Joshua Nichols

Review of Aspen Flying Club

I like Aspen Flying Club, I like their business mo...

I like Aspen Flying Club, I like their business model.
I completed my private pilots license at Flights Inc because I wanted 141, which Aspen didn't offer. Rumor has it that Aspen will be a 141 operation soon. So that's something to look forward to when I'm ready to start my instrument training.

After earning my private pilot certificate I decided to get checked out in the Cirrus SR-20 (I had the 100 hour minimum), and I also got checked out in the Katana DA-20. I was looking for something different to fly other then the 172, which I spent close to about 85 hours in.

The staff was very helpful in getting me setup as a new member.

The club has a social feeling to it, and it is very simple to network with other members in the club. Aspen holds fly-out events to other airports for their members.
They also offer free, and low cost training courses.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that I can do a self checkout after hours. If you want to go flying at 3AM, you are more then welcome to as long as the A/C isn't scheduled during the time you want to fly. Aspen has a very simple after hours procedure, which gives you the ability to get up and go when you want. Unlike other flying clubs, you have to call to reserve the A/C prior to the office closing. But not at Aspen.

The reason why I give 4 stars instead of 5

I did have 1 issue where I contacted a CFI, wanting to get a good introduction to the club, and schedule a flight, and he didn't return any of my phone calls, and this particular CFI is one of their senior instructors.

I called the office, and they provided me with a couple more CFI's to chose from. The next CFI I contacted was eager to get me in the air. From that point forward I didn't have any issues.

The CFI's at Aspen all have different rates. My SR-20 CFI was 50 a hour, and the Katana CFI was 45 a hour.

A majority of all of their CFI's can teach in all the A/C. However I wanted to get checked out in the SR-20, and the Katana. I had to have two different CFI's. The SR-20 CFI couldn't teach the Katana, and the Katana CFI couldn't teach the SR-20. So that was two different personalities, and teaching styles I had to adopt to in a short amount of time. But don't get me wrong, the CFI's where both awesome!! I will have a hard time choosing which CFI I will want to do my IFR with, because both instructors where great, and knowledgeable about everything. They are very very patient (which I can be a slow learner at times it took me 80 hours to get my ppl if that means anything) and they will make sure you are safe, and really understand whats going on.

I give my professional recommendation to this club if you are a perspective member. Around the clock A/C rentals, and professional staff.