Michael wrote:

The primary problem with clubs is that they tend to have more rules
than FBO's, and WAY more rules than the insurance company will impose
on you in a partnership. On the other hand, it's harder to walk away
from a club than an FBO because you're invested.

My experience comparing rules in clubs and FBOs doesn't match yours. But
perhaps I'm misinterpreting what you mean.

FBOs are far more strict about utilization rules (which can be expressed as
additional fees like daily minimums) than any club I've seen, for example.

However, I would agree that clubs can have rules that are more *complex*
than an FBO. We've a point system for scheduling, for example, while
Paul's club has some explicit time periods when a booking may or may not be
made. An FBO just wants to get planes flying (or at least charging), but a
club may have additional motivations and the rules are designed to achieve
those.

Paul's club's scheduling rules were expressed very clearly, and with the
motivation behind them explained. My club's rules are simpler (in my
opinion {8^), but the linkage between the rule and the goal harder to
express. I plan to try to explain our rules in a style similar to that
used by Paul's club's website (thanks, Paul {8^).

There are rules w/in a club for matters that would never arise at an FBO.
We've a policy covering the movement of aircraft to where maintenance is to
be performed. An FBO wouldn't have renters involved in this, so no rules
would be required.

So...depending upon what you mean, I might agree with you. I don't think
clubs tend to be more strict, but I do think that the rules need to cover
more ground than found at an FBO.

The one possible exception is that we've currency rules on our complex
aircraft that are more strict than those on any of the other aircraft. But
this was something we accepted to bring down our insurance rate. I suppose
an FBO might [be forced to] make a similar choice.

I do agree with your advice about knowing the rules. I'd add that one
should learn how the club handles upgrades, what insurance it has, what it
requires of a member, how easily one can depart, what the club does in the
face of an accident or incident, how aircraft problems are addressed, how
well maintained the aircraft are (even "little" things like landing lights,
which was my pet peeve at one local FBO), etc.

- Andrew