Aeroclub Goals — Why Create an Aeroclub? Written in 2020

Establishing the Club and Community
To establish an aero club in the Otepää region that provides members with a place where they can always land and take off, store and maintain their aircraft, and simply enjoy a cup of coffee while reading aviation literature. The club is active, open, and mutually developing — a place where a friendly spirit brings together aviation enthusiasts from Southern Estonia and around the world.

Promoting Aviation
To introduce aviation as a whole, spark people's interest in it, and dispel the myth that aviation is an expensive and unreachable hobby. The club aims to connect active aviation enthusiasts in Southern Estonia with the wider community and to show that the sky is open to everyone who wishes to enter it.

High Ambitions in Estonian General Aviation
To do everything in Estonian general aviation better than it has ever been done before. To bring Estonian "bush pilots" up to world-class level — and out into the world. From the Estonian backwoods to Africa and beyond, without unnecessary awe, raising experience to a professional level.

Aircraft Fleet
To acquire a variety of aircraft for the club that members can rent and use:

A nosewheel training aircraft
A taildragger STOL aircraft
An aerobatic aircraft

In addition, the club's longer-term vision is to build one aircraft every year — this develops members' technical skills, deepens their understanding of aircraft construction and maintenance, and creates a shared activity that bonds the community.
Developing the EETI Airfield
To improve the conditions at EETI through concrete steps:

Establish an instrument approach
Extend the runway
Install lighting for night landings
Set up our own weather station and ATIS
Create the option for off-season aircraft hangaring
Help bring new airstrips to life across Estonia

Aircraft Maintenance and Responsibility
To organize aircraft maintenance collectively, in order to raise pilots' awareness of the technical condition of aircraft and reinforce owners' responsibility for proper upkeep. Shared activity helps split the costs and grow the collective skill base.
Developing Members' Skills
To develop members' aviation skills and competencies in cooperation with various flight schools and instructors. Planned trainings include:

Night flying
IFR
Aerobatics
Taildragger flying
STOL flying
Helicopter
Spiral dive recovery training
Winter landings on skis
Seaplane flying
Engines and different types of aircraft — a general educational component that helps in making informed choices when selecting an aircraft

Club Activities and Events
To be an active and open club that regularly organizes:

At least one fly-in per year
Joint flying trips both within Estonia and abroad
One longer international trip per year
At least one seminar per year on a current and relevant topic — legislation, safety, maintenance, training, trips
Regular meet-ups to share experiences

In addition, to promote domestic aviation tourism in Estonia and to create an environment that is harmonious and aesthetic — quality music, a good sauna, and a pleasant gathering space.
Pilot Training
To obtain a training license and to train at least one PPL pilot every year. This requires:

At least three flight instructors in the club
Theoretical training competence at ULPL, LAPL, and PPL levels
Connections and partners in Europe where flight training can be conducted intensively year-round — especially during our winter months (October to April)

The club also aims to register itself as a training organization, which would allow the purchase of excise-free fuel.
Services and Revenue
To offer a range of services to the club and its friends:

Refueling at favorable and convenient terms
Aircraft hangaring, including off-season winter storage
Maintenance
Aircraft rental
Trip organization
Accommodation

These services help share costs and create revenue streams to ensure the club's long-term financial sustainability. In addition, to negotiate favorable agreements with Estonian airfields (landing fees, ground handling) and fuel suppliers.
Library and Knowledge Sharing
To build a proper aviation library for the club that supports both learning and the sharing of experience between generations.
Sister Club in Europe
To find a sister club in Europe whose members are interesting to engage with, exchange experience with, and visit. Where possible, to keep a couple of aircraft at their location during winter so that our members can fly during the warmer season at a suitable time. An alternative would be an agreement allowing club members to rent their aircraft at favorable rates without the need for an instructor.

Five-Year Goals

50 active members who fly regularly and pay membership fees
At least half of the membership consists of active pilots
The club operates as a training organization
The club has at least three flight instructors
At least one PPL pilot is trained every year
One aircraft is built every year
Active partnerships with European aero clubs are in place