San Carlos Flight Center

Math for Pilots: Volume 1
2023-09-30 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

Of all the skills required to be a safe pilot, few people would put mathematics very high on the list. But being able to calculate speeds, fuel amounts, weight and balance locations, allows the pilot to stay on top of critical performance information. There’s no calculus, set theory, derivatives, or other advanced math concepts, so all that is really needed is a solid ability to do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
So why do some student pilots struggle with the math? We’ve invited Advanced Ground Instructor Dan Dyer, to present some tips on surviving the harder math encountered on the way to a Private Pilot certificate. He’s picked two areas that students often stumble with, and has created a presentation to walk us through surviving the calculations without getting lost or making mistakes. One of the areas of trouble is interpolation, which is often needed to use airplane performance charts and some weather forecasts. The other is a lack of understanding of the power of dimensional analysis and its use for cross-county flight planning calculations. Dimensional analysis is a focus on units and unit conversions, and can unlock even the hardest flight planning challenge. Additionally, Dan will emphasize taking things slowly and writing everything down as a way of avoiding the simple mistakes that most people make on the FAA Knowledge Test.
If you love math, and the powerful tool it gives us to understand the universe, we hope you tune in. If you hate math, and are looking for ways to squeak by enough to become a safe pilot, we hope you tune in. It should be an interesting look at a tiny, oft-feared area of knowledge on the path to becoming a pilot.

Dan Dyer is the founder of the San Carlos Flight Center, and has built the motto of Safety, Community, and Adventure for over 8 years. 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. 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 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.

Full Moon Flyers – Nut Tree (VCB)
2023-09-29 19:00 - 21:00
A unique destination, Nut Tree Airport (VCB) in Vacaville is located right next to a major shopping and dining center. A former amusement park, the Nut Tree area is now home to numerous dining options, making it a great place to travel to and satisfy all kinds of appetites.
On Friday, September 29 at 7 PM, let’s meet up at the Nut Tree airport and walk to the dining area. The flight is easy, but picking a restaurant is the hard part, with options ranging from BBQ to pizza, ramen to vitamin bowls, and sushi to Mexican food. Once you’ve secured the airplane at transient parking, walk to the south side of the hangars to the west, through the gate, and then follow the pathway to the shopping and dining center.

After your meal, treat yourself to Fenton’s Ice Cream, which is known for its one-of-a-kind creations and flavors, and is a popular place for residents of Solano County. Grab ice cream for the walk back, or enjoy dining on their patio.
The airport is lit at night, and it’s easy to pick up flight following with Travis Approach. Need to work on your night landings? Concord, Napa, and Oakland are within a fifteen-minute flight away.
Like other FOG events, RSVP on our website, and please indicate if you can take passengers to allow student pilots and other aviation community members to participate. Hope to see you there!

Cross Country Flight Planning Workshop
2023-09-27 19:00 - 20:30
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.

As pilots we must know how to accurately cross-country flight plan. Join us for this in-person workshop at San Carlos Flight Center for a hands-on and scenario based learning experience. Chief Pilot Herb Patten will show attendees the important elements of successful cross-country flight planning and walk you through your planning of a flight. Throughout the workshop Herb will incorporate various situations and challenges, and provide direct support.
We encourage any student pilot working on their cross-country flight planning or rusty pilot to attend this workshop.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He 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.

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.

How Flight Sim Training Improved My Radio as a Pilot
2023-09-23 12:00 - 13:30
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.

Speaking on the radio with ATC embodies a lot of a pilots workload. Sometimes pilots like to speak too much while transmitting on frequency, leading to frequency congestion, confusion, and can overall be an annoyance. As pilots we should be direct, clear, and professional with our transmissions. SCFC pilot Rowan Young has an interesting story about how his time training to be a controller on VATSIM, the virtual air traffic simulation network, actually improved his understanding and ability as a pilot.
As you may imagine, real life air traffic controllers go through extensive radio and procedures training. It turns out the same is true for people training to be virtual air traffic controllers on VATSIM. Over three years, Rowan studied the basics of airspace, airport and enroute procedures, LOAs, and detailed procedural training for all of Northern California and Oakland Center. Under supervised training, he was able to work up to controlling Oakland Center. Now, he trains others in ATC procedures in the SF Bay Area.
SCFC has invited Rowan to share what he has learned from virtual air traffic management, and how it informs his ability to use the radio effectively as a pilot. He has tips/references to the AIM on how to become a better pilot on the radio. He will also interactively show crucial examples of how being “lazy” or careless about radio phraseology can lead to confusion. Learn how to spot the confusion within multiple examples of bad phraseology, and ultimately become safer in the skies.

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.

GSR: Weather Services
2023-09-20 19:00 - 20:30
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.

Pilots live or die by the weather we fly in. We fly in a fish tank of air. Understanding whether that air is going to be like the calm, crystal blue waters of the lagoons of Cook’s island or turbulent like an impending Tsunami is part of being a competent pilot. Although weather hasn’t changed since the FAA declared that all weather is a result of heat exchange, weather prediction, forecasting and weather services are constantly evolving.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Chief Pilot Herb Patten to investigate the different types of weather products available to pilots. In this seminar, we will take a look at what’s new on Aviation Weather Center, aka aviationweather.gov. We will explore some recent changes to the prognostic charts, turbulence forecasts as well as some other useful products. We will also explore the replacement for the Area Forecast, the “Graphical Forecast for Aviation,” which offers a wealth of features available for pilots.
Be more weather aware on your next flight, and join us for this safety seminar.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He 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.

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.

IFR Lost Communication Procedures
2023-09-16 12:00 - 13:30
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.

Instrument Flight Rules are highly regimented. They are designed to keep pilots and passengers safe while flying completely blind through clouds and weather. Altitudes must be maintained, courses have to be tracked tightly, and radio communication must allow air traffic controllers to maneuver planes around traffic and conflicts. But what happens when radios fail?
Although it doesn’t happen often, radio communication equipment can be faulty or inoperative mid-flight, even while a pilot is flying IFR in instrument conditions. For safety, there are very specific rules an instrument pilot must comply with in the event of radio failure, and the rules are far more structured that those for a VFR pilot. The basic rule is to continue with the flight as previously instructed by air traffic control, but the regulations don’t cover every situation and there can be some gray areas. One local DPE recently commented that 95% of instrument applicants fail to answer questions about lost comm procedures, so many of you are likely confused about it too.
Join SCFC Assistant Chief Pilot and IFR expert Brian Eliot as he presents “Lost Comms in IMC”. He’ll clarify the IFR lost communication procedures, and specifically discuss the areas most pilots find confusing. After this seminar, you will find a new comfort in how to handle a lost communication situation even in IMC.

Brian Eliot is San Carlos Flight Center’s Assistant Chief Pilot and resident expert for IFR training and Garmin G1000 avionics. He has been flying since 1995 and received all his training in the Bay Area. Brian previously worked as a broadcast engineer, a software developer, and taught computer science at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He regularly presents at San Carlos Flight Center safety seminars and has a reputation for making complex concepts easy to learn and understand.

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.

SLCP TEST
2023-09-15 12:00 - 14:00
test

What's Going on at San Carlos Airport? An Update from Airport Management
2023-09-13 19:00 - 20:30
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.

Running an airport takes a lot of hard work. The airplane owners and pilots of San Carlos Airport are fortunate to have a great team from San Mateo County maintaining and protecting the airport. Issues are addressed quickly, from runway surface issues to refurbishing the hangars, and limiting neighboring construction against flight operations. With an upcoming airport closure between September 11 to October 11 it is important that all pilots be aware of these upcoming updates.
San Carlos Flight Center invites airport managers Gretchen Kelly and Michael Byrne to talk. In this seminar, they will share what pilots need to know about the upcoming runway rehabilitation project and what improvements it will bring. In addition, they will provide an overall operational update and status of the airport. They will end with a summary of San Carlos Airport procedures, such as noise abatement and airspace considerations.
If you fly at San Carlos Airport, this seminar is for you. Tune in to stay informed about this closure and updates that will affect your flying.

San Carlos Airport is owned and operated by San Mateo County. Airport management oversees and supports both county airports, Half Moon Bay and San Carlos, with primary offices at San Carlos. The airport gets better every year, and the management team oversees a great number of development projects to improve service to pilots and for the county.

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.

In-Person Look at the Runway Construction Project
2023-09-13 18:00 - 19:00
Join San Carlos Airport Management to walk onto the runway and get an in-person look at the in-progress construction project at SQL. Please RSVP below.
Please join us afterwards for a Safety Seminar on everything that’s going on at SQL.

FOG Lunch Monterey
2023-09-10 12:00 - 13:30
It’s hot in the Bay Area in September. Beat the heat this month and head down to the Monterey Airport to cool off and enjoy great food at Woody’s at the Airport! On September 10th, enjoy lunch on the outdoor patio that overlooks the airline ramp, allowing you to view take-offs and landings with your meal.
The flight down is an easy one from the Bay Area, and an excellent choice to take passengers on a short flight if they have never been on a general aviation plane before. With views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Silicon Valley, and Monterey Bay, the flight down is one they won’t forget. Instrument pilots or students can practice their skills with a variety of approaches into the airport, as well.
After landing, park at Del Monte Aviation, as Monterey does not have any transient parking near the restaurant. From there, it’s a short walk to the terminal. Woody’s is located upstairs from the entrance, before the TSA checkpoints. Please plan to be at the restaurant around 12 PM.
Like other FOG events, RSVP below, and please indicate if you are able to take passengers, so we can allow student pilots and other aviation community members to participate. We’re looking forward to the event, and hope you are, too!

GSR: Airport Signs and Markings
2023-09-09 12:00 - 13:30
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.

Pop quiz: What is the new ICAO standard marking for a taxiway approaching a runway? What is the difference between a relocated threshold and a displaced threshold and what does that indicate to pilots? What is a runway approach holding sign and what are pilots expected to do?
Most pilots have an operational knowledge of the most common runway signs and markings, but if you travel to a larger airport, are you knowledgeable about some of the less common signs and markings? If it has been awhile since you sat through ground school, you may want to join us for a refresher on airport signs and markings. In this safety seminar, we will review the common markings and signs as well as delve into other less common but still important signs and markings.
This safety seminar is open to current and aspiring Private Pilots, and will be of particular interest to student pilots and those who are preparing for a flight review.

Khizar Shabbir is a CFI at San Carlos Flight Center. Khizar was born in Pakistan and grew up in Hong Kong. He completed his primary flight training at Hillsboro Aero Academy in Portland, Oregon, and received his flight instructor training in Palo Alto. Khizar’s passion for aviation has taken him on an explorative journey across continents and people of various backgrounds. He is eager to continue learning and sharing the ideas of safety, community, and adventure with the next generation of pilots.

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.

SCFC Operations at Hayward
2023-09-06 19:00 - 20:30
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.

San Carlos airport will be closed for 30 days beginning Monday, September 11th. During that time, the San Carlos Flight Center fleet will be relocated to Hayward airport. While many members have some familiarity with Hayward having flown into and out of the airport, there are many new procedures that members will need to know to operate safely while we are temporarily based at Hayward.
Where will the planes be parked? How do I get fuel and oil for the airplane? Will I still be able to do training flights with my CFI during this time period? Where would I go to meet my CFI? What’s the best place to park? What unique ground operations should I be aware of at Hayward?
These and many more questions will be addressed during this seminar by Herb, Chief Pilot at SCFC. This seminar will be appropriate for all members of San Carlos Flight Center, whether you are a student pilot or a member that wants to book a flight. Remember, 91.103, requires the PIC to become familiar with all available information.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at San Carlos Flight Center and the main instructor for the Private Pilot Ground School. In addition to those roles, Herb is a featured safety seminar presenter and develops the training curriculum used at the Flight Center. Herb has been recognized by AOPA as a Distinguished Flight Instructor and by the National Association of Flight Instructors.

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.

Coast Guard Insights into CRM and Risk Management
2023-09-02 12:00 - 13:30
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.

Every flight involves risk, and we can minimize risk with proper risk management. Coast Guard pilots are experts at understanding all factors of risk. Their daily operations involve strenuous water rescues, disaster response actions, and search and rescue initiatives. These missions require the application of crew resource management, adherence to standardized procedures, and more. So, what can we general aviation pilots learn from them?
Join Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco at San Carlos Flight Center as we delve into the realm of threat and error management through the lens of Coast Guard pilots. In this seminar evaluate all risk variables prior to each flight, while utilizing all available resources. Take this knowledge and apply it in a case study which all pilots can learn from. These insights easily translate into practical takeaways for making improved decisions while in flight and working together as a team.
Tune in to acquire practical insights that directly apply to your daily operations, ultimately contributing to safer skies for every pilot.

LCDR Patrick Buckley is a highly skilled Coast Guard Search and Rescue Aviator, graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2012 with a Bachelor’s in Business Management. With notable roles aboard the USCGC Cambell, as an Intelligence Officer, and distinguished service at CGAS Savannah, he now serves as Flight Safety Officer at CGAS San Francisco, holding FAA qualifications in Commercial Instrument Fixed/Rotorcraft and Part 107 UAS Operation.
Lieutenant Lance Freeberg commissioned into the United States Army through the ROTC program at the University of Florida in 2013 with a degree in Criminology. He flew the UH-60 Black Hawk in Afghanistan and conducted numerous aeromedical evacuations in support of Operations Freedoms Sentinel and Resolute Support. In 2022, he transferred to the United States Coast Guard and became a MH-65E aviator. He is also an avid GA pilot and owner of a Mooney M20C.

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.

Full Moon Flyers – Harris Ranch
2023-08-30 19:00 - 21:00
This event is FULL and aircraft parking has reached capacity at Harris Ranch. If you would still like to join us, contact the pilots below who have listed being available to take other passengers.

A longtime favorite of pilots in California, Harris Ranch (3O8) is known for its award-winning steak and hamburgers. Located just outside Coalinga, the ranch features a hotel and multiple restaurants, as well as an excellent lighted runway for pilots to fly in. On Wednesday, August 30th let’s fly down to the Ranch to have dinner at their signature restaurant.
The flight down is varied as it takes you from the urban sprawl of the Bay Area, across the Diablo Range, and then an easy flight following the I-5 corridor. You’ll get a view of the ranch from the air before descending for the thin runway that sits just to the south of the restaurant. Upon landing, we’ll walk to the restaurant together at 7 PM, where we will enjoy a variety of freshly cut steaks and other dining options. Harris Ranch is regarded as one of the best restaurants for pilots to fly into in Northern California.
After dinner, depart for a moonlit flight back to the Bay Area. The route is easy, as you will follow the I-5 interstate until reaching Tracy, and then from there, it’s just a quick flight over the Altamont Pass into the Bay Area. If you need to reset your night currency or practice night landings for your next certificate, Los Banos, Tracy, and Byron airports are excellent places to do so.
Important: As Harris Ranch’s restaurant is very popular, please make sure you RSVP no later than August 27th. This will ensure we can accommodate seating for everyone.
Like other FOG events, please RSVP below, and indicate if you are able to take passengers, so we can allow student pilots and other aviation community members to participate.
We look forward to seeing you there!

NO Safety Seminar on Wednesday August 30
2023-08-30 19:00 - 20:30
There will be no safety seminar on Wednesday, August 30. Please consider joining us for our FlyOutGroup event at Harris Ranch instead, refer to our website by clicking here.
We’ll see you for our next safety seminar on Saturday, September 2nd.
-SCFC Seminar Team

What Every Pilot Needs to Know about Aviation Insurance
2023-08-26 12:00 - 13:30
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.

Risk management is a critical aspect of safe flying. Good pilots should always be looking to identify risks affecting the flight, and find ways to reduce or remove the risk. Risk can never be eliminated, but our goal is to be prepared for every situation. That last line of defense for financial security in aviation is available through aviation insurance. Whether you are a renter pilot, aircraft owner, or commercial operator, having insurance is a good way to protect yourself financially against unfortunate occurrences.
San Carlos Flight Center welcomes Jenna Cooper from Zanette Aviation Insurance to provide an insight into how aviation insurance works to protect you as a pilot. Insurance can often be very complex and overwhelming, but in this seminar they will highlight the various plans, methods, and ways you can assure you will be fully protected in any situation. They will showcase different examples of claims, plans, and also focus on different ways pilots can prevent certain events from happening again.
While every situation is unique, by promoting safety and awareness and being protected through insurance, every pilot and their aircraft can be covered. We encourage all pilots to attend this seminar. This is a general presentation covering the topic broadly, so unfortunately we will not be able to respond to individual questions about specific incidents and coverage.

Jenna Cooper, originally from Fort Worth, TX, joined the Zanette Aviation team in 2013. Jenna is a Senior Insurance Broker with Zanette Aviation and manages the Light Aircraft side of the business including Light Aircraft Owners, Non-Owned/Renters Insurance, Small Fleet Rental and instruction, and Part 91 Operations.

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.

Upwind End of Year Celebration
2023-08-25 18:30 - 20:00
You are invited to join the Upwind Celebration party on Friday, August 26. Thanks to the generous support from SQL community, the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program completed its 10th 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.

Local Airport Operations in the Bay Area
2023-08-23 19:00 - 20:30
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.

The Bay Area has many airports for pilots to choose from. Flying to a new airport can bring a new set of challenges and risks, along with new procedures. For student pilots trying to branch out of their home airport, it can be overwhelming to become familiar with local procedures. So, what airport information is crucial to know when operating at a new airport? What specific things do you need to watch out for? What hot spots or other things may be confusing to a student or new pilot?
Join us to discuss local procedures including noise abatement, pattern operations, and where to find information for several local Bay Area Airports. Some examples will include PAO, HWD, and LVK. He will review common ATC instructions so you can be familiar with what to expect when operating at these airports. After attending this seminar, students and new pilots will have more confidence in operating safely at local Bay Area airports and understand what to consider when flying to a new airport.
We encourage any student pilot to attend, and pilots of higher rating to attend too. Do not miss out on this seminar, learn how to gain confidence, operate safer, and be on your A game flying to new airports.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He 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.

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.

Adventures in Crosswinds
2023-08-19 12:00 - 13:30
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 8 years. 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. 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.

River Rafting in CA!
2023-08-19 10:30 - 17:00
Experience the adventure of a lifetime with flying and river rafting all in the same day! Fly out to Placerville Airport (PVF) and get ready to enjoy the thrill of river rafting. Take in the beautiful sights, soak in the summer sun, and eat lunch all with your friends on the river. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Trip Highlights:

Fly to Placerville Airport (PVF)
Board private transportation straight to the river
Paddle 13 miles of class II-III rapids on the gorge section of the Lower South Fork American River
Enjoy lunch
Return to airport for flight home at 5:30 PM
Bring your friends!
No prior experience required!

$215 Per Person! Includes: 4 Hours of river rafting, lunch and transportation to and from Placerville Airport.
INTERESTED? Email – flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com

Adventures in Crosswinds (test)
2023-08-17 10:00 - 10:30
this is a test.

NO Safety Seminar on Wednesday August 16
2023-08-16
There will be no safety seminar on Wednesday, August 16 due to a presenter cancellation.
Please stay tuned for other upcoming safety seminars.

FOG Lunch: Watsonville Airport
2023-08-13 12:00 - 13:30
Come join the FlyOutGroup (FOG) on Sunday, August 13 at 12 PM with a scenic flight to Watsonville (WVI)! An easy location to get to from the Bay Area, enjoy a quick hop over the Santa Cruz Mountains, and then descend over Monterey Bay. Park in Transient Parking, and we’ll all meet at Ella’s at the Airport located in the terminal building.
Ellas is known for their fresh locally inspired cuisine with a range of options to suit your appetite.
As always please RSVP below with your planned aircraft and if you can take any fellow pilots with you. We’re excited for the event, and look forward to seeing you in Watsonville!

A Pilot’s Journey to Oshkosh AirVenture
2023-08-12 12:00 - 13:30
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.

Each year, EAA holds the world’s most renowned airshow in Oshkosh. This event boasts thousands of unique aircraft, presenters, and new learning experiences. Pilots travel from all over the world for this event, and it’s great to hear what it was like through the lens of a pilot.
San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI David Agranovich who recently flew to EAA AirVenture to talk about his experience. In this seminar he will talk about how he safely and efficiently flew into the “world’s busiest airport” for AirVenture 2023. For many, arriving at Oshkosh is a rite of passage that can only be satisfied by being one of the more than 10,000 aircraft flying in, landing at what becomes the busiest airport in the world. It can be a challenging experience, but after attending this seminar, we are sure that you will feel more confident in your flying abilities. Join us to learn more about the real-world application of cross-country flight planning, decision making, analysis of complex NOTAMS, and how to safely operate amidst thousands of aircraft.
Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or an aviation novice, if you have wondered what it takes to fly into AirVenture, join us for this seminar.

David Agranovich is a CFI, and thoroughly enjoys teaching others. He has experience flying all across the Western United States and specializes in mountain flying and operating high performance aircraft. In his spare time, he works at Facebook leading their efforts to counter foreign interference in elections.

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.

Truckee Airport Operations
2023-08-09 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will be held in person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. For this seminar the presenter is unable to present in person, instead, he will present virtually to in-person audiences in our classroom. 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.
**For information, flyers, and handouts referenced during this presentation please click here.**

Truckee Airport is the gateway to Lake Tahoe. The spectacular views of Lake Tahoe are a short flight away, but pilots need to be aware of the challenges associated with these flights. Truckee is settled well above sea level, located between mountainous terrain and gorgeous vistas. This location brings variable weather conditions which can pose tricky to manage for new pilots. While it can be an excellent place to visit, pilots need to be thoroughly familiar with airport procedures and to know what to expect upon their arrival in Truckee.
San Carlos Flight Center invites David Van Quest, the Pilot Outreach Coordinator at the Truckee Airport to talk with pilots about terrain, best routes of travel, tower operations, and recently installed ADSB ground stations and their impact on flight operations. Truckee is a dynamic airport with noise abatement procedures, curfews, seasonal flight considerations such as density altitude, mountain wave, icing, wildlife and much more. David will also briefly touch on some of the things one might want to do in Truckee, along with the services the airport provides to visiting pilots.
If you are looking to plan a trip to Truckee sometime this summer, join us to feel more safe, confident, and knowledgeable on your upcoming trip to Truckee.

David Van Quest was originally from Southern California, David moved to the Truckee/ Tahoe area in 2013 to enjoy a life in the mountains. David began his career in aviation in 2018 when he was hired by the Truckee Tahoe Airport as their Noise Associate. In 2021 he earned his private pilot’s certificate and shortly after was promoted to KTRK’s Aviation & Community Coordinator where he interacts with community members and teaches pilots the best ways to come and go from Truckee.

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.

Destination San Juan Islands
2023-08-05 12:00 - 13:30
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.

The San Juan Islands is an archipelago located in the Pacific Northwest and home to over 170 islands and natural reefs. These islands are incredibly beautiful with lush forests and sparkling waters that create a peaceful and serene environment for visitors to enjoy. As pilots we are fortunate enough to visit this area via air travel. With 3 airports to choose from, they are calling you to visit.
San Carlos Flight Center invites commercial pilot Brandan Dadoun to share more about flying to and operating within the San Juan Islands. In this seminar, Brandan will cover flight planning considerations, including local arrival and departure procedures, open water flying considerations, and inter-island sightseeing. He will also discuss the available facilities, services, and associated fees at these airports and talk about his recent flight to Orcas Island. He will conclude on the various activities and things to do once you are there to make your trip enjoyable.
If you want to learn more about flying out to your perfect summer getaway, do not miss out on this seminar.

Brandan Dadoun is a commercial multi-engine pilot with 800 flight hours. He has extensive flying experience in both piston and turbine-powered aircraft. Brandan has been part of the SCFC community since 2015 and is currently the SCFC Event Manager where he oversees all Flight Center events, including its Safety Seminar Program and FlyOutGroup. In 2021, Brandan was awarded by the FAA for his achievements in promoting aviation safety. Outside of flying and presenting, he enjoys playing the saxophone and staying active.

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.

Getting to Know the DA40NG
2023-08-02 19:00 - 20:30
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.

The DA40NG is the latest addition to the Flight Center fleet. It is a sleek, fast, and modern aircraft with the first of its kind, a diesel JET-A powered engine. For pilots who have been so used to classic engine controls such as throttle, propeller, and mixture, the DA40NG simplifies it all with one lever. Who wouldn’t want to fly that?
San Carlos Flight Center is pleased to introduce the DA40NG in this seminar. Join Chief Pilot Herb Patten as he provides an overview of the key differences present in this aircraft compared to others of its class. He’ll explain the various mission profiles the aircraft is capable of, and the associated training and requirements for SCFC pilots.
Join us to learn more about the DA40NG. Pilots of all levels interested in flying a modern, simplified aircraft should attend this presentation.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He 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.

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.

Full Moon Flyers & Upwind Dinner
2023-07-31 19:00 - 21:00
FOG’s biggest event of the year is back!
On the evening of Monday July 31st, join us at the Stockton Airport (SCK) to continue our yearly tradition of celebrating the Upwind Class of 2023 with a fly-out dinner event. We invite all pilots to showcase the fantastic General Aviation community to high-school students and their families. Please park around 6:30 PM at transient parking located just south of the airline terminal. If confused of its location, ask for progressive taxi or look for San Carlos Flight Center aircraft parked on the ramp. Exit through the pedestrian gate and plan to meet up no later than 7:00 PM at Top Flight Grill and Catering inside the passenger terminal. Afterward, enjoy the twilight flight home. The restaurant has asked for each table to pay as a group instead of individual checks, please plan accordingly.
Upwind students will fly with their instructors, but FOG pilots who are able to will often allow the students’ families to ride along in their aircraft. This is a great way to introduce the families to the aviation community and the incredible people behind it.
This is FOG’s most popular event. Last year, we set the record for the largest FOG event ever. Can we top it this time?
Due to the popularity of this event and the coordination of rides, please make sure to RSVP and book your plane early! Also, when you register, please let us know where you are departing from and if you are able to accept passengers. For those that are willing to take parents and family members, FOG and Upwind will be in contact with you to coordinate the logistics.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Investigating Aircraft Ownership
2023-07-29 12:00 - 13:30
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.

At some time, most pilots consider owning their own plane. Have you? Because of the large investment and the risks associated, buying a plane can be as daunting as buying a small home. What costs should you expect? Will owning save you money over renting? What about buying an airplane with partners?
San Carlos Flight Center invites aircraft owner Dan Dyer joined by SCFC Owner Alessandro Franco to share the advantages of buying your own airplane. In this seminar, they will discuss how to choose the right airplane for your mission profile, how to navigate the purchase process, and what to consider when inspecting a potential airplane. The challenge of owning an airplane doesn’t end after the initial purchase. With the variety of variable costs and fixed costs, the cost of ownership can add up quickly. Offset these costs by putting your aircraft on leaseback with San Carlos Flight Center. After talking through leaseback opportunities they will conclude with how being an aircraft owner can help further a pilots understanding of their aircraft and maintenance.
If you ever considered purchasing your own airplane and want to hear firsthand about airplane ownership and learn from the experiences of others, join us for this unique opportunity to become enlightened about airplane ownership.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He 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 has built the motto of Safety, Community, and Adventure for over 8 years. 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. Find out more about Dan at www.sancarlosflight.com or contact him at dan@sancarlosflight.com
Alessandro Franco is a pilot and the Owner of the San Carlos Flight Center. Alessandro is the lead of all Flight Center operations, activities, and relations including it’s owner leaseback program.

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.

In-Flight Vigilance: Stall Spins and Weather Product Awareness – CANCELLED
2023-07-26 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar has been cancelled due to a last minute presenter cancellation. Please tune into our next seminar on Saturday, July 29.

This seminar will be held in person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. For this seminar the presenter is unable to present in person, instead, he will present virtually to in-person audiences in our classroom. 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.

As pilots, we need to be aware of ourselves, aircraft, and things happening around us during every phase of flight. Throughout training, pilots are drilled into a variety of different areas. Notably, pilots must safely analyze weather products and stay vigilant in stall and spin awareness. While pilots are taught these things in primary training, why do these two factors contribute to nearly 25% of all fatal accidents?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Dr. David Strahle, CFI-AI and national spokesperson to talk about what he believes is the true reason behind the majority of these accidents and how to re-direct future training efforts towards reducing these fatal events. Over the years Dr. Strahle has seen accidents caused by these factors and how they could have easily been prevented. This discussion will revolve around recently identified negative changes to the color representation of NEXRAD images and how to deal with this setback affecting both your iPad and panel mounted systems. He’ll also cover the true reason behind the occurrence of stall and spin accidents. He will conclude how government investigative agencies may have inadvertently steered attention away from the actual factors contributing to these accidents and how we can prevent these accidents from happening again.
Join us if you are a pilot who is looking to get back into flying with safety in mind. This will also be of interest for those wanting to learn more about weather products, aerodynamics, stalls, spins and recovery procedures. If you are eager to learn beyond what is covered in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge you will appreciate David’s approach to these topics.

Dr. David Strahle is a CFI and Commercial Pilot, and is a nationally recognized spokesperson who has educated thousands on a variety of different aviation topics. Mainly, he has been referred to as the “Father of Datalink”, as Dr. Strahle wrote the initial research papers on transmitting weather into the cockpit in 1969 and continues to provide ongoing assistance in the development of datalink.

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.
