Flying Rules of CFC

Date: June 7,1988; updated: March 31, 1989; scanned: May 13, 1997

The following are lists of rules, guidelines, and general courtesies which CFC flying members should adhere to when operating CFC Aircraft.

• Scheduling CFC Aircraft:

1. All scheduling operations of CFC Aircraft shall be coordinated through CFC's Scheduling Service (Current Phone #: 413-582-3957 or 413-772-5567)
2. Pilots not having the aircraft back at Turners Falls in time for the Next Scheduled Operation by another CFC Member shall be financially responsible for any penalty that the Scheduled CFC Member may encounter due to Fees charged to the scheduled CFC member for lost lesson time, etc. If a CFC Member should ever encounter weather which makes getting back to Turners Falls before the next scheduled operation by another member unsafe, the Member Should Communicate with the scheduling service. The scheduling service will notify the next scheduled member, who can then arrange to cancel what ever arrangements were made for lessons etc. By communicating with the scheduling service about weather related delays, the member in conflict will be absolved of the responsibility for lost lesson fees, etc.
3. CFC members should cancel with the scheduling service whenever they schedule the aircraft and then for any reason do not show up to fly the plane. This includes weather related reasons. The CFC currently has instrument rated pilots and what may be unflyable weather for one pilot may be the type of weather that a properly trained pilot wants to "build experience " in.
4. CFC members who schedule CFC aircraft for more than 24 consecutive hours are expected to return the aircraft with at least 3 billable hours for each 24 hour period scheduled. This provision is to insure that other CFC members are not denied the opportunity to fly an aircraft that may be away from the home base, but not being flown. The CFC owns aircraft for the flying enjoyment of its members. This is not accomplished when CFC aircraft are flown to nearby airports for extended periods of time and parked.
5. Each CFC member is to be allowed to schedule a CFC aircraft out for one weekend per semester. After a CFC member schedules a CFC aircraft out for their allotted weekend in a semester, the member may be denied from scheduling a CFC aircraft out for a weekend until the next semester. For purposes of the CFC, a semester is defined by the Five College Calendar.
6. CFC aircraft are available to CFC members for training, recreation, and "time building" flying activities. CFC aircraft are not to be though of as tools for business use by CFC members. This is not to be construed that CFC may not use CFC aircraft for an occasional business trip. Rather, CFC members should not come to rely on using CFC aircraft as tools necessary for the normal conduct of their business.
7. If a CFC member fails to show.up at the airport within 30 minutes of his/her scheduled time, he/she is considered to have forfeited that time. At that point, the plane can be scheduled by another member. A CFC member who takes a plane in this manner must call the answering service and schedule over the first member. If a CFC member is delayed in arriving at the airport, he/she may protect his/her scheduled time by calling the answering service and revising the starting time to accurately reflect the ETA at the airport.
• Maintenance of CFC Aircraft:
1. The CFC Maintenance Officer shall handle with all vendors the repair and maintenance of CFC aircraft. The CFC Maintenance Officer has the authority to determine the Airworthiness of CFC Aircraft for the use of all members, and can thus make the aircraft unavailable to CFC members based on Airworthiness Criteria.
2. While CFC Members shall not dictate the airworthiness of CFC aircraft to other Members, CFC Members are ultimately responsible for determining the airworthiness of CFC aircraft each and every time they fly. CFC members should communicate to the maintenance officer any anomalies with the aircraft, either through the time sheet in the aircraft, the scheduling service, or directly. CFC members are expected to advise the maintenance officer of any airworthiness condition which would make the operation of CFC aircraft unsafe.
3. CFC Members should keep in mind that they, along with the rest of the CFC members, are aircraft owners. CFC members should treat the aircraft as they would treat property which they solely own.
4. CFC Members and their guests shall not smoke either in CFC aircraft nor within 50 feet of the aircraft.
5. CFC Members shall be responsible for acquainting themselves with and operating in accordance with any current operating dictums that are prescribed by the CFC Maintenance Officer. The Maintenance Officer will post these dictums on the same clipboard that contains the CFC Aircraft time log sheet.
6. Only the CFC Maintenance Officer is officially permitted to authorize repairs to be done to CFC aircraft. If service is needed while a CFC aircraft is away from its home base, this may pose a problem. In the event that a CFC pilot feels that a repair is needed to make the plane airworthy to return it to its home base, he/she must attempt to contact the Maintenance Officer to receive authorization to have the repair done. If the member is unable to reach the Maintenance Officer, the member must call the answering service and leave a message for the Maintenance Officer. If the member does not receive authorization for the repair from the Maintenance Officer, he/she may be liable for the cost of the repair. A request for reimbursement must be brought before the club at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
• Conduct of CFC Members on an Airport:
1. Normally, the operations of cars on airport ramps, taxiways, and runways should not be practiced by CFC members.
2. All CFC members will be expected to yell "CLEAR" before engaging the Engine Starter of a CFC aircraft.
3. CFC members shall be responsible for the behavior and safety of their non-member, non-flying guests when on airport aircraft operations areas.
4. It should be common practice for CFC members to operate strobe lights during the day and position lights at night whenever the aircraft engine is running. This notifies any pedestrian on the airport ramp that the propeller of the aircraft is in motion.
• CFC Flying Rules:
1. All CFC members shall have an instructor's endorsement prior to initially operating either and each of the CFC aircraft.
2. CFC members shall file and operate by flight plans filed with FAA Flight Service for any trip longer than 50 NM.
3. CFC members shall have a night flight endorsement prior to operating CFC aircraft after dark.
4. CFC members are strongly encouraged to fly "by the book" patterns near airports. Any member deviating from standard airport patterns should have good reasons for the deviation, and be willing to defend these reasons before the entire CFC membership.
5. CFC members shall fly with the landing light on whenever operating in the vicinity of an airport or high concentrations of air traffic. Operating with the landing light on significantly aids pilots to see and be seen by other aircraft.
• Operating Rules Specific to CFC Aircraft.
1. Engine Oil levels when checked during preflight inspection shall in CFC aircraft be no lower than 4.5 quarts in the 152 and 6.0 quarts in the Warrior. In the 152 this will result in an oil level ranging between 4.5 and 5.5 quarts, while in the Warrior this range will be between 6.0 and 7.0 quarts. If the oil level is lower than the stated minimum level, the amount of oil needed to bring the oil to within the stated proper level shall be added. Oil for adding is normally kept in the aircraft by the maintenance officer. Should there be no oil for adding in the aircraft, the member is responsible for adding the proper amount of Aero-Shell 15W-50 before starting the Flight. This oil is commonly available for $3.50 - $5.00 a quart. The member should save the receipt and turn it into the treasurer for credit on the member's bill.
• CFC Fuel Policies
1. CFC members are responsible for returning the aircraft to the tie-down area with the proper amount of fuel in the aircraft. In the Warrior, the proper amount of fuel is "to the tabs". With the 152, the proper amount of fuel is "to the top". If fuel is not available when the member returns the aircraft, the member is responsible to see that the plane eventually is fueled to the proper level. This often may be accomplished by reimbursing the member who next flies the plane for the fuel shortage.
2. In no case should a CFC member who finds an aircraft short of fuel return the plane short the same amount of fuel and perpetuate the fuel shortage. The planes should be returned to the tie down area with the proper amount of fuel whenever possible.
3. If any CFC member experience a problem collecting from another CFC member for fuel shortage, the CFC member having the collection problem should contact the CFC treasurer. The CFC treasurer shall be responsible for collecting from the member who left the plane short, and reimbursing the member shorted.
• Winter Procedures
1. A preheat is required if the air temperature is below 20F and is strongly encouraged when the temperature is below 32F. When the temperature is below 32F, a preheat is required after 3 unsuccessful 5-second start attempts. The club will reimburse pilots for the cost of pre-heats. Do not take off until the oil temperature is in the green arc.
2. If there is snow on the planes, BRUSH it off before flying. There are brushes in both planes. DO NOT SCRAPE snow and ice off. DO NOT BEAT ON the wings to knock ice off. If you cannot get it all off with a brush, point the plane into the sun, it will soon soften to the point that it can be brushed off. If you are flying one plane and there is snow on the other one try to take the time to clean it off. It will make it easier for the next person.
3. The planes are not "automatically" shoveled out by the airport. Airport maintenance will plow the tie downs if we move the planes out while the airport is being plowed. If someone is not there to get the planes out, they must be shoveled out by hand by a member. We should try to get someone out to the airport after a storm. A member will be appointed to coordinate this effort. If that member gives you a call, try to make it out to give him a hand.
• Resigning from the CFC
1. The effective date of ALL resignations shall be the end of a calendar month.
2. In order to resign from the dub a member must notify the treasurer in writing of his/her intention of leaving the club. The written notification must be received prior to the end of the the last month of membership.
3. Upon resigning from the club, the member shall surrender his/her aircraft keys.

The preceding rules were compiled not for the purpose of restricting the activities of CFC members unnecessarily. Rather these rules help insure the safety of CFC members and their passengers, preservation of CFC property, and the reputation of the CFC in the aviation community, and the community at large.