Memberships
Whether you are an active pilot, a pilot whose experience has lapsed, a pilot who wants to add a new rating, or an aviation enthusiast yearning to become a pilot, if you live within a 30-mile radius of the Rochester International Airport, you are welcome to join our Club.
Member Benefits
Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club members each purchase an equity share in the organization and, as such, own a proportional interest in the Club’s assets. As a shareholder in the Club, you are an aircraft owner!
Club membership is a very economical way to secure aircraft access. Financially, most pilots come out ahead in a flying club compared to renting, and the more you fly, the more you'll save!
Low Hourly Rates
The hourly rate of Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club aircraft is significantly less than typical rental rates. Further, we base aircraft fees on Tach Hours rather than Hobbs Hours, upon which most rental facilities base their rates. Under most flying conditions, Tach Hours accumulate more slowly than Hobbs Hours, which saves you money.
No Minimums
Unlike most rental facilities, the Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club does not charge extra hourly or daily fees for long cross country, overnight or extended trips. In our Club, if the propeller isn't spinning, you're not paying.
Convenience
The quality of your General Aviation experience is significantly better as a co-owner of the aircraft you're flying when compared to just being the next in line at the rental counter. As a member of the Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club and an owner of the airplane you're flying, you have on-demand access to the hangars and airplanes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You are not required to plan your departure and arrival around a rental agency's business hours. You do not have to wait in line to check in or to receive a check out before getting access to the airplane. There is no worry about returning the keys. As an owner in the Club, accessing your airplane is as convenient as hopping into your car.
Confidence
As a member of the Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club, you can be confident that the airplane you are about to fly is safe and well-maintained. Our members take pride in the condition of our fleet. We maintain modern, attractive and well-equipped airplanes, and we operate and care for them as if we own them – because we do! Sadly, the same cannot be said for the condition of many rental aircraft or the attitude of many rental pilots.
No Lock-ins
When you join the Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club, you are required to pay a membership fee and purchase an equity share in our Club. However, a significant portion of those payments may be refunded when you resign from our Club, and we do not require you to find a buyer for your equity share before you leave. The non-refundable portion of the membership fee is typically paid for many times over through hourly rate savings during the course of an average member's tenure.
Flight Training
We welcome aviators of all experience levels into our Club. As co-owners of our aircraft, Club members are able to train in our airplanes. However, the Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club is not a flight school and does not provide flight instruction.
That said, flying clubs offer an efficient and economical way to earn your Private Pilot Certificate or to add ratings and endorsements, and instructors are available both at Rochester and at nearby airports.
