletin board for complete information.
All members must be checked out and approved for solo flight by an instructor designated by the BOD before soloing any club A/C. A prospective member may fly with a club instructor prior to joining the club, but the prospective member must officially join the club prior to solo flights in club aircraft. That is, the applicant must complete the application form, pay the deposit and first month's dues, furnish facsimile copies of A/C checkouts and BFRs, if appropriate, provide copies of their pilot and medical certificates, and gain approval of the BOD. Any flight instruction given in Club aircraft must, without exception, be provided by an approved Aero Club instructor.
If a member has not flown within 90 days in the same category and class of aircraft (e.g., SEL), the member must, under pain of expulsion, perform a check ride with a club instructor prior to other use of club aircraft.
Students will require two stage checks at intervals to be determined by the student's instructor pilot.
Violation of any of the FARs, State, Airport, and/or Club rules by a member may result in a determination by 2/3 of the Board of Directors that the member be suspended or expelled from the Club. The member may thereupon appeal such determination to the general membership; the determination of the Board may be reversed or upheld by a simple majority of the members present at a meeting called for such purpose. The vote shall be by written, secret ballot.
Flight and Operating Rules
All members of the Club shall comply with all Federal Aviation Regulations, State, Airport, and Club rules while operating Club Aircraft.
A member must perform a thorough pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, including a visual inspection of the fuel quantity, prior to commencing flight. Any damage or discrepancies discovered by a member will be assumed to be the responsibility of the last user unless it has been reported previously. If a condition is discovered which may affect the airworthiness of the aircraft, the aircraft shall not be flown until cleared by a maintenance mechanic. Smoking is prohibited in Club aircraft.
Each member must determine that the Airworthiness and Registration Certificates, appropriate Weight & Balance information and Operator's Manual are in the aircraft prior to commencing flight.
All aircraft operating limitations must be observed. Aerobatic maneuvers are prohibited except those that are permissible under the operating limitations when the aircraft is operated in the utility category.
Flight plans must be filed with the FAA for all student solo cross country flights in excess of fifty (50) nautical miles.
The destination of any flight that will result in the aircraft being gone from the Oakland Airport more than twenty-four (24) hours must be noted on the Club flight scheduler.
Except in emergencies, Club aircraft shall be flown from and landed on airfields listed in the Airport/Facility Directory. Any member with less than one hundred (100) hours flying time who lands on an unapproved field due to an emergency must call the Club President, Chief Pilot, or Maintenance Officer, before attempting the take off alone or wait until a better qualified pilot arrives. Note: Pilots may land at private airfields provided advance approval is obtained from the airport owner/manager.
Student pilots shall not fly Club aircraft solo when surface winds are gusting to 15 knots or the cross wind component exceeds 10 knots or fly outside the local traffic pattern area when weather conditions are less than 3000 feet and 5 miles visibility.
All aircraft MUST be refueled if the total flight time since last refueling exceeds (1) hour tachometer time. At Oakland, the pilot should refuel at the self-service pumps; use of the refueling truck incurs a surcharge for which the pilot, not the Club, is responsible. Refueling at other airports is encouraged when the price is significantly less that at Oakland. Should the member/pilot decide not to refuel when the total tach exceeds 1.0 hours, the member must add two tenths of an hour (.2) and use that figure to show the next pilot's starting tach. Additionally the pilot must tidy up the aircraft. Ash trays should be emptied, waste paper and extra charts should be removed, and the plane should be left with seat belts straightened, shoulder harness straps secured, propeller in a horizontal position, properly tied down, chocks in place, and doors locked. The member is reminded to use a tow bar for ground handling and not to step on the wing struts when checking fuel levels--a ladder is provided for that purpose.
Members will be held responsible for returning aircraft to the Oakland airport. The only extenuating circumstances that might relieve the member of this responsibility are mechanical and/or weather. If a member cannot return an aircraft as scheduled, he/she must contact a Club director and abide by the director's decision. Communications must be established. Messages left on answering devices will not suffice. A listing of director's names and telephone numbers are in each aircraft. Guidelines: If the mechanical problem can be repaired within 24 hours, or weather improvement is forecast within 24 hours, the member shall be responsible for returning the aircraft. If the member opts to abandon the aircraft, all expenses incurred by the Club in returning the plane shall be borne by the member.
Any member who takes an aircraft for 24 hours or longer shall pay a minimum of two (2) hours flight time per 24 hour period. There shall be no minimum charge for the first 24 hours or for periods less than 24 hours. For example, if you take a plane at 0900 on Tuesday and return at or before 0900 on Thursday you will be charged a minimum of two hours or total flight time, whichever is greater. If you return after 0900 on Thursday you will be charged four (4) hours or total flight time whichever is greater.
No member, except a licensed maintenance mechanic, may perform any maintenance on Club aircraft, other than pre-flight inspections, without authorization from the Maintenance Officer.
Members will be held responsible for any negligent act that causes unnecessary loss of revenue (i.e., Master Switch left on). In this instance (master switch left on) the penalty is $65 if the battery becomes fully depleted and must be recharged. If the battery is fully depleted and will not take a charge, the responsible pilot will be required to reimburse the Club the actual cost of the battery plus any removal and installation charges.
Planes are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis using the web-based scheduler. Planes may be unexpectedly downed for maintenance and the Club regrets that it cannot guarantee any plane reservations.
Reservations not cancelled at least six (6) hours in advance may result in a $20 penalty fee assessment, unless the flight was cancelled due to weather, illness, or other extenuating circumstances. Failure to appear one-half hour after the start of a reservation time will result in the forfeiture of the reservation and may result in a $20 penalty fee assessment.
Back-up reservations are allowed and will be honored in the order in which they were placed. Double booking (booking two aircraft for one person's use in the same time slot) is not allowed and can result in possible penalties.
Reservations must include a comment that describes the destination-such as "VFR local" or "IFR Monterey."