Cost of Membership

There are three categories of cost associated with club membership; (1) the one-time equity buy-in, (2) the monthly club dues, and (3) the hourly aircraft rates.  Each are described in detail below.

Sky-Vu’s membership prices, monthly dues, and hourly rates are established to ensure the club’s financial success while providing very affordable flying opportunities.  For a fraction of what it would cost to own and maintain your own airplane, you can have access to 5 great airplanes from a basic 172 (with 180HP!), up to a high-performance Cirrus SR22, and including three Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA).  Please contact our membership officer for current membership prices.

Equity Buy-In

Each Sky-Vu member is an equal-share owner in the club and in its assets.  Our club treasurer regularly completes a value assessment of the Sky-Vu aircraft using the Vref online aircraft appraisal system.  The club is currently in an excellent cash position with fully funded engine and propeller overhaul reserves.  While the amount of the equity buy-in fluctuates based on several factors, it is generally acquired for somewhere between 20% and 40% of the equitable value of the share.  An equity share is an asset that belongs to the member; a Sky-Vu member may place his or her share up for sale at any time.

Monthly Club Dues

Sky-Vu members pay monthly dues; currently $165.00 per month.  These are due and payable on the 1st of every month, and dues that remain unpaid as of the 25th of the month are considered late and a 10% penalty is applied.  Monthly dues are used to pay fixed costs such as hangar rental, insurance premiums, etc.  Excess funds from the monthly club dues are also saved and used over the longer term to cover things like avionics upgrades and even new aircraft procurements.

Hourly Aircraft Rates

The hourly aircraft rates are “wet” rates (meaning that they include the oil and fuel used), so these rates can fluctuate with changing fuel prices from month to month.  The hourly rates also include engine and propeller overhaul allowances, annual inspection allowances, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, etc.

The tables below are updated on the 1st day of each month to reflect the hourly aircraft rates and maximum fuel price.  Members may check this page and they will receive an email on or before the 1st of each month informing them what the hourly rates and maximum fuel price will be for the subsequent month. These rates are also variable from aircraft to aircraft. Each aircraft is equipped with a Hobbs meter that totalizes the time that the engine is running.  The Hobbs meter reading is rounded to the nearest 1/10th hour to calculate hourly charges.  The current rates for each aircraft are listed below.

All prices subject to change without notice.

Fuel Purchases Away From Home Airport

Sky-Vu members are expected to either fuel the aircraft before putting them away using the self-serve fueling facilities (currently only available at Eagle Creek Airpark), or make arrangements with the FBO at the home airport to have the aircraft fueled promptly after use. The aircraft are to be fueled to the “tabs” in preparation for the next member (unless other arrangements are made with the next user).

Home airport fueling is charged to Sky-Vu. When fueling away from the home airport, the member pays for the fuel purchased using a club credit card (kept in the aircraft). If the price of fuel purchased away from the home airport exceeds the price of the full-service fuel price at the home airport by more than ten cents ($0.10), then the member is responsible to pay for the difference. The price listed below represents the current maximum fuel price that the club will pay:

Self-Serve vs Full-Service Fuel

Please note: At Eagle Creek, when ordering full-service fuel to be delivered at the hangars at the north end of the field, if the amount of fuel purchased is less than 20 gallons there will be a $20 delivery surcharge. That surcharge will be billed to the member.

Members are allowed to purchase full-service fuel off the truck when on the ramp by the main terminal at Eagle Creek during their normal operating hours. If purchased on the ramp near the main terminal, the $20 delivery surcharge is not applied for purchases of less than 20 gallons. Full-service fuel may make some sense during inclement weather or in extreme cold-weather operations, or for members who are physically unable or find it difficult to use the self-serve fuel pump. Full-service fuel purchases of 20 gallons or more, delivered at the hangars, may also be made and are not subject to the $20 delivery surcharge.

Eagle Creek Airpark (EYE) provides 24-hour access to a self-serve 100LL pump system, and the fuel purchased at the self-serve pump is at significant discount – normally a $0.50/gallon discount, or more. Keep in mind that savings on fuel purchases (at home and away) will aid the club in the long term for things like avionics upgrades and even future aircraft purchases. Therefore, members are encouraged to use the self-serve fuel pumps whenever possible.