Do CAP members know they are qualified to join USAF Aero Clubs? What a GREAT (and cost effective) way to get a PVT ASEL going for themselves or add a rating!Some even have multi-engine and A+P courses available. I strongly urge those CAP members near a major USAF installation to check it out!
Sarge
Lt Col, USAF/SMSgt, USAF
CAP members are also allowed to join a couple of Navy clubs, although I don't know how many actually join. One thing you need to watch out for is folks who join just for that "feature" of our membership.
There was a USAF Aero-club down the road from my last squadron. They said we were more than welcome to join. Some of the cadets from my squadron were taking lessons through them.
Do you find USAF Aero Clubs only around active USAF installations, or ANG bases as well?
I've only seen them at AD bases.
There is/was a Navy aero club back in PA where I used to live at NASJRB Willow Grove. They did let CAP members join, but you had to be a rated Mission Pilot to get in the door. I think they probably did that to A) silently enforce the minimums for usage of the planes, since all rated MPs have at least 200hrs, and B) wouldn't get the people who would use CAP as a gateway directly into the club, they'd have to put some time into CAP first.
I think this is pretty well known. In fact, it's been my experience that many folks maintain their membership only to have access to military flying clubs.
In correspondence with Susan Parker with Member Services recently, she admitted to a problem CAP wide with this type of situation.
-SeattleSarge