Flying club gets off ground
Published Friday July 3rd, 2009
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Flying Club is off the ground and starting to soar.
"The idea of putting this together is that private pilot training was going to become non-existent here in Saint John," said club president Peter Gormley of Rothesay. "So we've taken the ball and created this club and we will be able to offer more than was offered before."
In April the Atlantic Flying Centre, located at the Saint John Airport, decided to cancel the flight training program and airplane rental service for recreational pilots.
Owner Lorne Brett said at the time that the services he offered were no longer a "money-making business." Instead of selling the plane, Brett offered to lease it to the recreational pilots.
Gormley and other pilots in the area quickly joined together to incorporate a non-profit organization.
Gormley needed 15 pilots to agree to cost-share the plane, which costs $30,000 to lease a year and $100 each hour it is flown. He ended up with 17 flying members of the Saint John Flying Club.
"The flying part is done, the members have been out and used the plane," Gormley said. "We have more responsibility now. Instead of handing the keys back to the owners, we have to do other things ourselves. It's like leasing a car, you are responsible"¦ There was quite a bit we didn't know but it was a good challenge."
While the flying side of the club has lifted off, Gormely said the club is going to be much more.
As part of the deal with the Atlantic Flight Centre, the club was given a room as a club house, a bathroom, kitchenette and the use of a classroom in the centre.
The room, which was once a plain meeting room with rows of chairs, has been transformed into a lounge with leather couches, a flat screen television, a brand new computer and a games table.
Gormley said the space is going to be a place where pilots can socialize and get to know one another.
"Nobody knew anybody before. We all had the same interests and we all did the same thing," Gormley said. "Now everybody's come together and got to know each other, which is a nice part of it. We've made new friends."
Gormley said the flying club is not just for recreational pilots who want to rent and cost-share the plane. It is also for anybody who has an interest in flying and wants to socialize.
On Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the club's new home in the Atlantic Flying Centre a social membership drive will be held.
Gormley expects to have at least 50 to 60 social members.
The social memberships will cost $200 for the first year and include access to the club house as well as invitations to fly-ins and other events.
The third aspect of the club, said Gormley, is training.
"There is probably a handful of people in Saint John who would like to get there pilot's licence. If you don't have facilities, then guess what? They are going to go to Moncton or Fredericton or they're not going to do it," Gormley said. "When we decided to put the club together it wasn't just flying members. We could have done that but that wouldn't generate more interest to help other people within the city to get involved."
Gormley said the club has a member who is able to train new pilots and the club is currently seeking the permits necessary to operate a training program.
"It's all coming together," said Gormley. "We are proud of our facility, and of the response and interest."
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