Best way to plug into the local GA community

A

allPrimes

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allPrimes
I'm a student pilot, waiting on an FAA medical (see longer discussion here, if interested).

I recently joined a local flying club with two 172/180 available at $60/hr (wet). I'd like to find someone I could tag along with there but the challenge is that the club has meetings once/month and there is no mailing list available to reach out to other members. I'm happy talking to strangers and I connected with one (apparently) old-timer at my first flying club meeting and asked if I could tag along with him if we split costs (yes, I can) but given the lack of an email list, there's no way of getting in touch with him. I reached out to one of the club officers and asked about options to plug in to the GA community and was told "well, you can get on the airport mailing list."

The business through which I'm taking lessons really doesn't appear have much of an interest in fostering GA pilots and doesn't do much to encourage broader GA activity (or rather, there is no "broader GA activity" in which to be involved?). I asked my CFI about whether he knew if the club had some folks that might be willing to help a new pilot out and their response was "I think there's a few retired guys that might still be hanging around."

What are some other options? Reach out to individuals who I stalk from their N number on ForeFlight? Go to as many fly-ins as I can (few and far between where I am) and just meet people that way?

I don't plan on pursuing aviation as a career so this is strictly spendy hobby/general recreation for me. It seems odd that a student could get their PPL then really just dive into flying on their own. Like when I started flyfishing and hunting, I thought it might be nice to have an individual or a group to kind of show me around, people from whom I could learn from their significantly-more experience.

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
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Did the “airport bum” thing disappear? Years ago pilots would became very friendly, as in their spare time they just hung out at the local airport flight school. Drank coffee, talked aviation, and usually beers afterwards.
It was a big thing when I was younger.
 
Kritchlow said:
Did the “airport bum” thing disappear? Years ago pilots would became very friendly, as in their spare time they just hung out at the local airport flight school. Drank coffee, talked aviation, and usually beers afterwards.
It was a big thing when I was younger.
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Those days are pretty much gone. When I was instructing full time, we were always at the airport just hanging out. Now with the days of social media, no one hangs out for stories anymore. Most pilots are in and out, no time for social hour.
 
Kritchlow said:
Did the “airport bum” thing disappear?...
Click to expand...

Its just harder to find now.

As a successfully unemployed person, I find that walking the airport is the best way to run into friendly people who want to show you their airplane, engage in hangar flying, or even maybe invite you to go flying.

It doesn't happen often. Most of the time I walk (getting my 10k steps in) and exchange a friendly "hello" with a few folks, and that's it. But, sometimes I end up having to use "my wife..." as an excuse to leave. And, on more than one occasion, I've wound up with invites to go fly, or offers of help or advice, or even folks that just want to come over to my hangar and check out my airplane.
 
wilkersk said:
Its just harder to find now.

As a successfully unemployed person, I find that walking the airport is the best way to run into friendly people who want to show you their airplane, engage in hangar flying, or even maybe invite you to go flying.

It doesn't happen often. Most of the time I walk (getting my 10k steps in) and exchange a friendly "hello" with a few folks, and that's it. But, sometimes I end up having to use "my wife..." as an excuse to leave. And, on more than one occasion, I've wound up with invites to go fly, or offers of help or advice, or even folks that just want to come over to my hangar and check out my airplane.
Click to expand...
Saturday around noon are the best times.
 
TommyG said:
Those days are pretty much gone. When I was instructing full time, we were always at the airport just hanging out. Now with the days of social media, no one hangs out for stories anymore. Most pilots are in and out, no time for social hour.
Click to expand...
Depends where you are and how hard you look. At the end of my hangar row a few of the old pilots got together and built a tiki bar. One can stop by any Saturday (again, now that people are vaccinated) to hear all kinds of first-hand stories of flying from the past 70 years, some of them may even be true.
 
I agree - it’s getting harder these day. I share a hangar with a club plane with 4 pilots. I’ve asked if they want to fly somewhere together - crickets. I joined the Airport Association- all were, well, old geezers (note - I am 65) and most of gave up flying many years ago. They have zero social activities or interest in social activities. Word has it they were much more active 10-15 years ago. I’ve offered to take some for a ride - nope, not interested. The local EAA Chapter is pretty much the same. Saturday are my airport is often a ghost town. Very few pilots around (other than the 2 very busy flight schools) and few hangers opened. There are some airports where there is activity. A friend of mine has a T-28 that he flys out of KRLD and they have Saturday morning breakfast at his hangar and about 20 or so show up. They rotate the menus and the cooking duties so it doesn’t become burdensome for him and his hangar mates. So it is possible, but apparently not at my airport. Social media is apparently the alternative to actually sitting down and talking with folks and if appropriate having an adult beverage or 2. I am finding it is increasingly harder to find out fly-ins unless you are on Fecesbook.
 
If you're on Facebook, look for local affinity groups.
 
FACEBOOK? WTF????
Go to the airport during times when people might be flying, strike up a conversation. I know it might seem old school, but that's how people used to meet, by, meeting!
 
Seriously, I'd like to know what airports you folks fly from, and how you just freely walk around the airport? Every airport (Mil, GA and/or commercial) I have been to in the last 20 years is surrounded by chain link fence with cypher lock gates. How does one go about getting free access to the hangar rows and tie down areas? This is one problem we face while trying to get folks involved in aviation... we tell them to "go hang out at the airport" and when they do they aren't allowed onto airport property beyond the FBO or airport office.

How do we fix this?
 
I’ve just become Secretary of my local EAA chapter. The FIRST thing I’m going to do is update the mailing list. The second thing is to distribute it to everyone who’s on it.

AllPrimes, your flying club needs to do the same.
 
OneCharlieTango said:
I’ve just become Secretary of my local EAA chapter. The FIRST thing I’m going to do is update the mailing list. The second thing is to distribute it to everyone who’s on it.

AllPrimes, your flying club needs to do the same.
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Updating an email list that’s primarily folks 70 and up? Good luck with that.
 
aterry1067 said:
Seriously, I'd like to know what airports you folks fly from, and how you just freely walk around the airport? Every airport (Mil, GA and/or commercial) I have been to in the last 20 years is surrounded by chain link fence with cypher lock gates. How does one go about getting free access to the hangar rows and tie down areas? This is one problem we face while trying to get folks involved in aviation... we tell them to "go hang out at the airport" and when they do they aren't allowed onto airport property beyond the FBO or airport office.

How do we fix this?
Click to expand...
How do you get to an airplane on the ramp at your airports?

Yes, of course my nontowered GA home base is gated. But once inside I have definitely walked around the ramp from one end of the airport to the other. I even talk to people!

But I agree to the extent that doing it that way ain't what it used to be.
 
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Too bad your flying club isn't that "social." Look for local pilot groups. What you find depends on location but I would look for
  • State and local pilot associations and EAA chapters. (I see murphey mentioned https://montanapilots.org/).
  • Flight schools. Some do periodic get togethers.
  • Sign up on FAASafety. Live seminars are returning.
  • Facebook. Yes, Facebook. There are a number of local pilot groups out there which tend to be moderated to some degree. Some are just group discussion. Others actively try to arrange get-together.
  • Wear an aviation t-shirt or cap when going to outdoor events. Seriously, I'm sometimes run into other pilots and struck up conversations that way, even in rest areas on Interstate highways :D
 
aterry1067 said:
Seriously, I'd like to know what airports you folks fly from, and how you just freely walk around the airport? Every airport (Mil, GA and/or commercial) I have been to in the last 20 years is surrounded by chain link fence with cypher lock gates. How does one go about getting free access to the hangar rows and tie down areas? This is one problem we face while trying to get folks involved in aviation... we tell them to "go hang out at the airport" and when they do they aren't allowed onto airport property beyond the FBO or airport office.

How do we fix this?
Click to expand...

They can still go hang at the FBO. Get to know the guys and gals that work at the airport, and ask if they know of anyone that flies regularly that would like some company. Or just hang out and have a cup of coffee and see who passes through. It's also not uncommon for people working at the FBO to also be time builders, ask if any of them are interested in splitting flying time.
 
midlifeflyer said:
How do you get to an airplane on the ramp at your airports?
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At Juneau you need a GA security key card. It has to be renewed every year and expires on your birthday. That bit me in the $ss this year. Birthday yesterday and the next free appointment to get the key card is July 2nd... So I can't get to the hangar to work on my annual unless a friend or my wife who has a key card escorts me to the hangar.

I could use Tam's card but if security finds out I used someone else's card they revoke that persons card for life. PITA for me I normally start the day early, Tami is more of a 9am wake up girl..
 
AKBill said:
At Juneau you need a GA security key card. It has to be renewed every year and expires on your birthday. That bit me in the $ss this year. Birthday yesterday and the next free appointment to get the key card is July 2nd... So I can't get to the hangar to work on my annual unless a friend or my wife who has a key card escorts me to the hangar.

I could use Tam's card but if security finds out I used someone else's card they revoke that persons card for life. PITA for me I normally start the day early, Tami is more of a 9am wake up girl..
Click to expand...
It would be the same if I were based at nearby RDU rather than the nontowered/no airline traffic one where I am. I would expect badge security at Juneau just as I would expect it at any airport with the enhanced security issues facing one with international and airline traffic.
 
People are just busier these days than they used to be. Very seldom do we just. decide to drop by someone’s house to visit. We almost always call first. It wasn’t that way when I was growing up. Maybe it is just the way things are now, for better or worse, even at the airport.
 
allPrimes said:
I'm a student pilot, waiting on an FAA medical (see longer discussion here, if interested).

I recently joined a local flying club with two 172/180 available at $60/hr (wet). I'd like to find someone I could tag along with there but the challenge is that the club has meetings once/month and there is no mailing list available to reach out to other members. I'm happy talking to strangers and I connected with one (apparently) old-timer at my first flying club meeting and asked if I could tag along with him if we split costs (yes, I can) but given the lack of an email list, there's no way of getting in touch with him. I reached out to one of the club officers and asked about options to plug in to the GA community and was told "well, you can get on the airport mailing list."

The business through which I'm taking lessons really doesn't appear have much of an interest in fostering GA pilots and doesn't do much to encourage broader GA activity (or rather, there is no "broader GA activity" in which to be involved?). I asked my CFI about whether he knew if the club had some folks that might be willing to help a new pilot out and their response was "I think there's a few retired guys that might still be hanging around."

What are some other options? Reach out to individuals who I stalk from their N number on ForeFlight? Go to as many fly-ins as I can (few and far between where I am) and just meet people that way?

I don't plan on pursuing aviation as a career so this is strictly spendy hobby/general recreation for me. It seems odd that a student could get their PPL then really just dive into flying on their own. Like when I started flyfishing and hunting, I thought it might be nice to have an individual or a group to kind of show me around, people from whom I could learn from their significantly-more experience.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Click to expand...

Your flying club should really be your source of socialization and networking. In our club, we even have a "social member" status which does not include flying proviledges. They can attend all our meetings, barbecues and Christmas parties. As a member of the club, you could bring this topic up during a meeting, and ask if there are others who share your views.
 
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aterry1067 said:
Seriously, I'd like to know what airports you folks fly from, and how you just freely walk around the airport? Every airport (Mil, GA and/or commercial) I have been to in the last 20 years is surrounded by chain link fence with cypher lock gates. How does one go about getting free access to the hangar rows and tie down areas? This is one problem we face while trying to get folks involved in aviation... we tell them to "go hang out at the airport" and when they do they aren't allowed onto airport property beyond the FBO or airport office.

How do we fix this?
Click to expand...

We do have airports like that here. Paine Field, north of Seattle is literally a "PAIN" for itinerant GA pilots. You have to get escorted through an FBO gate to get to your aircraft. And, there is very little available parking now that there are 121 flights in and out of there. I try and stay away from airports like that.

At my airport, I enter a 4 digit code to get through the gate, then I'm on the airfield, free to roam. The airport staff/security know me and wave. Most folks are pretty friendly. When we see someone we don't recognized, we try to politely find out what they're doing.
 
I agree with you, that once through the gate one would find most people fairly friendly. However that’s the hard part for someone just starting out trying to “plug into the local GA community” which is the point of the whole thread. Inside the fence, GA appears welcoming and friendly…outside the fence it appears the opposite. My question was, how do we make it appear more friendly for folks on the outside of the fence?

I understand the OP belongs to a flight club so he does at least have access to the ramp, and that’s a great place to start. But how do we make the general public feel more welcome at the local airport? Do any of your local airports do something like family days, or cookouts, fish frys, or some form of gathering that would welcome the general public to come check out the airport? I’m looking for ideas.

Thanks
 
Aviation seems to be pretty bi-modal from what I've seen. Lots of 15-30 year olds and lots of 70+ year olds. The inbetween groups are fairly under-represented.

Being in the former group I do find that facebook is the best way to find where the fly-ins are happening and when.
 
aterry1067 said:
I agree with you, that once through the gate one would find most people fairly friendly. However that’s the hard part for someone just starting out trying to “plug into the local GA community” which is the point of the whole thread. Inside the fence, GA appears welcoming and friendly…outside the fence it appears the opposite. My question was, how do we make it appear more friendly for folks on the outside of the fence?

I understand the OP belongs to a flight club so he does at least have access to the ramp, and that’s a great place to start. But how do we make the general public feel more welcome at the local airport? Do any of your local airports do something like family days, or cookouts, fish frys, or some form of gathering that would welcome the general public to come check out the airport? I’m looking for ideas.

Thanks
Click to expand...
7S3. Pancake breakfast first Monday of every month. It’s a thing in the local community. Lotsa non pilots and their families show up. Been on hold for about a year but should start up again soon. Maybe already has. I gotta check. https://www.twinoaksairpark.com/

Here’s another one. Coffee and Donuts every Friday 0900-1100. Haven’t been in quite awhile. Don’t know if that was put on the back burner for COVID or not. https://airhaven.net/events.html
 
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aterry1067 said:
Seriously, I'd like to know what airports you folks fly from, and how you just freely walk around the airport? Every airport (Mil, GA and/or commercial) I have been to in the last 20 years is surrounded by chain link fence with cypher lock gates. How does one go about getting free access to the hangar rows and tie down areas? This is one problem we face while trying to get folks involved in aviation... we tell them to "go hang out at the airport" and when they do they aren't allowed onto airport property beyond the FBO or airport office.

How do we fix this?
Click to expand...
Get the hell outta the big city #1. Then get out to an airport in a sleepy little town with no commercial airline service. You'll need to be more than 30nm from the nearest class B or C, and about 20 miles from the nearest class D. Get out in the country where folks are happy to have people walking around checking things out. May actually bring in a new customer. Where I'm based there is no fence, but there is a couple of gates that remain open 100% of the time. We have amenities such as full time mx shop, fuel both 100ll and jetA, mile long paved runway with no displaced threshold, and on a nice day it's really jumping.
 
If the airport has commercial service the TSA procedures make it hard to walk around. I’ve rarely had a problem wandering the hangars at sites without commercial service and, especially before noon, usually find at least a couple of people hanging out in hangars that are happy to talk. In fact, that’s how I got a hangar at my current airport.

gary
 
I am biased but put another vote for the EAA chapters. Best way to get plugged into local grassroots aviation IMO.
 
Check out Facebook groups. There are many for states and regions. I'm in groups for Georgia, South Carolina, and for North Texas.
 
TommyG said:
Those days are pretty much gone. When I was instructing full time, we were always at the airport just hanging out. Now with the days of social media, no one hangs out for stories anymore. Most pilots are in and out, no time for social hour.
Click to expand...
That’s too bad. I consider myself a ramp rat. Hang out at hangar with friend some evenings. Usually there sat and Sunday am drinking coffee, watching planes, solving world peace. Sometime pull the planes go up for a spin.
 
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