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FINGER LAKES SOARING CLUB INC
DANSVILLE, NY · EIN 237300346 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · Micro (<$100K) · flsc.org
revenue
$55K
expenses
$69K
net assets
$291K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Teaching and practice of motorless flight in gliders. Promote a Junior Program for youth 11 - 18 years.

profile · synthesized from sources

Finger Lakes Soaring Club Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Dansville, NY, dedicated to the teaching and practice of motorless flight in gliders. The club offers flight training, promotes soaring safety, and operates a junior program for youth aged 11 to 18. It supports pilot education through orientation, checkrides, cross-country training, and access to FAA resources.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Cross Country Soaring Training
Structured syllabus and ground series instruction for pilots preparing for cross-country glider flights, including thermal techniques and navigation.
Glider Flight Training
Comprehensive training program covering pre-solo requirements, checkrides, and certification preparation for private and commercial glider pilots.
Junior Program
Flight training and orientation program for youth aged 11-18 to introduce glider flying and promote aviation education.
Tow Pilot Program
Training and operational support for pilots who provide tow services for glider launches, including safety protocols and daily logging.
activities · 1 group

What they do

  • Aviation Training and Soaring Programs 7 activities
    • Conduct flying operations at Dansville Airport
      Operates regular flying activities at Dansville Airport from April through November, with weekend availability (Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM) and holiday operations. Members support volunteer-based operations, and the club maintains a fleet of gliders and tow planes, including a PA-25 Pawnee and Citabria, for launching and training purposes.
    • Deliver cross-country soaring and advanced training
      Provides advanced training opportunities including a cross-country soaring ground training series led by an SSA-certified Cross Country Instructor and competition pilot. Utilizes high-performance gliders such as the Centrair Pegasus 101B for advanced soaring activities and supports members in achieving Diamond Soaring awards.
    • Maintain and operate a fleet of sailplanes and support aircraft
      Owns, maintains, and operates a fleet of sailplanes including the ASK 21, G102 Astir, Centrair Pegasus 101B, Schweizer SGS 1-26A, and SGS 2-33, as well as powered aircraft such as a Citabria and PA-25 Pawnee used for towing and training. The fleet supports instruction, cross-country flying, aerobatics, and spin training, with ongoing maintenance and rebuilds conducted by members.
    • Operate public glider rides
      Offers scenic glider rides to the public using two-seat instructional gliders, primarily on weekends and holidays from May through October. Rides last approximately 15 minutes and are available at discounted rates for groups of five or more, with additional discounts for youth groups. Operations are based at Dansville Airport.
    • Provide glider flight instruction and training
      Offers flight instruction in motorless gliders to members and the public, including youth as young as 10, with solo flying permitted at age 14. Training includes use of two-seat instructional gliders, a Mach 0.1 and Mach 0.2 glider simulator with CONDOR Soaring Software, and structured programs such as a three-lesson introductory membership for $250. The club operates multiple gliders for instruction, including an ASK 21, Schweizer SGS 2-33, and G102 Astir.
    • Run a Junior Program for youth soaring education
      Operates a Junior Program for individuals aged 11 to 18 (or under 19), offering flying lessons at a $10 monthly membership fee in exchange for participation in club operations. Provides deeply discounted membership and flying rates, with flight instruction available from age 10 and solo flying permitted at 14. The program supports youth engagement in all aspects of soaring, including flight training and operational support.
    • Support club operations through member volunteerism and training
      Operates as a member-driven club with approximately 30 active members who volunteer in operations, maintenance, instruction, and administration. Roles include Maintenance Monitor Officer, towplane piloting, radio system maintenance, and instructional flying. New members are onboarded through orientation materials and an operations manual updated through 2025.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$55K
Contributions & grants$2040%
Program service revenue$34K62%
Investment income——
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$69K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$302K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$291K
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -19.0%
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • Dansville Airport Partner — Hosts flight operations and serves as the primary base for club activities.
  • Dansville Airport Partner — Hosts the Finger Lakes Soaring Club hangar at Dansville Airport (KDSV).
  • Dansville Airport Partner — Operates flying activities from Dansville Airport.
  • Harris Hill Soaring Club Partner — Named in club contact list, indicating a recognized relationship with another regional soaring organization.
  • Jim Martin Partner — Uses training materials and instructional content authored by Jim Martin for flight education and operations.
  • Kai Gertsen Partner — Uses instructional materials on cross country soaring, thermaling, and off-airport landings authored by Kai Gertsen.
  • Rick Lafford Partner — Contact person for answering questions about the club, reachable by phone or email.
  • Sean Murphy Partner — Collaborates with SSA Cross Country Instructor and competition pilot Sean Murphy to deliver a cross country soaring ground training series.
  • Soaring Society of America Network — FLSC requires members to belong to the Soaring Society of America, which bills its annual dues through the club.
  • Soaring Society of America Network — Participates in SSA's badge and contest programs and references SSA resources for soaring records and turnpoints.
  • Soaring Society of America Network — Requires members to belong to the Soaring Society of America as part of club membership.
  • Wings of Eagles Museum Partner — Supplied a Schweizer SGS 2-33 training glider to the Finger Lakes Soaring Club.
  • Wings of Eagles Museum Partner — Supplied a Schweizer SGS 2-33A glider to the club
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Hands-on Youth Aviation Education with Structured Engagement
    methodology: hands-on_youth_aviation_education
    By combining hands-on glider practice with a structured Junior Program, the club advances interest in motorless flight among youth, because early experiential engagement fosters long-term development and potential careers in aerospace.
  • Member-Driven Volunteer and Cooperative Cost-Sharing Model
    methodology: cooperative_labor_model
    By operating as a member-driven, volunteer-based cooperative where members contribute labor and volunteer instruction, the club sustains low operational costs and affordable access, because shared responsibility reduces financial barriers and increases community investment in soaring.
  • Structured Flight Training with Simulation Support
    methodology: simulation-based_training
    By using a structured cross-country soaring syllabus combined with simulation-based training via the CONDOR Simulator, the club builds advanced pilot competencies, because simulation reinforces real-flight skills in a low-risk, repeatable environment.