All of us at Leaf Air look forward to helping you realize your goals of becoming a safe, competent pilot. We want to share our love of aviation with you and make learning to fly an enjoyable experience. Once you become a pilot, our commitment to you continues by providing well-equipped and maintained aircraft and support.
To ensure everyone has the opportunity for a great experience, we ask that you read over our policy section below. If you have any questions, please ask any of our staff.
Student Pilots
- An initial deposit is required for new students to show commitment to training. They will receive a descending balance statement as lessons commence. This initial deposit is non-refundable or transferable.
- Students are requested to arrive for lessons at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled time to ensure that the lesson will begin on time. Late arrival may result in the lesson being cancelled to keep the scheduling running smoothly and on time.
- Students should prepare for each flight by home study. Keeping up with self-study will help to continue advancement during the flight lesson. If any questions come up during study, our instructors are happy to discuss them with you.
- Students should not assume their lesson is cancelled due to the weather. If a flight cannot take place, the instructor may have planned to use this time for a ground lesson. Only the instructor may cancel a flight based on weather and will give as much notice as possible by phone, text or email.
- Students that need to cancel due to circumstances beyond their control, such as illness, are expected to inform their instructor with as much advance notice as possible and to make the changes to the flight schedule program.
- Solo students will contact their instructor if weather conditions, current or forecast, are questionable or if conditions are outside their solo endorsement. Their solo flight may be rescheduled as a dual flight or cancelled for another day.
- All solo students will contact their instructor prior to any solo flight for authorization to conduct the flight. If the instructor is not available, the student will contact another Leaf Air instructor for the flight.
- Instructional flights are for only one student. Up to one additional passenger may be carried during cross country flight training at the discretion of the instructor at an additional charge of $75 to cover extra costs.
- Cell phones/pictures: For maximum progress during lessons, students need to concentrate on flying. Instructor may allow photos occasionally, but this will not be a regular occurrence.
Rental pilots: All pilots are required to have a checkout to rent our aircraft. After the initial checkout, the pilot must fly with Leaf Air within 30 days to maintain rental privileges and their proficiency. After 30 days a new checkout will be required.
Scheduling Aircraft/Instructors:
- Students and rental pilots are expected to update the on-line scheduler when changes are needed. This opens up the plane and/or instructor for another person.
- Pilots and passengers should dress appropriately for conditions. For safety, students/pilots will not be permitted to fly in flip flop type footwear, shorts during winter months, heavy boots or other items that could interfere with aircraft control or personal safety.
- Rental pilot minimum weather: Local flight: 2500 ceiling, visibility minimum 10 miles. Cross Country flight: current and forecast weather, ceiling not less than 2500 ft above the highest obstacle/terrain along the route of flight, minimum 10 miles visibility. Students must adhere to to the restrictions of their instructor’s endorsement.
- Aircraft rental scheduled for 3-5 hours will be assessed a minimum charge of 3 hours. Aircraft rental scheduled for 5+ hours will be at the daily minimum of 5 hours. No overnight rental permitted without permission.
- No show/failure to cancel will result in a $50 charge. If aircraft/instructor has been scheduled for more than 1 1/2 hours, a $100 charge will be assessed. We understand a last-minute cancellation may be necessary in case of emergency or illness and in these cases the fee may be waived, however, it is the student or renter pilot’s responsibility to give adequate notice of cancellation.
- Payment is due at the time of flight. If money has been placed into your account, you will receive a paid invoice with descending balance after each flight. Please keep a credit balance on your account.
Operations:
- No IFR or night flight unless specifically approved by Leaf Air. Aircraft are to be back at KGFL ramp within 1 hour after official sunset.
- If pilot has not flown with Leaf Air in the last 90 days, a checkout will be required before renting.
- Aircraft will not be flown into grass airports or any runway less than 3000 ft without permission of Leaf Air.
- Only instructors approved by Leaf Air may provide flight training in our aircraft.
- Touch & Go – limited to a maximum of 8 per flight hour when solo/renting. At times this may be further reduced due to hot or cold temperature extremes.
- Please report any maintenance or other discrepancies found during a flight to one of Leaf Air’s staff.
- Leaf Air instructors generally do not provide flight training in non-company owned aircraft except for Flight Reviews or IPC, at the discretion of the instructor. The owner will be asked to provide proof of required aircraft inspections and airworthiness.
CARE OF AIRCRAFT
- Preflight aircraft for each flight. Check inspection status for 100 hr and oil changes due.
- Depart with no less than total fuel required for the flight plus one hour.
- Oil – minimum 6 quarts
- Clean windshield as needed before flight. This is important to be able to see traffic clearly.
- Following each flight, please remove garbage from aircraft – water bottles, nav logs, papers, etc.
- No smoking on the ramp or in the aircraft.
- Tiedown or chock aircraft after every flight. Install gust locks.
- If final flight of the day – tiedown completely, install pitot tube cover, cowl plugs and gust locks.
- Record hobbs and tach time after each flight.
SOCIAL MEDIA WAIVER
Students, pilots and customers flying with Leaf Air grant consent and waive the right to compensation or royalties when images captured by Leaf Air are used on social media platforms and website. This includes releasing Leaf Air from liability and all claims resulting from using the images. This is a Blanket Release and Leaf Air may produce, reproduce, edit, print, trade or share content (videos, photographs, illustrations, advertising, likeness and comments) as desired.