San Carlos Flight Center

SCFC Early Summer Kickoff BBQ
2025-05-31 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
With the summer fast approaching, we are going to start the celebration early with an Early Summer Kickoff BBQ. on Saturday, May 31st. The fun starts at 1pm, immediately following our Trucker Airport Operations safety seminar. Come to the seminar, then stay after for an afternoon full of food, drink, snacks, sweets, and activities for everyone.
Enjoy a fun time under the sun with your friends, family, and fellow aviators in the ramp area just outside our main office at 795 Skyway Road, Suite A, San Carlos CA, 94070.
Please RSVP by registering below so we can get an accurate headcount. We look forward to seeing you there!

Flying in the Pacific Northwest
2025-06-04 19:00 - 21:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
The Pacific Northwest is a hub of aviation industry and innovation, and what better way to experience this cosmopolitan region than in the air? However, with a major international airport, multiple military bases, an international border, and rapidly shifting weather patterns, flying in this airspace isn’t easy to navigate.
San Carlos Flight Center invites CFIs Travis Bender and Herb Patten to delve into Seattle Airspace, flying across the US/Canada border, and different ways a Bay Area Pilot can reach the region. This seminar will break up the complex area into smaller areas so it can be interpreted and flown easily for any pilot hoping to fly in the region. In addition, we will also discuss proper procedures for cross-border flying, as well as how to handle some of the unique challenges of flying in the region, such as terrain and weather. Finally, they will highlight how to fly from the Bay Area to the Pacific Northwest VFR.
If you are hinting at flying to Seattle or Vancouver in the near future, this seminar will help you get there efficiently and safely. It is also a great primer for those attending our FlyOutGroup trip to Seattle and Canada in July.
Herb Patten is a Senior Instructor at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFII, an FAA-certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor, and past SCFC Chief Pilot. He is an instrument-rated commercial pilot who has flown over 2,500 hours to more than 130 different California airports. He teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center and is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2025, Herb was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by AOPA.
Travis Bender is a CFI and CFII at San Carlos Flight Center. He earned his primary certificates right here at SCFC and now conducts training for student pilots through Flight Instructors, as well as high-performance checkouts and mountain training. Prior to instructing, Travis worked in sustainable procurement for a large Silicon Valley company. He also spent four years flying in the Pacific Northwest while attending college at the University of Puget Sound.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Airplane Care Tips for Pilots and Owners
2025-06-07 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
A safe flying adventure, requires a safe pilot and a safe airplane. As pilots, we do what we can to inspect the plane before flight and to return it to the flight line in the same condition in which we found it. Mechanics who service and maintain aircraft we fly often have a deeper perspective. What can an experienced mechanic tell pilots and airplane owners that can improve our care and handling of the aircraft?
Tim Davis, a mechanic member of the SCFC Maintenance Team certified with Inspection Authority has offered to share with us some insights from the past few months of servicing SCFC fleet and outside aircraft. Some of the airplane care tips are for pilots, and some are for airplane owners who do preventative maintenance on their own planes. Do you know what adjustable item in the cockpit is the one mostly easily damaged inadvertently by pilots? Is there really a right way to clean the windshield? Is there a pilot role in propeller care?
Pilots of all levels can learn from hearing stories from mechanics, especially those who are able to communicate important topics to pilots who want a deeper understanding of how to protect and care for our aircraft. We hope you’ll join us.
Tim Davis has been an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic at San Carlos Flight Center since 2020. A Bay Area native, he worked as a Quality Analyst for Electronic Arts and Blizzard Entertainment before completing aircraft maintenance training at City College of San Francisco and earning his A&P certificate. In 2024, Tim earned his IA and is now a senior member of the SCFC Maintenance Team.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

SQL Pilot/Controller Meeting
2025-06-11 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-08-27 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
San Carlos Flight Center is excited to welcome in the new Tower Manager from KSQL Control Tower. The new team has been fantastic through the recent company transition and we’ve been grateful to have positive control on the field again. We hope you can join us to meet part of the team in person.
Class D airports sometimes get underestimated as the smallest of the tower-controller airports. But pilots and controller here know that we are a very busy training airport with thousands of operations. Please join us for the open conversation about the safety of flight operations at KSQL. What can pilots better understand about controller workload and traffic flow. What can controllers understand about how procedures affect flight operations. Please bring questions that relate to operations at San Carlos Airport to pass to our panel host, or email us your questions in advance at seminars@sancarlosflight.com.
Please note: because of the expected size of the audience, we will be using our full classroom configuration. This will necessarily limit attendance only to those who have pre-registered here on our website.

San Carlos Flight Center is on the southwest side of the airport and there are no transient aircraft parking spots on this side of the field. All Transient Parking is on the other side, adjacent to the SQL Terminal Building. If you plan to fly in for the event, please be aware that we have no parking spots and that you’ll need to walk 0.7 miles around the airport from airport Transient Parking to our offices.

What's Next? Training for Commercial Pilot or Flight Instructor
2025-06-14 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
For many pilots, the adventure stops at Private Pilot, which allows them the freedom of taking family and friends on flights to any airport of their choice. Some may add on an instrument rating, to protect the ability to depart and arrive on days with clouds that would stop a VFR-only pilot.
Some pilots want more. For pilots who want to make a career change into aviation, the next steps are often through the Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor certificates. Before taking the leap to start advanced training, you may want to find out more about what the timeframe and workload is required to complete those certificates.
San Carlos Flight Center has asked Senior Instructor Derek Vejby to discuss the process of training for his commercial and flight instructor certificates. In this seminar, Derek will highlight the steps he took to train and prepare for those two checkrides, and will review the prerequisites for the ratings, the maneuvers you must master, and the relevant knowledge that must be acquired. A Commercial Pilot certificate calls for extensive familiarity with all things related to flying, and a Flight Instructor certificate requires pilot mastery of flight skills and all knowledge areas. Many pilots will be surprised to find that thorough, complete Private Pilot training like what is done at the Flight Center sets about 70% of foundation required on which Commercial and CFI are built.
For anyone looking to train towards a career in aviation, join us for this seminar to hear what is in store for you.
Derek Vejby is an SF Bay Area local and Senior CFI with the San Carlos Flight Center. In almost 2,000 hours of instruction given in both the VFR and IFR worlds, he continues to be an ambassador for aviation safety and airmanship excellence. He considers it a privilege to be able to cultivate and share his experiences through which others may learn and connect.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Autopilot Basics
2025-06-18 19:00 - 20:30
The auto pilot can be a great aid to pilots during flights. When configured properly it can handle many of routine Aviate and Navigate tasks: climb, hold altitude, intercept and track a course. As with any advanced tool, knowing how to use it is critical in using it safely and effectively.
How well do you understand the capabilities of the autopilot? What are the various modes? What exactly is the proper preflight test procedure? How does the autopilot work? What happens when certain instrument fail – does the autopilot work?
Join us as Sid Basu, CFI, explains the functions of various autopilots as well as the mechanisms that make them work. If you have always wondered about the details of the autopilot, you will want to attend this seminar.
Sid Basu is a Senior Instructor at SCFC with Airplane Single Engine, Multiengine and Instrument ratings, over 3300 hours total time, and 2600 hours dual given. He has been flying since 2008 and has been instructing at San Carlos Flight Center since 2017.

EAA Chapter 20 Young Eagles @ SCFC
2025-06-21 09:00 - 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center
SCFC is hosting EAA Chapter 20 for their Young Eagles event, with volunteer pilots sharing flights for young people.
Learn more about Young Eagles from the EAA’s website.

Planning and Dispatching a Part 135 Charter Flight
2025-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
GA pilots know something about flight planning, but Part 135 charter pilots have to do much more to plan and dispatch a flight.
San Carlos Flight Center invites long-time charter captain Bennett Taber to introduce us to the ways that professional charter companies reduce risks to the flying public and comply with a number of FAA regulations. In this seminar, Ben will explain how the rules imposed on charter operations were created to reduce risk to life and property, along with explaining why you are forbidden to offer your flying services to the general public.
Capt. Bennett Taber was a check airman and training captain with over 35 years, 30,000 landings, and well over 19,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted in Alaska. Captain Taber managed flight operations and charter sales for Dreamline Aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a company Training Captain in all models of Beech King Air aircraft.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Women in Aviation @ SCFC, June Meeting
2025-06-28 11:00 - 12:30 | San Carlos Flight Center
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the SCFC Women in Aviation meeting last month! We had a wonderful turnout despite the holiday weekend and enjoyed coffee and homemade pastries while diving into thoughtful community-building activities. We discussed chapter formation, celebrated recent wins, and shared scholarship resources.
Our June meeting will be on Saturday, June 28th at 11:00 AM at San Carlos Flight Center—join us for bagels & berries, vision boards, and intentional discussion. Save the date and help us continue growing our SCFC WAI community!

Radio Communications 3: Non-Towered Airports
2025-07-02 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Flying in and out of the many airports in California requires a high degree of situational awareness and sophisticated radio skills. And yet, radio communication is rarely taught as a specific subject during private pilot training. Usually, new pilots just absorb what they hear on the frequency around them, both good and bad. Although some radio techniques are covered in ground school, rarely do student pilots get the time devoted to demystifying this often-confusing subject.
This seminar is the third in a series of SCFC’s Radio Communication Safety Seminars and focuses on non-towered radio communications. Although Federal Aviation Regulations don’t require pilots to make radio calls at non-towered airports, it is strongly advised for safety. This seminar will help newer pilots understand the structure of radio calls for non-towered airports and how to improve their own radio skills.
SCFC Instructors Herb Patten and Dan Dyer will walk participants through a foundation of non-towered radio communication phraseology and use, from the basics through advanced. This is your chance to learn how to make radio communication easier and safer for all pilots.
This will be an important seminar for pilots struggling with radio communications. If this is you, plan to attend. Build your confidence, and be the pilot you want to be.
Herb Patten is a Senior Instructor at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFII, an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor, and past SCFC Chief Pilot. He is a instrument-rated commercial pilot that has flown over 2,500 hours to more than 130 different California airports. He teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center, and is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2023, Herb was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by AOPA.
Dan Dyer is the founder of the San Carlos Flight Center, and continues to be involved in the Club as Director of Operations. Dan was an instructor for 15 years, accumulated over 4,000 flight hours, and is the Bay Area’s local expert in crosswind landing instruction. He is known for finding simple and innovative ways to explain complex topics and regularly speaks on advanced ground school topics. He currently oversees hiring and training of SCFC’s Flight Instructor team.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

NO SAFETY SEMINAR on July 5th
2025-07-05 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
As a result of the 4th of July holiday weekend, there will be no SCFC seminar on Saturday, July 5th.
Please join us for our next seminar on Wednesday, July 9th at 7pm for “Who is Really in Control? You or Your Autopilot?”
We hope to see you there!

-SCFC Seminar Team

Who is Really in Control? You or Your Autopilot?
2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:30
Everything in our world is becoming more technologically advanced. From phones to computers, and of course, airplanes. The equipment that was once limited to airliners and large jets is now common on nearly all training aircraft. However, far too often, pilots utilize automation incorrectly, inefficiently, and at the wrong time.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Corporate Pilot Brandan Dadoun to discuss how to use automation safely and effectively. In this seminar, he will illustrate the importance of understanding aircraft automation through detailed case studies and his personal experience. We will discuss the various levels of automation, techniques to mitigate automation dependency, and the importance of single-pilot resource management.
If you have ever wondered, “Why is the autopilot doing that?”, “Should I engage it now?” or felt unsure about where to begin with aircraft automation, this seminar is for you.
Brandan Dadoun is a corporate pilot flying the Embraer Praetor 600. He has two type ratings and extensive flying experience throughout the country. Brandan completed all of his flight training at SCFC and has been involved in the community since 2015. He was formerly the Safety Seminar Program Director, where he served in his role for many years. The Federal Aviation Administration recognized his efforts for improving aviation safety with awards in 2022 and 2023.

An Insight on California Weather From NWS Specialists
2025-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Pilots get a glimpse of weather theory during their training but struggle to understand localized weather patterns. Wouldn’t it be great to have the knowledge equivalent to a real meteorologist? Or wouldn’t it be valuable to hear directly from a weather specialist that creates aviation forecasts? Over many years, pilots may develop a general notion of what to expect during certain seasons but still may be not able to understand nuanced weather conditions. With the help and knowledge from an NWS Weather Specialist, pilots can better understand the weather we fly in.
Now is your opportunity to improve your weather IQ! San Carlos Flight Center invites National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather specialists Rick Canepa and Sean Miller to discuss how they create aviation weather forecasts. Learn about atmospheric soundings common to clouds and fog formation that impact aviation. Listen in as they explain the role of the aviation weather specialist and how they compose TAFs, analyze local weather patterns, and provide crucial weather information for pilots.
If you have always been intrigued about weather, don’t miss this seminar. Rick and Sean will be ready to answer your weather questions. Don’t be left in the fog – put this seminar on your schedule.

Rick Canepa grew up in Massachusetts with an early interest in science, in particular meteorology. After graduating from high school he went to Vermont and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology at Lyndon State College in 1993. Rick began his NWS career in Helena, MT in 1995, then after the office closed 10 months later he transferred to NWS San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, CA in late 1995. Rick returned to work in Montana at the NWS Billings office from 1999 to 2001. Rick then made his way back to the NWS San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, CA office and has been working there since late 2001. Rick has over 30 years experience in aviation, marine, public and fire weather forecasting as a NWS meteorologist.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Pilot Headsets and How to Buy One
2025-07-19 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Modern pilots use headsets to limit engine noise and improve our ability to hear Air Traffic Control and others on the plane. Most pilots buy an entry level headset to use for themselves during flight training, and then upgrade to something with more noise protection once they get their license. Many pilots also buy at least one extra headset to use with their friends and family. Nothing says “real pilot” like having your own personal headsets.
SCFC has invited Senior Instructor Michael Dutton to hold an information session about the variety of headsets types and capabilities available on the market. Michael first started flying as a helicopter pilot who often rely on fairly advanced noise cancellation technology to dampen out rotor noise. He’s since transitioned most of his flying to airplanes and has used a variety of headsets along the way, ultimately to work up to the type of headsets preferred by commercial pilots.
If you’ve been using loaner headsets and got tired of gambling on sound quality and comfort over the ears, it’s time to get yourself a headset that is perfect for you. Come and start the education process with us.
Note: If you are a pilot with headsets that you no longer use, and are looking to sell them to a new pilot starting out, please join us and bring your headset. That use headset can gain new life as a discounted offering to someone just starting out, or can serve as their backup headset for the first flight guest.

Michael Dutton is a CFI, and CFII in fixed wing, with private pilot privileges in helicopters. He’s been flying and working at San Carlos airport for over ten years, first working for the Flight Center before moving on to Airport Operations and now as Flight Instructor. His past work experience also includes time with NASA and San Carlos Airport administration.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Flying for Good: Pilots Who Fly as a Gift to Others
2025-07-23 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Are you looking for another reason to fly? Most Private pilots fly for fun, taking friends and family on flying trips. Or sometimes they go on solo adventures to see scenic beauty and free themselves from the cares on life on the ground. For pilots who want another reason to get up in the air, may we suggest looking into Philanthropy flying. Volunteering to use your pilot certificate to help others.
SCFC promotes General Aviation as a way to build community, and offers discount to club members who rent planes for “Philanthropy” flights. These are flights in direct support of Angel Flight West, Pilots N Paws, CalDART, EAA Young Eagles, or any other non-profit charity. In this way, the club supports pilots, who support groups that make the world better.
On Wed, June 11th, SCFC has invited in a panel of member pilots who have flown volunteer missions for one or more of these organizations. We’ll hear their stories, and find new ways that we can use our pilot skills in a way that benefits our community. They’ll share with us the steps they take to make sure that these flights can be an enjoyable, and most importantly, a safe experience. The panel will be moderated by Nick Lusskin, SCFC’s volunteer Seminar Host. Audience discussion and questions are encouraged.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

SQL Tower Tour (1 of 3)
2025-08-09 09:30 - 10:00
Are you curious about what happens in the tower at an airport? Would you like to increase your knowledge of how air traffic is managed at the San Carlos airport?
The KSQL Air Traffic Manager has offered to host small groups of pilots to meet the tower controllers and take a tour of the San Carlos tower. During the tour you will get to see firsthand how the tower controllers update the ATIS, keep track of planes arriving and departing, as well as use radar to help manage the flow of traffic around San Carlos class Delta airspace.
The tours are approximately 20-25 minutes in length. Registration is required.

SQL Tower Tour (2 of 3)
2025-08-09 10:00 - 10:30

SCFC BBQ
2025-08-09 12:00 - 14:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
SCFC is hosting its second Summer BBQ of the season on Saturday, August 9th! Join us starting at 12pm for an afternoon filled with food, drinks, snacks, sweets, and fun activities for all ages.
Enjoy the sunshine with friends, family, and fellow aviators in the ramp area just outside our main office at 795 Skyway Road, Suite A, San Carlos, CA 94070.
Please RSVP by registering below so we can get an accurate headcount. We look forward to seeing you there!

Upwind End of Year Celebration
2025-08-29 18:30 - 20:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
You are invited to join the Upwind Celebration party on Friday, August 29th. Thanks to the generous support from SQL community, the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program completed its 11th year of providing ground and flight training to high-school pilots. Join us to celebrate the continuing accomplishment of the Upwind Program!
Join us to celebrate this year’s amazing recipients. Please RSVP below so we can get a headcount for food and drinks.

Adventures in Crosswinds
2025-08-30 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
This seminar will be held in person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Interested in watching more of our presentations? View our growing library of over 500 recorded safety seminars available to view in our Members Only Seminar Library, available by clicking here.

Do you remember as a student pilot fearing crosswind landings? Perhaps at some level you still do. Did you find yourself avoiding great airport destinations because of hesitancy around even mild crosswinds? Were you taught to believe that landing in a crosswind is a different harder technique than a “normal” landing?
Dan Dyer and San Carlos Flight Center, the only flight school on the west coast with a crosswind simulator, is committed to training pilots competence in all landings. In this seminar, Dyer will take you step by step through all phases of landings with and without crosswinds, so that you approach every landing the same way. With a bit of practice you will land as easy as stopping your car at a stoplight. It’s part of the flight, no big deal, in fact it will become the best and most fun part of the flight.
Imagine approaching a landing with the same confidence you have with every landing. In fact you now even enjoy the challenge of a crosswind. Don’t miss out on this seminar to be a better pilot.

Dan Dyer is the founder of the San Carlos Flight Center, and has built the motto of Safety, Community, and Adventure for over 12 years. Dan was an instructor for 19 years, accumulated over 4,000 flight hours, and is the Bay Area’s local expert in crosswind landing instruction. He is known for finding simple and innovative ways to explain complex topics and regularly speaks on advanced ground school topics. Find out more about Dan at www.sancarlosflight.com or contact him at dan@sancarlosflight.com

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Pacific Northwest Flying - Lessons Learned
2025-09-03 19:00 - 20:30
The Pacific Northwest is filled with countless picturesque sights and landmarks, and the Bay Area Fly Out Group (FOG) recently experienced that on an amazing flying trip through Orgegon, Washington and British Columbia. The trip included amazing destinations such as Boeing Field, San Juan Islands, Vancouver BC, Victoria, Portland International and Shelter Cove. During this seminar you’ll learn from our pilots first hand experience of how to navigate in this amazing part if the United States but also how to efficiently cross the border into Canada.
San Carlos Flight Center invites pilots Jerry Birn, Fei Fang, and Chris Haire along with CFI Travis Bender and Herb Patten to discuss some of the highlights from the trip which include traversing the Siskiyou Mountains, operating in busy airspace, flying safely with changing weather, crossing the border into Canada, landing at Vancouver, and the application of true cross-country flight planning. Any pilot can benefit learning from their experience.
Please join us for a recap of this trip with picture and video highlights, and insights from the pilots that attended.

Small Plane, Big Airport – Flying into Bravo Airports
2025-09-06 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
As a pilot, you probably learned at an airport centered around General Aviation, filled with small trainers and an occasional jet. Maybe you encountered a larger Class Charlie during your training, where you shared the taxiways with various business jets and airliners. However, many GA pilots shy away from Bravo and large international airports. At first glance, these airports may seem restricted to large multi-engine aircraft; however, you’re still able to land a Cessna at these airports!
SCFC invites Senior Flight Instructor, Travis Bender, to share what he has learned flying Cessna 172 and 182s into Bravo airports like San Francisco and Honolulu, as well as international hubs like Vancouver and Victoria. Travis will cover what it is like to plan a general aviation flight to a major hub, revealing the hurdles and operational hoops you might encounter. He’ll then walk through various arrival and departure procedures to expect, while also highlighting the unique features at large airports you might have only heard about in ground school.
You’ll walk away with the knowledge needed to feel confident operating at busy Bravo and Charlie fields. For those aspiring to fly jets for a career, this seminar is also a great primer for learning about airport operations.
Travis Bender is a Senior Flight Instructor at San Carlos Flight Center. He earned his primary certificates right here at SCFC and now conducts training for student pilots through Flight Instructors, as well as high-performance checkouts, instrument training, and mountain training. Prior to instructing, Travis worked in sustainable procurement for a large Silicon Valley company.

Lessons Learned from a Career in the Sky
2025-09-10 19:00 - 20:30
Great aviators are shaped by the lessons they learn from others. Every flight brings new challenges, and the most experienced pilots have faced them time and again. By listening to their stories and insights, we can all grow into better, safer pilots.
San Carlos Flight Center is proud to welcome retired Captain Bennett Taber, who brings knowledge from more than 35 years of experience in the skies. In this seminar, Captain Taber will reflect on key learning moments from his professional career, share best practices, and discuss how every pilot can strive for excellence. He will highlight the importance of attention to detail, its impact on flight operations, and the value of mastering the basics.
There is only so much one can learn from the classroom and our routine flying. Join us to learn how to fly your best from a seasoned aviator.
Capt. Bennett Taber was a check airman and training captain with over 35 years, 30,000 landings, and well over 19,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted in Alaska. Captain Taber managed flight operations and charter sales for Dreamline Aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a company Training Captain in all models of Beech King Air aircraft.

EAA Chapter 20 Young Eagles @ SCFC
2025-09-20 09:00 - 11:45 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
SCFC is hosting EAA Chapter 20 for their Young Eagles event, with volunteer pilots offering flights for young people aged 8-17.
Learn more about Young Eagles from the EAA’s website.

Don’t Fear the Ramp Check
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30
A ramp inspection is defined as surveillance of an airman, operator, air agency, or aircraft, which may include conducting maintenance record inspections sufficient to show compliance with 14 CFR during actual operations at an airport or heliport. Ramp inspections may result when the inspector:

Observes an unsafe operation in the traffic pattern or on the ramp.
Receives notification from air traffic control (ATC) of an unsafe operation.
Observes obvious discrepancies that may affect the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Conducts routine surveillance activities.

San Carlos Flight Center invites Stephen D. Rowell, Safety Team Program Manager/Airworthiness from the San Jose FSDO to discuss of what items and documents will be inspected and reviewed during a Ramp Inspection on your aircraft.
If you’re properly prepared, an FAA ramp check should be a routine procedure. Knowing what to do, what not to do, and what is expected of you should help reduce your anxiety about them.

Women in Aviation @ SCFC, September Meeting
2025-09-27 11:00 - 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
The SCFC Women in Aviation September meeting is taking place in the SCFC Classroom on Saturday, September 27th from 11am-12pm. Join us and guest speaker Suzie Garcia-Duer as she speaks on her role as Director of SCFC Maintenance. Enjoy donuts and an icebreaker game to follow!
All are welcome, but please RSVP below so we can gather an accurate headcount.

Landing Secrets Revealed
2025-10-01 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
In some ways, learning to fly is largely about learning to land. Pilots of small planes need to perform at least one safe landing on nearly every flight. It’s the type of skill that is learned once and then perfected for the rest of a pilot’s life. How are your landings? Would you like to hear a few secrets to landing that can help you improve your landing ability?
Join SCFC Chief Pilot Dan Dyer for a discussion about landing philosophy and some insider tips on landing stemming from his thousands of hours of instruction in nosewheel aircraft. Learn about the two halves of the flare, the actual role of the pilot (you may be surprised!), how important it is to look good, and the critical importance of time spent at altitude playing with the horizon. This presentation may be of value to student pilots working on learning to land for the first time, but it also may offer insights to experienced pilots and CFIs looking to take their landing ability to the next level.
Dan Dyer is the founder and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center, and has built the motto of Safety, Community, and Adventure for over 12 years. Dan was an instructor for 19 years, accumulated over 4,000 flight hours, and is the Bay Area’s local expert in crosswind landing instruction. He is known for finding simple and innovative ways to explain complex topics and regularly speaks on advanced ground school topics. Find out more about Dan at www.sancarlosflight.com or contact him at dan@sancarlosflight.com

Hangar Hofbrau
2025-10-04 11:00 - 14:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
SCFC is hosting an October themed event “Hangar Hofbrau” on Saturday, October 4th! The last BBQ was an overwhelming success so you don’t want to miss this special event.
Hangar Hofbrau will be hosted in SCFC’s large maintenance hangar. Think beer, bratwursts, and pretzels. Feel free to wear your lederhosen. We will also have on display a number of cool airplanes from the airport.
Join us starting at 11 am for a day filled with food, drinks, snacks, sweets, and fun activities for all ages.
Enjoy the sunshine with friends, family, and fellow aviators in our maintenance hangar and the ramp area just outside our main office at 795 Skyway Road, Suite A, San Carlos, CA 94070.
Please RSVP by registering below so we can get an accurate headcount. We look forward to seeing you there!

Flying the Bay Tour
2025-10-08 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
This seminar will be held in person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.

Want to learn more about operations at local Bay Area Airports? Click here to watch a similar seminar available for Members on the Members Only Seminar Library.

Flying in the San Francisco Bay area is spectacular, a real privilege for local pilots. The Pacific Ocean, a dramatic coastline, beautiful hills, and many famous landmarks. As pilots, we are afforded a rare bird’s eye view that we long to share with our friends and family.
So what exactly is a “Bay Tour”? What airspace is present along the Bay Tour, and what new implementations will require pilots to take into account? Join Senior CFI, Michael Dutton to examine the airspace, explain the “Bay Tour” and how a pilot can accomplish one in the safest, simplest, most enjoyable manner.
In this seminar, he’ll review the various overlapping airspaces in the area, the territories for each local ATC facility, and the routings most commonly used by Flight Center pilots and suggested by ATC. You’ll learn what options are available to you even if SQL ATIS has the phrase “San Francisco is not taking surface area transitions.”
This is a thorough discussion of the regulations and procedures used in flying a San Francisco Bay Tour through Class B and C airspace. If you are new to the Bay area, want to imagine the different sights you’ll see, or just want to improve your understanding of local airspace customs and procedures, please join us for this popular seminar.

Michael Dutton is a CFI, and CFII in fixed wing, with private pilot privileges in helicopters. He’s been flying and working at San Carlos airport for over ten years, first working for the Flight Center before moving on to Airport Operations and now as Flight Instructor. His past work experience also includes time with NASA and San Carlos Airport administration.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.
