Modern. Light. Sport.
Three words. One airplane.
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.
Light
Light Sport rules. 1,320 lbs gross. Sport pilot eligible. No third-class medical. No BasicMed paperwork. Driver's license medical is enough. You can fly tomorrow.
Sport
120 knots true on 5 gallons an hour. Composite airframe. Honest handling. Built to actually be flown — short trips, frequent trips, fuel-conscious cross-countries.
The Fuel Math
Built for efficient flying.
A dry rate is only as good as the fuel burn behind it. Our Jabiru fleet burns 5 GPH on ethanol-free auto fuel — leaving more room for the flying you actually want to do.
Comparison assumes $7/gal 100LL across all three aircraft. These are fuel costs only. A4 Aviation's Jabiru rates are dry — you buy fuel directly, typically ~5 GPH (and cheaper still on approved ethanol-free auto fuel where available).
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 | Sport pilot 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.
Founding member offer: first 10 members lock in $50/month for their entire first year.
CFIs fly free — ask about our instructor program.
10-hour block discount: Save 10% off the dry rate. J250 block = $99/hr · J230 block = $112.50/hr.
Dry rates: you buy your own fuel. Aircraft are returned full. Members fuel directly and retain receipts.
Why we price dry
We switched to dry rates for transparency and control. Dry pricing separates aircraft time from fuel, so you pay the true cost of flying and capture the savings directly. Our Jabirus burn only ~5 GPH and are factory-approved for ethanol-free auto fuel, so your fuel bill stays among the lowest of any club fleet.
Membership requirements
- 01
FAA pilot certificate
Sport, Private, or higher.
- 02
Current medical or BasicMed
Or a valid U.S. driver's license for Sport pilots in LSA-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.
Fuel in your hands
Dry rates separate aircraft time from fuel, so you pay the true cost and capture the savings directly. Our Jabirus burn ~5 GPH and accept ethanol-free auto fuel — your fuel bill stays among the lowest in the fleet.
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 | You control fuel cost (~5 GPH, auto-fuel approved) | 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 dry 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.