Orlando CAP Flying Club

aeronaut

Well-Known Member
These guys are out of KORL. I just wanted to see if anyone is/was a member there, as I'm considering joining them.

See here for more info.
http://capflying.tenncomgroup.com/info.php

However, financially I don't see how this is a good deal for someone unless they are looking to only rent their multi-engine aircraft. I'm just looking for cheaper way to rent a 172. And I could either pay:

$458 initial fees + $40.50 monthly maint fee + $60/hour tachtime + $5.70/gal

OR

$125/hour Wet at another fbo

I think the decision is pretty clear, wouldn't you say?
 
I think all us old-timers know a chap who's a member....where you at, Mr. Creepy? :D

As far as the decision being pretty clear, it depends on how much flying you plan on doing with them. $458 amortized over a couple hundred hours could be well worth it, and paying $60/hr tach instead of Hobbs time will save you another 15% or so--which, again amortized over a few hundred hours could be a small bundle of coin.
 
If I remember correctly, part of the monthly mx fee can be applied towards rental fees. They WANT you to fly at least a little each month to stay current, so offering that as an incentive kinda talks people into it. Otherwise, you just paid for nothing.

I wasn't a member (I almost was but never could come up with the up front money). I DID fly a lot of their airplanes splitting time with guys that were members, though. I do recall one of their planes going down (with one of my friends in it) and hitting a light pole. He had to have major surgery, but the CFI next to him wasn't as lucky. Not sure if it was a mx thing or just one of those things that happens in aviation from time to time.

Before Air Orlando raised their prices, with the price of fuel from Showalter it was pretty much break even renting from Air Orlando or flying out of CAP Flying. Not sure what it is now since I don't know AO's current rates or Showalter's current fuel prices. I do know CAP Flying guys get a discount on fuel from Showalter, though.
 
All orlando and sanford based fbos have raised their rates recently to cope with gas prices. Yes, it's true cap members get a 30 cent discount on fuel, but that doesn't help much when you're paying over $5.70 a gallon (the price is ridiculous in my opinion). They charge you a monthly fee of $82.50, which includes a $40.50 maint fee and a $42/tach hour credit. But do not forget you have to pay for fuel.

So, assuming that as a college student I normally would only go fly once a month here's the math: (also assuming I only fly in the traffic pattern, and burn only 6 gallons while I'm up there for 1.3 hours)

6 gals @ $6/gallon x 12 = $432 spent on gas for one year
$60/1 hr tach time x 12 = $720 spent on dry a/c rental for one year
$40.50 monthly maint fee x 12 = $486 spent on maint fee for one year
$458 inital member fees = $458
TOTAL = $2096 for 1 year and 15.6 hours in a 172

VS

$125/hr wet @ Air Orlando x 15.6 hrs = $1950 for 15.6 hrs in a 172

(Keep in mind the total cost would increase if I were a member at CAP if I were to leave the traffic pattern and burn more than 6 gallons that flight, ie. going on a cross country b/c who the heck wants to only ever fly in the pattern once a month?)
 
All orlando and sanford based fbos have raised their rates recently to cope with gas prices. Yes, it's true cap members get a 30 cent discount on fuel, but that doesn't help much when you're paying over $5.70 a gallon (the price is ridiculous in my opinion). They charge you a monthly fee of $82.50, which includes a $40.50 maint fee and a $42/tach hour credit. But do not forget you have to pay for fuel.

So, assuming that as a college student I normally would only go fly once a month here's the math: (also assuming I only fly in the traffic pattern, and burn only 6 gallons while I'm up there for 1.3 hours)

6 gals @ $6/gallon x 12 = $432 spent on gas for one year
$60/1 hr tach time x 12 = $720 spent on dry a/c rental for one year
$40.50 monthly maint fee x 12 = $486 spent on maint fee for one year
$458 inital member fees = $458
TOTAL = $2096 for 1 year and 15.6 hours in a 172

VS

$125/hr wet @ Air Orlando x 15.6 hrs = $1950 for 15.6 hrs in a 172

(Keep in mind the total cost would increase if I were a member at CAP if I were to leave the traffic pattern and burn more than 6 gallons that flight, ie. going on a cross country b/c who the heck wants to only ever fly in the pattern once a month?)
Nice math on that part! Yeah I live in orlando and have looked at that flying club and others to see if and where you could rent for a "decent" price.
 
Kellwolf I was flying that day when that plane when down. I'm glad your friend made it out. I worked at Air Orlando and they are not cheap by any means. Very nice equipment, but pricey.
 
Your math is correct enough for me...Go with Air Orlando... and Tell Richard "hi" for me... I kinda miss that place, I had some good times at Air Orlando, good people to work for.
 
Your math is correct enough for me...Go with Air Orlando... and Tell Richard "hi" for me... I kinda miss that place, I had some good times at Air Orlando, good people to work for.


And a few PIA students, too. :)

Is Richard still there? Dang, I figured he'd be doing something else by now.
 
But yeah, it actually does get a *little* cheaper in the long run as long as you fly more than 1.3 hrs a month. I'm just afraid of the $82/month commitment that I have to pay regardless if I even have time to fly for an hour that particular month.
 
Back
Top