Pilot Resources
- FAA pilots portal
Certification, training and pilot information.
- Aviation Weather Center
Official aviation weather products.
- FAA Safety Team
Continuing education and proficiency.
- AOPA flying clubs
Information about flying clubs and shared aviation.
- Historical CFFC club spotlight
AOPA’s 2015 account of the Winter Haven club.
Flying club membership or charter: which fits your trip?
A flying club suits people who want to fly, learn and share access to aircraft. Charter suits travelers arranging a specific journey with a professional crew. Start with the purpose of your trip, then compare access, costs and the complete itinerary.
| Flying club | Private charter |
|---|---|
| Shared aircraft access and a flying community; training opportunities depend on the club. | An aircraft and crew arranged for a particular passenger itinerary. |
| Compare joining costs, dues, aircraft charges, fuel arrangements and instruction where needed. | Compare the total trip quote, including positioning, minimum charges and applicable fees. |
| Confirm membership requirements, pilot qualifications, aircraft checkout and booking rules. | Confirm airports, passenger and baggage requirements, aircraft suitability and the operating company. |
For a longer trip from Central Florida, compare the full journey: available aircraft, possible fuel stops, time at each airport and ground transport. A club aircraft's hourly charge and a charter's headline hourly rate describe different arrangements; neither alone establishes the full cost of your trip.
Private Jet Specialist's guide to private aircraft charter costs explains hourly references, complete trip prices and questions to ask about a quotation. Use it to prepare a comparison, then obtain a current quote for your actual itinerary.
The AOPA flying-club resources above are a useful starting point when your goal is membership and shared flying. This comparison does not advertise current CFFC membership or aircraft availability.
Private Jet Specialist and this independent website share an owner. Private Jet Specialist may earn commissions on qualifying charter bookings.