Membership
2026-27
Membership 2026-27
updated 2 Feb 26
Introduction
The Membership Application procedure for the 2026/27 Club year is set out below and is unchanged from the last 2 years.
Membership Fees for the 2026/27 Club year are unchanged.
If any aspect of the membership scheme and procedures is unclear or you are unsure of your eligibility etc, please contact the Membership Secretary (membership@haltonaeroclub.co.uk).
Applying for HAC Membership
The RAF Sport Aircraft (RAFSA) regulations under which HAC must operate dictate that HAC, like all other RAFSA clubs, must limit the number of members who do not fall within the Full Member definitions – so called “non-qualifying” members. The HAC Committee does not believe that a first-come, first-served approach for non-qualifying applications is in the best interest of our members or the Club. Therefore, the process set out below (and used successfully for the last 4 years) has been devised to allow us to receive applications for membership from everyone who wants to join HAC in 2026-27. The Committee will then consider all applications together to enable us to offer limited Veteran and Associate (Civilian) memberships to the most deserving applicants and those whom the Chairman considers will contribute most to the HAC over the coming year. Applicants who meet the criteria for Full (Qualifying) membership are automatically eligible for membership subject to the Chairman’s approval.
It is our sincere hope that we do not have to refuse membership to anyone, but if a decision is necessary to stay within the RAFSA quota for non-qualifying memberships, priority will be given to Veterans (F9), Dependants of Qualifying Service Personnel (A1 & A3) and then applicants undertaking or planning to take LAPL/PPL course. In addition, the applicant’s contribution to the running of HAC (including infrastructure work and all events) and the number of hours flown in the preceding 12 months will be taken into account. Should the number of non-qualifying applicants exceed the quota, then a waiting list will be produced and maintained.
HAC Membership Application Process (click to expand)
All existing qualifying and non-qualifying members (including reciprocal, temporary and non-flying), those on the waiting list and new applicants should apply for membership for the 2026/27 Club year by completing and submitting a membership application form by e mail to the Membership Secretary (membership@haltonaeroclub.co.uk) no later than 1st March to be considered for membership. Qualifying members must also apply at this point so that the Committee can determine the number of non-qualifying places that will be available. No monies are to be sent at this time. Applications received after 1st March will be dealt with in order of receipt, but the same criteria will be applied.
On 1st March 2026 the Membership Secretary will compile a list of applications received* for the Chairman’s consideration showing:
- All those who qualify for Full Membership.
- All those applying Veteran (F9) membership.
- All those applying for A1, A2 and A3 membership.
- All those A1, A2 and A3 applicants undertaking or planning to take a LAPL/PPL course
- The number of Associate Membership places available within the RAFSA rules.
By 14th March 2026 the Chairman will decide which non-qualifying applications are to be accepted. The Membership Secretary will notify those successful applicants (both Full and Associate) requesting payment of membership fee (by BACS) no later than 31st March 2026 . If payment is not received by 15th April 2026, the membership offer will lapse and will be offered to the next eligible applicant on the waiting list.
By 1st April 2026 the Membership Secretary will notify any unsuccessful applicants and place them on the waiting list.
Membership Eligibility Criteria
There are 16 tightly-defined RAFSA Membership Eligibility definitions. The expandable table below shows the the eligibility criteria for each membership category. You will need to decide which applies to you when completing your application form. Documentary evidence of your eligibility for the membership category you are applying for must be included with your Application Form (eg Official ID Card, Veteran’s Certificate). If you are unsure of your eligibility please contact the Membership Secretary (membership@haltonaeroclub.co.uk) for clarification.
RAFSA Quotas
RAFSA rules dictate that Associate (Civilian) Membership cannot exceed 25% of the total Membership and that a maximum of 10% of the Full Membership may be Veterans.
HAC Membership Scheme
The HAC Membership Scheme complies with the RAFSA rules on membership eligibility and is summarised in the table below which contains detailed definitions of eligibility for each HAC membership category. To determine which category you fit into, consult the expandable tables below and note the detailed category number (eg F1, A3, etc) as you’ll need to enter it on your Membership Application Form. If you are still not sure, send details of your situation to the Membership Secretary (membership@haltonaeroclub.co.uk) for advice. ALL applications must be accompanied with documentary evidence of eligibility for the category being applied for, eg Official ID Card, Veteran’s Certificate.
Membership Categories & 2026/27 Fees
(Click on a membership category to see detailed eligibility criteria)
Full Membership (£250 per annum)
Available to Eligibility F1 to F13 with 10% limit on F9
75% or more of Total Club Membership
| Sub Category | Definitions |
| F1 | Regular personnel of the Royal Air Force. |
| F2 | Active personnel of the RAF Reserve (FTRS, ADC, VERRS) and PTVR in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. |
| F3 | Ministry of Defence Civil Servants that work for the RAF. |
| F4 | Personnel of Commonwealth and Allied Forces serving on exchange with the RAF or posted to RAF stations. |
| F5 | Student Officers and Cadets of the University Air Squadrons (UAS) plus Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) students. |
| F6 | Regular personnel of the other Armed Forces of the Crown plus RN Reserves (List 1-5), RM Reserves (List 1), Army Reserves (Group A). (see note (1) below). |
| F7 | Other current members of the RAF Reserve: Regular Reserve of the RAF with a recall liability under the Reserve Forces Act 1980 and 1996 (RFA80 and RFA96), RAFAC, RAFVR(T), RAF Reserve (Civil Component), RNR (List 6, 7 and 8) plus Army Reserve (Group B and C) and all Sponsored Reserves. (see note (1) below) |
| F8 | Officer Trg Corps (Army and RN equivalent) and RAF Air Cadet (RAFAC) Organisation. |
| F9 | see below |
| F10 | Trustees of the RAFFCA CIO if not already covered elsewhere. |
| F11 | Instructors, Examiners and Ops Managers that provide a service to the Club in the discharge of their duties within the Club. |
| F12 | Ministry of Defence Civil Servants other than those that work for the RAF. |
| F13 | Ministry of Defence Contractors. |
Note (1). Regular Reserve requirements are set out in the Service Leavers Guide Page 58
Veterans Membership (£250 per annum)
Available to Eligibility F9 in excess of 10% eligible for Full Membership
Maximum 25% of Total membership combined with Associate Membership (Civilian)
| F9 | Service Veterans defined by the Government as “anyone who has served for at least one day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve)”. They should be in possession of a MOD Armed Forces Veteran’s Badge and qualifying certificate (available from the MOD Medal Office). |
Associate (Civilian) Membership (£500 per annum)
Available to Eligibility A1 to A3
Maximum of 25% of Total membership combined with Associate (Veterans) members
| A1 | Ex-members of the UAS or RAF Air Cadet Organisation that do not qualify for a MOD Armed Forces Veterans Badge. |
| A2 | Others accepted at the discretion of individual Club Chairmen on the basis that they provide operational assistance or will otherwise undertake significant assistance to the running of the Club. |
| A3 | Partners or dependants of all Qualifying Service Personnel. |
Reciprocal Membership (£75 per annum)
Reciprocal membership is open to:
- Those members of the Halton Gliding Club who fly that Club’s tug aircraft and are required by RAF Halton to be a member of a powered flying club. Applicants MUST be active glider tug pilots at RAF Halton and may be required to provide supporting evidence thereof.
- Members of other RAFSA Flying Clubs. Applicants must provide proof of continuing membership of another RAFSA Flying Club and a reason for not joining HAC as a full member that is acceptable to the Chairman.
Non-Flying Membership (£20 per annum)
Non-Flying membership of HAC is open to those former members of HAC who have ceased flying for health or age reasons but wish to remain in contact with and have access to the Club.
Temporary Membership (£150 for 3 months)
Temporary Membership is available for one 3 month period in any 12 months to those eligible for Associate or Veteran Membership, but for whom there is no vacancy within RAFSA quotas..
Payment of Membership Fee
Members are to pay their membership fee in full on joining or renewal of their membership.
New Members joining from May onwards will be charged a pro rata membership fee for the months remaining in the Club year which ends on 31st March.
Members renewing their membership will be required to pay the full fee whenever they rejoin.
Membership will not be confirmed until payment is received into HAC’s bank.
New Members “Probation”
All new members will be considered to be on Probation for their first 6 months membership. Decisions on probation “success” will be made by the Chairman (delegated to the Membership Sec) on the advice of the Ops Mgr & CFI.+
Membership Application Forms
Click on the buttons below to download and save the Membership Application Form. Note: that MS Excel will download to your downloads folder and you will stay in this window, PDFs will open in a new window; close it to return to here. If you need another format please contact us using the form below. You only need to fill in one of each type, either PDF or the editable version.
Remember to include documentary evidence of your eligibility for the membership category you are applying for (eg Official ID card, Veteran’s Certificate).
Station Passes
All Members who do not hold an MOD90 must hold a valid RAF Halton Station Security Pass. Applications for Station Passes should be made to Passes@haltonaeroclub.co.uk
Membership Enquiries
For all membership enquiries please use the form below. On successful completion you will be taken to an acknowledgement page. You will also receive a copy of your submission. We will generally take up to three working days to respond.
Membership Enquiry Form
Membership News
Items listed below here are membership related posts from the Membership Secretary. To open an item, click on the image if one is present, the read more link or the title. You can read all of the news on the news page
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