The Best Way to Fly

Private pilots are normally able to fly in three ways.
  • Own their own aircraft
 Ownership costs are typically £5000 a year or more (before the aircraft has even moved), plus fuel and oil (approximately £30 per hour).
  • Hire from a Flying School
 A Flying School rented Cessna 172 costs typically £95-£105 per hour in the North-west). Flying School Pilot Order Book Rules normally impose restrictions which significantly limit the flexibility of when and where you can go, and you normally have to fly with them at least once every 30 days to maintain their recency requirements.
  • Join a group
 Group flying for a Cessna 172 is typically £50 - £80 per month (whether you fly or not) and £40-£60 per flying hour wet. Groups often require a pilot to have at least 100 hours post-PPL flying experience. The cost of buying a "share" is typically £3,000 - £5,000 depending on numbers in the group, but this share can be resold if the member leaves the group.

Southport and Merseyside Aero Club offer a fourth way to fly - the Members Club - which is probably more economic than any of the three above. The club charge for flying Alpha Victor is £10 per month and £1.15p per tachometer unit, which equates to approximately just £115.00 per hour wet. Constraints on members are very few, with recency requirements, destinations and possession times as limitless as would be possible if you owned your own aircraft.

SMAC Finances are calculated to cover just the running costs of hangarage, certification, maintenance and insurance, plus a small surplus to pay for improvements, and the necessary new engine every 2000 hours - approximately 10 years at present usage rates.

Membership is open to all PPLs subject to a thorough check flight with one of the club's qualified flying instructors. Newly qualified PPLs are welcome, subject only to this check flight - a mini-GFT - duration just over 2 hours.

Come and join us!