Client Information & Policies – Pilot Guide

Thank you for your interest in flying with Crosswinds Aviation!

New and prospective clients are required to familiarize themselves with Crosswinds Aviation’s policies and procedures.

If you only need to fill out a particular form, you can find and go directly to that form by looking at the Required Forms tab along the left side.

The following information and policies are for the clients of Crosswinds Aviation. All pilots should adhere to applicable policies unless a variance is granted by management or in the case of student pilots, your flight instructor.

Last updated 2024-07-12

General Students Renters Operations – All Locations Operations – KOZW Operations – KPTK

General Information & Policies

Insurance

Aircraft Renters Insurance Policy is mandatory:

Options are AOPA, EAA and AVEMCO
Non-Owned Aircraft Physical Damage coverage is NOT requireed.
Personal Injury and Property Damage coverage is also required however the limit is your choice
This is for your protection

Additional Information

PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE COVERAGE: Midwest Air, LLC dba Crosswinds Aviation (“Company”) carries a maximum Liability Coverage of $100,000 per passenger, and $1,000,000 per single limit bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. This liability coverage covers Crosswinds Aviation Employees, Flight Instructors, Aircraft Owners and Partners of Crosswinds Aviation. This does NOT cover student or renter pilots for Personal Injury or Property Damage liability.
AIRCRAFT HULL COVERAGE: Non-owned hull coverage is not required. Instead, a $3/hour aircraft repair fee will be charged on all aircraft charges. This is fee is accumulated into an account for us to pay for any aircraft damages outside of normal maintenance items. This fee will be adjusted annually determined by how much damage costs incurred for the previous year.

Our insurance DOES NOT grant a waiver of subrogation to any pilot or renter. Therefore, we require each pilot or renter to purchase Non-Owner coverage. This coverage can be purchased from AOPA, EAA and AVEMCO (please use referring code: CA41). Brochures are in the Crosswinds Aviation main office.

Safety

Safety is our top priority here at Crosswinds Aviation. We take this responsibility very seriously and we make sure to maintain our aircraft with the most impeccable maintenance. We fix all items as soon as practical because we believe that any maintenance item large or small can be a distraction and safety hazard.

If you have immediate safety concerns or observe unsafe actions, please contact any Crosswinds Aviation staff member for assistance.

Aeronautics Code of the State of Michigan

Please read and understand the code of rules that we are required to follow as a licensed flight school in the State of Michigan here: 259.85 Flight School

Scheduling

Crosswinds utilizes an online scheduling system. Aircraft and instructor scheduling is accomplished using this system, or by calling our office at 517-552-1101 for assistance. To start scheduling flights, please submit a Crosswinds Aviation Application. Once your online application is approved, you can go through our client signup process and begin reserving aircraft and instructors.

Rentals and lessons scheduled within 24 hours can usually be accommodated but might require extra resources to ensure aircraft and instructors are ready to serve you. Please contact your instructor, or our office at 517-552-1101, if you are scheduling within 24 hours.

When scheduling a training flight with an instructor, please block a minimum of 2 hours with an instructor and aircraft.

Cancellation Policy

Reservations cancelled on short notice and no shows have a significant impact on our business, instructors and clients. Pilots are responsible for knowing their flight schedules and for arriving on time for lessons and rental flights. Cancellations within 72 hours and no shows are subject to a cancellation fee unless the pilot has coordinated with their flight instructor or Crosswinds management and they agree to cancel the reservation with no fee. Rental flights without an instructor reserved may be cancelled on-line or by phone up to the time of the flight without a fee if weather conditions fall below personal minimums. Student pilots must coordinate with a flight instructor or Crosswinds management before cancelling a flight due to weather conditions to avoid the cancellation fee. The following is how cancellation and no show fees will be applied:

First offense – A reminder will be communicated to the pilot without a fee
Second offense – A $25 cancellation fee will be charged to the pilot’s account.
Third offense and thereafter – For flight lessons with an instructor reserved, the amount of time that the instructor was booked will be charged to the pilot.

Cancellation charges can be waived on a case-by-case basis with approval of the Instructor or Crosswinds management. Cancellations for reason of sickness will be followed up on by Crosswinds management. Not being prepared for a lesson is not an acceptable reason to cancel.

Accident / Incident Reporting

Renter pilots agree to report all accidents and incidents, no matter how large or small, to Crosswinds Aviation immediately by calling 517-552-1101. Do not move the aircraft until expressly authorized by the appropriate authorities and Crosswinds management. You will need to supply the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of witnesses and involved parties.

Maintenance Reporting

Staff and pilots (including students) are responsible for reporting aircraft discrepancies.

Anyone has the ability to report squawks and, if needed, ground the aircraft. Crosswinds management or instructors will contact any renter or student that has the plane scheduled if the plane is not airworthy and request to reschedule or switch to another aircraft. No flight will be made without first checking to ensure aircraft is airworthy. If you experience a failure of a system while airborne and you are not able to correct the problem in the air, land as soon as practicle and contact Crosswinds Aviation at 517-552-1101.

If you discover a maintenance discrepancy or “squawk,” Enter the squawk into our scheduling system here: https://app.flightschedulepro.com/App/Aircraft/. Choose the aircraft, then select the Squawks section, then click Add Squawk. Please be as descriptive as possible.

Medical Documentation

Clients (including students) desiring to rent our aircraft must provide a proof of compliance with FAA Medical requirements. A copy of the medical certificate must be supplied to Crosswinds management who will update your medical information in the scheduling system.

Fleet & Rates

For a listing of aircraft available for rent, their rates, and specific information, please visit our fleet page. Please note that aircraft rates are subject to change.

For a listing of instructors and rates for instruction, please visit our instructors page.

All credit card payments will incur a 3% credit card surcharge. Cash/Check/E-Check payments will NOT incur a surcharge. E-Check is a new Payment method that you can setup in your FSP Profile.

A $3/hour aircraft repair fee will be charged on all aircraft charges and you are not required to have non-owned hull coverage on renter’s insurance policies. You are required to purchase a renter’s insurance policy to cover personal injury/property damage.

Payment

All clients are required to have a valid payment method on file. Crosswinds Aviation accepts the following payment methods:

Cash, personal or company checks, all major credit cards and E-Check (ACH).
E-Check payment method will not incur the 3% Credit Card Surcharge.

A $25.00 fee will be charged to a renter pilot’s account for each returned check or E-Check.

Refunds

Customers who elect to keep funds on account will be entitled to refunds of any previously unused money on account. It is the policy of Crosswinds Aviation to refund any money on a student account minus any expenses or charges accrued on the account. All refunds will be assessed a course termination/rental termination fee of $25.00. Cash and check deposits will be refunded by company check within 45 days of written request from the student or guardian if the student is a minor. With block time payments, refunds will be minus the difference in block rates from our regular rates for flown amounts.

Aircraft Rental Agreement

This Agreement Governs the Rental of all Crosswinds Aviation fleet aircraft listed on our fleet page.

AIRCRAFT RENTAL: Renter Pilot shall not rent any aircraft for solo flight, or act as Pilot-In-Command, for which it is not checked out, or fails to meet insurance requirements.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS: Renter Pilot will operate the aircraft in accordance with FAA Federal Aviation Rules and Regulations, and any applicable State and Local laws. No item(s) contrary to the Law may be carried aboard the aircraft—e.g., illegal drugs, weapons, explosives, etc. Renter Pilot may not use any of Company’s aircraft for compensation or hire.

AREA OF AIRCRAFT USE: Renter Pilot may not fly beyond the boundaries of the Continental United States unless the aircraft is licensed and equipped to do so. See the fleet page for aircraft-specific information.

DOCUMENTATION: Company may examine Renter Pilot’s pilot records at any time to verify adherence to Company policies and Renter Pilot will submit with this agreement a photocopy of its pilot’s certificate(s) and/or license(s), medical documents, photo ID, and driver’s license.

Student Information & Policies

TSA and Alien Flight Student Information

Flight students must provide Crosswinds Aviation with one of the following options as proof of U.S. citizenship:

Valid, unexpired U.S. passport; or
Certified U.S. birth certificate AND U.S. government-issued photo ID; or
U.S. naturalization certificate with raised seal AND government-issued photo ID

A student interested in training with us who cannot comply with any of the above must apply and go through the TSA Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP). Information on this program can be found at https://fts.tsa.dhs.gov. Students are only able to take a discovery flight and receive ground instruction at Crosswinds until they are approved through the AFSP to continue flight training. For specific instructions and more information on AFSP, please see the section below.

All student IDs, VISA and passport information will be copied and kept in a confidential file at Crosswinds Aviation, Howell location.

Alien Flight School Program

Non US Citizens must complete a training request through the Alien Flight School Program (AFSP). Training requests are good for a maximum of one (1) year, and the processing fee is $130.
There are two parts to a training request:

The candidate’s identifying information; and
The details of the training request

The process may take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete. Both parts must be completed to successfully submit a Category 3 training request. Students must create their own AFSP accounts.

The general steps for creating a request are:

Go to https://fts.tsa.dhs.gov
Create a User ID and Password
Our training facility in Michigan: Midwest Air LLC, dba Crosswinds Aviation
Choose Category 3: Single Engine Land (SEL) rating, Initial training, Course# 101 Aircraft type: Single engine land DA20

The pages for the personal information are found under the “Part: 1 — Candidate Information” folder after login. Please note that the name on the application must match the name found in the account information and must match the name on your passport/visa.

The pages for the training request details are found under “Part: 2 — Request for Training” folder.

During the process, you will receive emails from the AFSP. Please follow the directions in these emails closely. Please contact Andrea directly on her cell (517-410-4184) or by email if you have any questions.

Renter Information & Policies

Aircraft Checkout

Pilots interested in renting aircraft from Crosswinds Aviation will be required to do an initial aircraft checkout (make and model specific) with one of our instructor pilots.

For pilots that are rated and have a current flight review for the class and category of aircraft they are interested in renting, the checkout will begin with a review of ground topics such as regulations, airspace, aircraft systems, and local airport procedures. The instructor will also give an overview of policies and procedures specific to Crosswinds Aviation, our scheduling and payment system, and other related topics. This will be followed by a flight with the instructor to evaluate your ability to operate the aircraft safely. The length of the flight will be determined by your currency and time in type.

Overnight Rentals

Crosswinds Aviation strives to make our entire fleet available for pilots 24/7. During our regular business hours, an aircraft can be scheduled anytime it is open. Aircraft are available on a first come, first served basis.

Aircraft can be scheduled for up to 72 hours in length (3 days) without a minimum per day charge. However, any rentals longer than 3 days will require scheduling by Crosswinds Aviation staff and will incur a minimum 4 hour/day charge.

Prior to departing on a flight where a Crosswinds aircraft will remain away from its home base overnight, it is the pilot’s responsibility to ensure the plane will be tied down or parked in a hangar, as well as appropriately protected from the elements (pitot tube cover, gust lock, etc.). Follow the aircraft-specific cold-weather procedures, including winterization kits and engine pre-heat instructions, as applicable.

Visit our fleet page to learn more about each aircraft’s installed equipment and specific requirements. A portable heater is available for overnight trips at no extra charge. The heater and horse blanket to cover the engine cowl are in the bottom of the locker with the headsets. If you have questions about how to use the heater, see the Crosswinds management.

Fuel Reimbursement

Each Crosswinds aircraft contains a credit card in the back of the aircraft’s logbook.

Our preference is that this fuel card be used for any fuel purchases away from the aircraft’s home airport. Crosswinds Aviation will reimburse you for fuel purchased away from the aircraft’s home airport if the card in the flight log does not work. Submit an itemized receipt (including tail number, gallons, dollar amount) to Crosswinds management after returning from your trip to receive reimbursement. Parking/ramp/hangar rental/overnight fees are not reimbursed.

Receipts should be submitted at the time of aircraft return but may be submitted up to one week after the return of the rental for full reimbursement. After two weeks there will be no reimbursement. Crosswinds does not reimburse based on credit card statements, check copies, or other methods that do not itemize the purchase being made.

Preflight Operations

Weather

Weather reports and forecasts of intended route of flight will be obtained immediately before making a flight to ensure the conditions are conducive to safe flight. Renter pilots will not fly any aircraft when the weather conditions are below VFR weather minimums, unless that pilot is an instrument rated and current, and the aircraft is instrument equipped and certified.

Airworthiness

It is the responsibility of each renter pilot to inspect and make a preflight check of the aircraft, equipment, and accessories in accordance with the aircraft manufacturer’s recommendations. Pilots will not accept any aircraft until satisfied as to the aircraft’s airworthiness and the proper functioning of its equipment and accessories.

Additionally, renters should check for aircraft squawks in our scheduling system here: https://app.flightschedulepro.com/App/Aircraft/. Choose the aircraft, then select the Squawks section.

Aircraft Movement

The aircraft tug should be used only by a Crosswinds Aviation staff member who has received training on the safe operation of the tug.
Tow bars are available for all aircraft.
It is preferable to move the aircraft with at least two people so that you have a wing walker to check clearances with hanger doors, other aircraft and obstacles in the hangar and on the ramp.
Prior to moving aircraft in/out of the hangar, insure that hangar doors are open the proper amount.
Use care when the floor of the hangar or ground outside the hangar are wet or icy.
THE RENTER PILOT MOVING AN AIRCRAFT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO THE AIRCRAFT THEY ARE MOVING, DAMAGE TO OTHER AIRCRAFT, OR HANGAR DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR WHEN AIRCRAFT ARE BEING MOVED BY THE RENTER.

Parking & Securing of Aircraft

It is the responsibility of each renter pilot to ensure the aircraft is securely tied down or hangard (due to inclement weather), all controls secured, keys removed and the aircraft locked. Aircraft need not be locked if parked in the Crosswinds hangar.

Renter pilots agree to pay a $50.00 battery re-charge fee if the aircraft Master Switch is left in the ON position.

Fueling

Each airport where Crosswinds operates has a preferred fuel vendor. Please use the tabs on the left of this page to visit each airport’s detailed instructions, procedures, and contact information. If you need to refuel away from the aircraft’s base location, there is a fuel card in the back of the aircraft time logbook. If that card is missing or doesn’t work for some reason, please fuel with your own method of payment and email the receipt to finance@crosswindsaviation.com within 2 days. We will re-imburse either on that flight’s invoice (if not invoiced already), or put back on your account.

Observe the following weather limitations when utilizing self-serve fuel:

No fuel should be dispensed if winds are over 30 knots
Avoid refueling in heavy rain to prevent water contamination
Refueling is prohibited if lightning is spotted within a 10 mile radius of the airfield

Starting & Taxi

An instructor will be on hand for all student solo engine starts. Entering or exiting a Crosswinds aircraft once an engine is running is prohibited. Hand-propping is prohibited.

Sterile cockpit procedures should be observed during movement of the aircraft on the ground. Avoid programming the GPS and radios during taxi. Limit conversations to only essential communication. Crosswinds pilots are strongly encouraged to make radio calls at non-towered fields.

Minimum Altitudes

In addition to the minimum altitudes specified under §91.119, there are additional altitude minimums.

Stalls will not be initiated less than 2,500 ft. AGL
Intentional spins will not be initiated less than 4,000 ft. AGL

Operations Specific to KOZW

General Information

Address: 3808 West Grand River Ave. Howell, MI 48855

We are 1 mile North-West of the M-59 Highland & Grand River intersection across from Livingston Storage close to Burkhart Road.
* Please note that if you put Livingston County Airport into Maps it will take you across the field to the main terminal. Search for “Crosswinds Aviation” and select our Howell location for the correct location in maps.

Phone: (517) 552-1101 (For all locations. Please leave a message if there is no answer.)

First Time Visitors: For your first visit to our Howell location, please meet with the instructor in the main lobby (the entrance is denoted by the green star). If you arrive earlier, please make yourself comfortable as the instructor finishes with their previous client.

Livingston County Airport Rules and Regulations: Please read and understand the Rules and Regulations that we all must follow at Livingston County Airport here.

Access Information

Front Door

After completing a checkout flight with a Crosswinds Aviation Certified Flight instructor, ask your instructor for the Three-digit lock box code. Inside is a proximity card to enter the building if the door is locked. Please return the card immediately to box. Call 517-552-1101 if there are any questions or difficulty accessing the building.

Hangar & Offices

We have four offices. The main office is the first door on the right after entering. If needed, physical keys for offices are in a lock box. Please contact Crosswinds staff for room access.

Access to the hangar is by way of the hallway where our offices are located, one door is immediately upon entering on the left, and the second is through the lobby. The switches for the lights are on the wall just outside the kitchen door in the hangar (please help us safe energy and turn off when not needed). Keys are in a lock box to the left of the kitchen hangar access door please ask instructor for Three- digit code. Oil/ Rental headsets are in the cabinets near the ramp door. Both are labeled, please be sure to sign out borrowed headsets, and write down oil that is used. All oil is assigned to specific aircraft. Please use oil associated with that aircraft tail #.

Fuel & Line Service

KOZW does not offer line service. Please have a member of the Crosswinds team teach you how to work the hangar doors and to safely move planes. Fuel is provided by Livingston County Airport in addition to self-serve. They can be contacted at 517-861-9088 or 517-546-6675 Please see their current operating hours below:

Monday-Friday 7AM-4:45PM

Saturday & Sunday 8 AM- 11:45 AM

Billing

Please write legibly in black or blue ink in the plane’s logbooks filling in all sections of the line. These books are located in the passenger side pocket of the aircraft. Dual lessons will be entered by the instructor with their time to the tenth of an hour. Rentals will be entered into accounting system by the office staff. Please write your full name as it is shown on your Flight Schedule Pro account.

Parking at KOZW

Please reference the following diagram. The grass areas are only usable during the summer when the area is dry. Please ask a Crosswinds Aviation Flight Instructor or employee before parking in the grass areas.

Yellow areas, as well as the hangar, are where aircraft can be parked. Please remain in them unless actively taxiing.
Please only use the area directly in front of the hangar door for temporary parking. Prior to leaving the aircraft, it should be moved off to the side or on the grass. When parking in front of the hangar door pull in facing the door or sideways and move the aircraft after getting out. If the hangar door is open, DO NOT turn around and prop wash the hangar. This can cause damage to aircraft and parts in the hangar, as well as blowing in massive amounts of debris that then need to be cleaned out.
When parking on the grass, please park back roughly 20 feet to allow for wing overhang from larger aircraft.
Tail aircraft together as depicted by the white stars to maximize ramp space.
If you need any assistance getting your aircraft into one of these spaces, or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact a member of the Crosswinds staff.

Operations Specific to KPTK

General Information

Address: 6544 Highland Rd., Waterford Twp., MI 48327
* Please note that Apple Maps will direct you to the wrong place

Phone: (517) 552-1101

First Time Visitors: For your first visit to our Waterford (Pontiac) location, please meet with the instructor at the Midfield Lobby (the entrance is denoted by the green star at Hangar 2). They will walk you over to Hangar 3, where our aircraft and offices are located.

Oakland County International Airport (OCIA) Rules and Regulations: Please read and understand the Rules and Regulations that we all must follow at the OCIA here. Please also read and understand the Rules and Regulations that we must follow as a license Flight School operating on the field here.

Access Information

Gate

Once you have been checked out by a Crosswinds Aviation Certified Flight Instructor, ask your instructor for the four-digit gate code. This will allow more direct access to Hangar 3 as depicted in the map.

Hangar & Offices

We have four offices (Alpha through Delta) located along the North side of Hangar 3. The entrance is denoted by the green star on the map.
Access to office Alpha is provided by a smartphone application: PDQ Smart. You can request an invitation code by contacting us at info@www.crosswindsaviation.com.
If needed, physical keys for office Alpha are located with the aircraft keys.

Access to the hangar is by way of the hallway where our offices are located and through the galley. Keys and oil are located in the beige cabinet labelled “Crosswinds Aviation” in the SouthEast corner of the hangar.

Fuel & Line Service

Fuel and line service is provided by Maven. They can be contacted at 248-666-0550

Click the image for the full size map.

Client Information & Policies – Pilot Guide

Client Information & Policies – Pilot Guide

General Information & Policies

Insurance

Safety

Aeronautics Code of the State of Michigan

Scheduling

Cancellation Policy

Accident / Incident Reporting

Maintenance Reporting

Medical Documentation

Fleet & Rates

Payment

Refunds

Aircraft Rental Agreement

Student Information & Policies

TSA and Alien Flight Student Information

Alien Flight School Program

Renter Information & Policies

Aircraft Checkout

Overnight Rentals

Fuel Reimbursement

Preflight Operations

Weather

Airworthiness

Aircraft Movement

Parking & Securing of Aircraft

Fueling

Starting & Taxi

Minimum Altitudes

Operations Specific to KOZW

General Information

Access Information

Front Door

Hangar & Offices

Fuel & Line Service

Billing

Parking at KOZW

Operations Specific to KPTK

General Information

Access Information

Gate

Hangar & Offices

Fuel & Line Service

Menu

Locations