How to Join1. Come out for an intro flight. Email norcalsoaring@gmail.com to schedule 1-3 weeks in advance.
2. Download the membership application and mail or email to the address on the form. Note: An intro flight or NCSA instructor checkout is required before applying for full membership. 
3. Mail a check with the application fee to the address on the form or pay electronically via a Zelle direct transfer. The address you use for Zelle is treasurernorcalsoaring@gmail.com (Zelle should tell you that you're sending money to "The Northern California Soaring Accounts").
4. Join the club email list. This is the main way the club communicates. (Note: if the subscribe button below does not take you to the norcalsoaring subscription page, you may need to logoff from groups.io and try again) 5. Join our WhatsApp group for timely ops updates. 6. Review volunteer duties (to the right) 7. Follow us on Facebook *Please note that due to aircraft limitations, we are unable to provide flights to individuals weighing more than 220 lbs. Experienced taildragger pilot? Apply to be a tow pilot! Email norcalsoaring@gmail.com |
Membership DutiesWe are a 100% volunteer organization. Emptying the trash, pushing gliders around, fixing golf carts … there’s no paid staff, it is all done by ‘us’. So when you become one of us, your fellow members will expect you to pitch in.
To help you calibrate your own expectations, the minimums are:
From a pure financial perspective, the volunteer side of our club is what allows us to offer some of the lowest rates not just in the area, but in the country. We think that it goes beyond dollars and cents. Volunteering helps you soak up valuable learning about the sport that is just not available in books or lesson plans. We look forward to meeting you, and hope you will enjoy the camaraderie of our very special club :) | ||
For new to flying students and existing pilots we recommend:
- Doing an introductory flight.
- Joining as trial member. This requires less money up front, and the deposit can be put towards full membership.
- After a few more lessons, join as a full member. This requires a refundable deposit.
TRIAL MEMBERSHIP
This plan allows people to join the club for a fee of $120 to get a feel for gliding with the NCSA before having to write a check for $1380.00 (a thousand is refundable when leaving the club) to join as a full member.
1. DURATION: 4 flying days.
2. LIMITATIONS: The trial member will not be permitted to fly solo or as Pilot In Command. The trial member will be able to pay dual with an instructor, or as a passenger with an appropriately rated and current club member.
3. PAYMENT FOR TOWS, GLIDER USAGE, AND INSTRUCTION: The trial member will be responsible for these charges. The instructor or club member who is PIC will fill in the tow slips and aircraft logs in his/her name and collect payment for these charges.
4. INSURANCE COVERAGE: Trial members will be covered as passengers by club insurance to the same extent as full members, provided the limitations listed above are complied with.
5. PAYMENT: Payment will be made to the NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SOARING ASSOCIATION (NCSA) prior to any flights being made under this trial membership plan. The $120 fee is not refundable, but may be applied to full club membership, should the trial member ask for and be accepted as a member by the NCSA.
6. TRANSFER TO MEMBERSHIP: The Trial member may become a member of the NCSA at any time during the trial period or after it has expired by following the' standard procedures for joining the club. Any dual flight with an instructor during the trial membership may count as the check flight currently required by the NCSA as a prerequisite for membership. The $120 trial membership will be applied towards the initial fees.
FULL MEMBERSHIP
A Full Member has voting rights and one share in the club.
Members are required to participate in the following activities each year: workday twice per year, field manager 3 times per year, safety seminar once per year. Each applicant for a full membership must pay:
1. NCSA Membership equity,(refundable upon leaving the club),
2. NCSA first quarter's dues,
3. NCSA application fee,
4. Soaring Society of America (SSA) annual dues magazine and insurance coverage for club equipment included
5. PASCO (Pacific Soaring Council) annual dues
6. Any personal flight expenses such as tow charges, aircraft fees and instructor fees.
A family member being a spouse or minor child of a full member, is not required to pay equity in the club, but must pay monthly dues.
A Junior Member may participate in the club activities and use the club equipment without having to pay the membership equity. These members will pay dues and fulfill club obligations as determined by the Board of Directors and in accordance with the dues and fees noted elsewhere. They are also eligible for the Cunningham youth scholarship - details and other scholarships
The Private-Owner member, may utilize the club's tow plane and other facilities without having to pay an equity fee, provided the member has a privately owned glider based at Byron. He/she may utilize the club gliders, with the provisions that that member has signed a promissory note to cover any insurance deductible, and has been checked out in each glider by an NCSA instructor. The private member will pay dues and fees in accordance with the schedule, and must fulfill club obligations.
Designated Instructor members who frequently and actively provide instruction to the students and other members of the club, will not be required to pay membership equity in the club, nor the recurring fees or dues of the club, in return for their benefit to the club. Those flights or usage of the club equipment not directly related to instruction, safety or of an introductory nature, will be paid for by the D.I. member.
Tow Pilot members who frequently and actively provide their time and skills as tow pilots to the club shall be members of the club and shall pay no dues nor fees for their membership, if this activity constitutes their only use of club equipment or facilities.
Experienced taildragger pilots are invited to join our tow pilot group. To apply please contact us at norcalsoaring@gmail.com
GUEST MEMBERSHIP
Visiting licensed pilots with privately owned glider may use Club tow services on the following conditions:
(1) Payment for the tows will be the responsibility of a member in good standing who is supporting the guest member.
(2) Obtain a field orientation, review NCSA operating procedures, and take a dual flight with a Club CFI-G. The dual flight may be waived at the instructor’s discretion.
(3) Payment of a daily fee set by the Board of Directors.
Guest members have no voting privileges. Guest membership flight privileges may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
NCSA allows up to five days/year of Guest Membership at $10/day. Additionally, our insurance requires that all Guest Members must be members of The Soaring Society of America and members of glider clubs that have SSA insurance for their club gliders.
Your sponsor will be responsible for all fees. You should make reimbursement arrangements with your sponsor.
| ncsa guest membership application |
INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT
Non-member flight to introduce you to flying a glider
$125
TRIAL MEMBERSHIP
$120 (can be applied towards full membership)
FULL MEMBERSHIP
Refundable membership participation fee $1000.00
Quarterly dues $190.00
Application Fee $90.00
Soaring Society of America yearly dues $75.00
Pacific Soaring Council ( PASCO ) annual dues $25.00
TOTAL DUE UPON JOINING NCSA (FULL MEMBERSHIP) $1380.00
TOW CHARGES (effective 02/19/2022)
$1.80 per 100 feet
PATTERN TOWS (including tow and flight charges): $27.50
Pattern Tow (using private glider) $16.50
Retrieve Tows: $181.50 per tach hour
AIRPLANE RATES (per flight, not per hour)
Glider............ Full Member….........Private ...............Private
...........................................................(equity) ...........(no equity)
1-26 ......................free .....................$12....................$12
Grob 102 .............$12 ......................$25 ..................$40
Grob 103 .............$12 ......................$35....................$50
Grob-103 (KP)......$12.......................$35....................$50
TRAILER PARKING
Qualifying trailers, $270/yr (due and payable January 1st)
Non-qualifying trailers, $1,200/yr (due and payable at the beginning of each quarter)
See note 3 for ‘qualifying’ vs. ‘non-qualifying
OTHER MEMBERSHIP TYPES:
PRIVATE OWNER MEMBER
Membership equity (see note #1) 1000.00/$0
Quarterly dues $80.00
Application fee $90.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $75.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL PRIVATE-OWNER MEMBERSHIP $1,270/$270
DESIGNATED INSTRUCTOR MEMBERS
Membership equity $0.00
Quarterly dues $80.00
Application fee $90.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $75.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL DESIGNATED INSTRUCTOR MEMBERS . $270.00
TOW PILOT MEMBERS
Membership equity $0.00
Quarterly dues $0.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $75.00
PASCO annual dues $0
TOTAL TOW PILOT MEMBERSHIP $75.00
(Tow pilot use of gliders - $80/qtr dues additional)
JUNIOR MEMBERS (see note #2)
Membership equity $0.00
Quarterly dues $80.00
Application fees $90.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $42.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP $237.00
YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS:
NCSA Cunningham Youth Scholarship - details
SSA Scholarships info
PASCO Scholarship
Kolstad Award College Scholarship
Bultman Youth Flight Scholarship
Cadet Youth Flight Scholarship
Michael Wallace Scholarship
Additional scholarship opportunities for female glider pilots: WSPA Scholarships
FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS (Spouse and/or child, accrued per person)
Membership equity carried by full member 0.00.
First quarter's dues $80.00
Application fee 0.00
Soaring Society of America yearly dues $42.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL FAMILY MEMBERSHIP, PER PERSON $147.00
NOTES
Note l--As a private-owner member, an individual may select from one of the following options:
(a)deposit and/or leave his/her full membership equity in the club treasury, allowing full use of the club equipment, with charges as noted above, or
(b)apply the deposited equity as a monthly credit to Private-Owner member dues, until its exhaustion, or take full refund of the deposited membership equity. The Private Owner Members can use Full Member equipment, without equity fee, providing he/she has been checked out in each glider by a Club CFIG, and has signed a promissory note to cover any insurance deductible. Usage fees and dues subsequently will be as noted on this cost schedule.
Note 2--A Junior Member is less than 25 years old, and a full time student of a junior or high school, trade school or college. He/she will participate in the club activities and use of equipment as allowed by the donated equity fees of former members, and will pay dues and fees as noted in this schedule.
Note 3 -- Parking space for glider trailers will be provided to members in good standing, so long as space is available. Rent for a qualifying trailer shall be $270 per year (paid annually). Rent for non-qualifying trailers shall be $1200 per year (paid in quarterly installments).
* A member in good standing is one whose dues are paid up and who fulfills Field Manager responsibilities as assigned.
* A qualifying trailer is one that does not require more than eight feet of parking width, is designed or has been modified specifically to hold a glider, and is associated with a glider that
- is within annual or has been out of annual for not more than one year, and
- has been assembled and flown at least once within the two previous calendar years, and
- is owned by a member in good standing who holds at least a private pilot glider rating.
* A non-qualifying trailer is a trailer, owned by a member in good standing, that is designed or modified to hold a glider, but is not associated with a glider, or is associated with a glider more than one year out of annual or is associated with a glider that has not been assembled or flown within the previous two calendar years.
* No more than one trailer may be associated with a single glider.
* Parking spaces will not be provided for trailers that are not designed or modified to hold a glider.
* Upon request of the Board, a member will produce copies of logbook entries attesting to the required recency of a successful annual inspection, assembly, or flight.
Non-member flight to introduce you to flying a glider
$125
TRIAL MEMBERSHIP
$120 (can be applied towards full membership)
FULL MEMBERSHIP
Refundable membership participation fee $1000.00
Quarterly dues $190.00
Application Fee $90.00
Soaring Society of America yearly dues $75.00
Pacific Soaring Council ( PASCO ) annual dues $25.00
TOTAL DUE UPON JOINING NCSA (FULL MEMBERSHIP) $1380.00
TOW CHARGES (effective 02/19/2022)
$1.80 per 100 feet
PATTERN TOWS (including tow and flight charges): $27.50
Pattern Tow (using private glider) $16.50
Retrieve Tows: $181.50 per tach hour
AIRPLANE RATES (per flight, not per hour)
Glider............ Full Member….........Private ...............Private
...........................................................(equity) ...........(no equity)
1-26 ......................free .....................$12....................$12
Grob 102 .............$12 ......................$25 ..................$40
Grob 103 .............$12 ......................$35....................$50
Grob-103 (KP)......$12.......................$35....................$50
TRAILER PARKING
Qualifying trailers, $270/yr (due and payable January 1st)
Non-qualifying trailers, $1,200/yr (due and payable at the beginning of each quarter)
See note 3 for ‘qualifying’ vs. ‘non-qualifying
OTHER MEMBERSHIP TYPES:
PRIVATE OWNER MEMBER
Membership equity (see note #1) 1000.00/$0
Quarterly dues $80.00
Application fee $90.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $75.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL PRIVATE-OWNER MEMBERSHIP $1,270/$270
DESIGNATED INSTRUCTOR MEMBERS
Membership equity $0.00
Quarterly dues $80.00
Application fee $90.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $75.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL DESIGNATED INSTRUCTOR MEMBERS . $270.00
TOW PILOT MEMBERS
Membership equity $0.00
Quarterly dues $0.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $75.00
PASCO annual dues $0
TOTAL TOW PILOT MEMBERSHIP $75.00
(Tow pilot use of gliders - $80/qtr dues additional)
JUNIOR MEMBERS (see note #2)
Membership equity $0.00
Quarterly dues $80.00
Application fees $90.00
Soaring Society of America annual dues $42.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP $237.00
YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS:
NCSA Cunningham Youth Scholarship - details
SSA Scholarships info
PASCO Scholarship
Kolstad Award College Scholarship
Bultman Youth Flight Scholarship
Cadet Youth Flight Scholarship
Michael Wallace Scholarship
Additional scholarship opportunities for female glider pilots: WSPA Scholarships
FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS (Spouse and/or child, accrued per person)
Membership equity carried by full member 0.00.
First quarter's dues $80.00
Application fee 0.00
Soaring Society of America yearly dues $42.00
PASCO annual dues $25.00
TOTAL FAMILY MEMBERSHIP, PER PERSON $147.00
NOTES
Note l--As a private-owner member, an individual may select from one of the following options:
(a)deposit and/or leave his/her full membership equity in the club treasury, allowing full use of the club equipment, with charges as noted above, or
(b)apply the deposited equity as a monthly credit to Private-Owner member dues, until its exhaustion, or take full refund of the deposited membership equity. The Private Owner Members can use Full Member equipment, without equity fee, providing he/she has been checked out in each glider by a Club CFIG, and has signed a promissory note to cover any insurance deductible. Usage fees and dues subsequently will be as noted on this cost schedule.
Note 2--A Junior Member is less than 25 years old, and a full time student of a junior or high school, trade school or college. He/she will participate in the club activities and use of equipment as allowed by the donated equity fees of former members, and will pay dues and fees as noted in this schedule.
Note 3 -- Parking space for glider trailers will be provided to members in good standing, so long as space is available. Rent for a qualifying trailer shall be $270 per year (paid annually). Rent for non-qualifying trailers shall be $1200 per year (paid in quarterly installments).
* A member in good standing is one whose dues are paid up and who fulfills Field Manager responsibilities as assigned.
* A qualifying trailer is one that does not require more than eight feet of parking width, is designed or has been modified specifically to hold a glider, and is associated with a glider that
- is within annual or has been out of annual for not more than one year, and
- has been assembled and flown at least once within the two previous calendar years, and
- is owned by a member in good standing who holds at least a private pilot glider rating.
* A non-qualifying trailer is a trailer, owned by a member in good standing, that is designed or modified to hold a glider, but is not associated with a glider, or is associated with a glider more than one year out of annual or is associated with a glider that has not been assembled or flown within the previous two calendar years.
* No more than one trailer may be associated with a single glider.
* Parking spaces will not be provided for trailers that are not designed or modified to hold a glider.
* Upon request of the Board, a member will produce copies of logbook entries attesting to the required recency of a successful annual inspection, assembly, or flight.