Modern. Accessible. Capable.
A club built around the flying you actually do.
Modern
Glass panel. Autopilot. ADS-B In and Out. Synthetic vision capable. Built and equipped this decade — not refurbished from a panel that predates the iPhone.
Accessible
No equity buy-in. No shares. Simple monthly dues and a transparent wet hourly rate. Fly when you want, on airplanes that are actually available.
Capable
A modern mixed fleet — efficient aircraft and Cirrus SR20s — spanning short local hops to serious cross-country trips. One club, the right airplane for the mission.
The fleet
Modern airframes. Real capability.
A mixed fleet of efficient aircraft and Cirrus SR20s — glass panels, autopilots, ADS-B, and proactive maintenance across every airframe.
The Fuel Math
Wet rates. One number.
One hourly rate covers the airplane and the fuel — no receipts, no reimbursement paperwork, no surprises at unfamiliar FBOs. You know what an hour costs before you preflight.
Comparison assumes $7/gal 100LL across all three aircraft. These are fuel costs only. A4 Aviation's Light Sport rates are wet, so members never see a separate fuel bill — the low ~5 GPH burn is what lets us quote a low all-in wet rate.
Why Modern Matters
Built for now. Not 1978.
| The old way | The modern way |
|---|---|
| 1970s steam gauges | Dual GRT Sport HS glass with synthetic vision |
| No autopilot, or analog wing-leveler | DigiFlight Vizion 380 with altitude preselect |
| Mode C transponder, no traffic awareness | ADS-B In/Out, traffic and weather on the panel |
| 9 to 10 GPH, 100LL only | 5 GPH, factory-approved for ethanol-free auto fuel |
| Third-class medical or BasicMed paperwork | eligible. Driver's license medical. |
| Aluminum airframe baking on the ramp since Carter | Composite. Hangared from new. No UV. No corrosion. |
| Built when fuel was 60¢ a gallon | Built for a $7 gallon world |
Pricing snapshot
Monthly dues
Caps roster size so the airplane is actually available.
Simple membership: no equity buy-in, no setup fees, no long-term contract.
CFIs fly free — ask about our instructor program.
10-hour block discount: Save 10% off the wet rate. J250 block = $121.50/hr · J230 block = $135/hr.
Wet rates: fuel is included in the hourly. Aircraft are returned full — no receipts to chase.
Why we price wet
Wet pricing means one number covers the airplane and the gas — no fuel receipts, no reimbursement paperwork, no surprise charges at unfamiliar FBOs. You know what an hour costs before you preflight.
Membership requirements
- 01
FAA certificate
Sport, Private, or higher.
- 02
Current medical or BasicMed
Or a valid U.S. driver's license for Pilots in aircraft-certificated aircraft.
- 03
Current flight review
Within the preceding 24 calendar months (FAR 61.56).
- 04
Renter's insurance
$1M liability with $100K hull damage minimum, A4 Aviation listed as certificate holder.
- 05
A4 Aviation CFI checkout
In the specific make and model you intend to fly.
- 06
Signed membership and operating agreement
Issued after your intro call.
Full insurance details, coverage minimums, and the pre-flight checklist live on the Pilot Requirements & Insurance page.
How to join
Three steps from intro call to first flight.
Intro call
Quick conversation to confirm fit, goals, and current ratings.
Hangar visit
Walk the fleet at Sheltair (KDTO), meet the team, review the agreement.
Checkout & fly
CFI checkout in your chosen airframe, then you're on the schedule.
What's included
The things that usually cost extra.
Wet rates, no receipts
One hourly number covers airplane and fuel — no reimbursement paperwork and no surprise charges at unfamiliar FBOs. Aircraft are returned full.
Online scheduling
Flight Circle scheduling and billing — book from your phone, see live availability across the fleet.
Proactive maintenance
Rolling 100-hour and annual inspections tracked in-house. Squawks get fixed, not deferred.
Glass-panel avionics
Modern EFIS, ADS-B In/Out, autopilot-equipped airframes. No steam-gauge surprises.
Insurance-friendly
We work with your renter's policy and provide everything underwriters ask for.
Real community
Small, vetted membership. Group fly-outs, hangar talks, and CFIs who know your name.
How A4 differs
Built for frequent flying. Not just existing.
Most flying clubs in the Metroplex run aging fleets, large rosters, and pricing models that hide the real cost of an hour. A4 is built differently.
| Aspect | A4 Aviation | Typical DFW club |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft age | Built in the 2010s–2020s | Typically 1970s–1980s |
| Avionics | Glass EFIS, ADS-B, autopilot | Steam gauges, partial upgrades |
| Fuel | Wet — fuel included, no receipts | Often dry, fuel billed separately |
| Equity buy-in | None | $5K–$25K+ typical |
| Monthly dues | Modest, capped membership | Higher dues, oversubscribed fleets |
| Scheduling | Live online, capped ratio | First-come, frequent conflicts |
| Maintenance | Proactive, in-house tracking | Deferred squawks common |
| Training focus | Certificated pilots only | Mixed primary training + rental |
Comparisons reflect general market norms across DFW-area clubs and FBO rental operations. Individual operators vary.
Common questions
Everything you'd ask on the intro call.
Do I need to own any equity in the club?
No. A4 is a members-only club with simple monthly dues plus a wet hourly rate. No buy-in, no shares, no exit fees.
Is there a minimum hours commitment?
No monthly minimum. Fly when you want. Block-hour packages are available if you'd like a discount for committing time up front.
Do you offer primary flight training?
No. A4 is for already-certificated pilots (Sport, Private, or higher). We do CFI checkouts in our airframes and recurrent / flight reviews for members.
How far in advance can I book?
Members can schedule out as far as the calendar allows in Flight Circle. We deliberately cap membership against fleet size so the airplane is actually there.
What happens if an aircraft is down for maintenance?
We notify members immediately, rebook affected flights, and prioritize getting it back online. Multiple airframes in the fleet means you usually still fly.
Can I take an aircraft cross-country / overnight?
Yes, with reasonable daily minimums on multi-day trips. Discuss the trip during the intro call so we can plan around the schedule.