San Carlos Flight Center

4-Day Pacific Northwest & Canada 2026
2026-07-16 - 2026-07-19
Join FlyOutGroup on an incredible cross-border adventure to the Pacific Northwest! This is your chance to experience mountain flying, island-hopping, and international operations all in one trip.
The trip begins on Thursday, July 16, when we set off from San Carlos en route to Seattle’s downtown Boeing Field (BFI) airport. On the flight up, you’ll experience mountain flying as you cross the Siskiyou Range, overflying the beautiful Trinity Alps and navigating around Mt. Shasta. On arrival into Seattle, you’ll learn to navigate the complex Seattle airspace, which is shared by a major international airport, busy Class Delta airports, and multiple military bases. We’ll spend the afternoon enjoying the summer weather in Seattle.
The following morning, we’ll depart for the San Juan Islands, landing at beautiful airports like Friday Harbor (FHR), Orcas Island (ORS), and Lopez Island (S31). Pilots will gain experience flying over water and learning to mitigate the risks of a water landing. After lunch, grab your passport for a quick flight across the United States/Canada border, where we’ll land in Canada – at Boundary Bay Airport (CZBB). Clear customs, and the evening is yours.
Saturday brings experience flying around British Columbia, where you have the chance to fly through the stunning Coast Mountains north of Vancouver, or venture up the fjords surrounding Victoria Island. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the US, where you’ll clear customs before setting off to Portland for the night (PDX). Don’t miss the chance to circle the 14000’ Mt. Rainier on the way south!
The final day of the trip allows you to depart at your leisure. You can visit the Evergreen Air and Space Museum in McMinnville (MMV) or spend time flying over Crater Lake. We’ll return to San Carlos by early evening, capping off an incredible four days of flying!
Itinerary:
Thursday, July 16:Depart San Carlos in the AMLunch at your leisureArrive Boeing Field – Seattle (BFI) mid-afternoon
Friday, July 17:San Juan Island Hopping (AM)Lunch – Roche HarborFly to Boundary Bay (CZBB) – arrive mid-afternoon
Saturday, July 18:Depart for Canada exploring – 9:00 AMLunch – Victoria AirportBorder crossing mid-afternoonArrive Portland International Airport (PDX) early evening
Sunday, July 19:Depart at your leisure
Hotels:The suggested hotels are as follows:

July 16-17: Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Sea-Tac Area
July 17-18: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Riverport Richmond
July 19-20: Aloft Portland Airport

Pilot Requirements:
All participants must have a valid, unexpired passport and FCC Radio Station License at the time of the trip. Pilots must be able to enter Canada.
Cost:The trip is billed by SCFC at aircraft Hobbs time and the instructor’s daily rate. The rough estimated costs below are per person, and assume two people sharing the airplane and CFI costs.CFI: 2 daily rates @ $900/day = $1,800Airplane: 8 Hobbs hours @ $275/hr = $2,200Lodging: 3 nights @ $200/night = $600Estimated total cost: $4600 (excludes food, incidentals, ride-share at destinations without rental cars, etc.)
Deposit:
There is a $500 per person deposit to ensure interest. This deposit will be applied towards aircraft and instructor time. All pilots will be paired with an SCFC CFI in an SCFC Aircraft. The deposit is refundable if you withdraw from the trip with at least five days notice.
Aircraft rental and instructor time will be billed upon the completion of the trip.
Registration:If you are interested in this trip, contact your CFI if you’re currently training. (Student pilots are welcome!) If you are not training, please send an email to flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com to express your interest. You may also sign up below.

Real Mechanic Explanation of Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2026-07-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Most pilots learn a little about Airworthiness Directive (AD) in ground school and then cram for it prior to their practical test. They sit down with their CFI and flip through the airplane maintenance logbooks noting strange numbers such as 84-26-02. Then they cross their fingers and hope the examiner will nod their head when asked if all the ADs have been complied with.
San Carlos Flight Center Charles Rudolf, Maintenance Manager and IA will dive into the details of ADs that are commonly recurring for typical training airplanes like the Cessna 152, 172 and Piper Archer. He will explain the details behind these common ADs including what mechanics do to comply with them as well as why they are important. This seminar will broaden your understanding of this critically important aspect of maintenance.
Charles earned his A&P in 2021 after attending AIM in Fremont and started working at the San Carlos Flight Center. He obtained his Inspection Authority, IA, in 2024. He enjoys the challenge of working on a variety of airplanes. More importantly, he enjoys sharing his knowledge about airplane systems and engines with pilots.

Women in Aviation @ SCFC July Meeting
2026-07-25 11:00 - 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Join SCFC Women in Aviation for a presentation about the demands of air ambulance flying.

We have invited Adele Dobler, a helicopter air ambulance pilot to discuss how she manages the demands of flying helicopter in challenging environments.

Adele has 17 years of experience flying in some of the most demanding environments in the world. Adele has flown across Canada, Africa, and now with London’s Air Ambulance, where every shift means making clear decisions under pressure on someone’s worst day. She’s also the author of Free to Fly, a powerful memoir about fear, responsibility, and learning to build confidence through action, not waiting for it to magically appear.

Any and all are welcome!

Full Moon Flyers and Upwind Dinner
2026-07-29 18:30 - 22:00 | San Carlos Flight Center
FOG’s biggest event of the year is back!
On the evening of Wednesday July 29th, join us at the Livermore Airport (KLVK) to continue our yearly tradition of celebrating the Upwind Class of 2026 with a fly-out dinner event at Beeb’s Sports Bar and Grill. We invite all pilots to showcase the fantastic General Aviation community to high-school students and their families. Please park around 6:30 PM in the Northwest Apron. Look for other San Carlos Flight Center aircraft parked on the ramp. Please plan to be seated by 7:00 PM as the restaurant closes at 8:00 PM. With a variety of food and options, there are plenty of choices for everyone. at next to the golf course. Afterward, enjoy the twilight flight home.
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!

Under the Cowling Workshop
2026-08-01 09:00 - 10:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
CFI Herb Patten is inviting ground school students for a closer look at airplane engines and systems, including details of the fuel, ignition, induction and more in this in-person workshop. This is your chance to look “under the cowling” in a way that goes deeper than your common preflight inspection.
As a pilot, you learn about airplane engines and systems from the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. That information is supplemented by details from your specific Airplane Flight Manual. So what more do you need to know? You crank the starter and everything works. But how does it work and how do the various systems such as the fuel, induction, and ignition work together to keep the engine flying? Ever wonder how the fuel flows from the tank to the cylinders? Or what happens when the air intake filter becomes blocked? Or what are the purposes of those tubes coming out of the bottom of the engine?
This in-person seminar will be conducted using a Cessna training plane with the engine cowling removed so you can get an up-close appreciation of the components of a typical, small single-engine airplane. Space is limited so don’t delay in signing up for this unique experience. You will walk away with a new depth of knowledge that most pilots don’t have.

Meet the Piper Saratoga
2026-08-05 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
The Piper Saratoga is the latest addition to the Flight Center fleet. It is a six-seat, retractable gear low wing plane powered by a Lycoming IO-540 engine. How does this airplane compare to other airplanes in the Flight Center fleet? What missions would be ideal for the Saratoga?. What is involved in upgrading your ride from the Piper Archer or Dakota to the Saratoga?
San Carlos Flight Center is pleased to introduce the Piper Saratoga in this seminar. Join 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 Piper Saratoga. Whether you are interested in getting a checkout in this airplane or just want to learn about the details of the Saratoga, you should attend this presentation.
Herb Patten is the Assistant Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches the instrument and private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 4,000 hours and landed at more than 130 different California airports. He 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.
About San Carlos Flight Center:
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.
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.

SQL Tower Tour (1 of 3)
2026-08-08 09:00 - 09:45
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)
2026-08-08 09:45 - 10:30

SQL Tower Tour (3 of 3)
2026-08-08 10:30 - 11:00

GSR: Airport Signs and Markings
2026-08-15 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
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.

Brayden Snedigar is a CFI at San Carlos Flight Center. Brayden earned his pilot certificate through the Upwind Summer Scholarship program in 2022. Brayden attended Purdue University graduating from the collegiate aviation program with Flight Instructor certificate. He taught for a year at Purdue’s flight program and now is a full-time instructor at San Carlos Flight Center.

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.

Pacific Northwest Flying - Lessons Learned
2026-08-19 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 Oregon, 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 Nick Lusskin along with CFI Graeson Gamoras 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, flying in Canadian airspace, 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.

100R Coming to KSQL - Information You Need to Know
2026-08-26 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
San Carlos Flight Center was proud to work with Rabbit Aviation to be the first flight school in California to have aircraft running on unleaded fuel in its fleet. California and the SF Bay Area are often the leaders on environmental issues, and aviation fuel should be no different. Join us to find out about the next step in the quest to remove lead from aviation fuel.
We have invited Dan DeMeo, owner of Rabbit Aviation, to share a significant update on unleaded fuel. Dan will discuss the transition from UL94 to 100R. With the recent expansion of the Swift Fuels STC, 1,200 piston engine models and 1,600 aircraft are now eligible to use 100R. This major milestone is the trigger to move fully forward with 100R as the standard unleaded fuel at San Carlos Airport.
If you are an airplane owner or a pilot that flies planes at one of the San Carlos flight schools, you will want to attend to be informed about this exciting transition. In addition, Alessandro Franco, owner of San Carlos Flight Center, will discuss the process of how to validate your airplane can safely run on 100R and the steps to obtain the Swift Fuels STC.
This seminar will be held in-person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to view the seminar online.
Interested in watching more of our safety seminars? Check out out growing library of over 500 Safety Seminars available for Members in our Members Only Seminar Library, available to view by clicking here.

Dan DeMeo, owner of Rabbit Aviation, leads this discussion about the use of unleaded fuel in aircraft engines. He provide details on when the transition will occur from UL94 to 100R.
Alessandro Franco, owner of San Carlos Flight Center, has been actively involved in converting the SCFC fleet to UL94 as well as the first training center to use the new 100-octane unleaded avgas in November of 2024.

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 Summer Celebration
2026-08-28 18:30 - 20:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
You are invited to join the Upwind Celebration party on Friday, August 28th. Thanks to the generous support from SQL community, the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program completed its 12th 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 here so we can get a headcount for food and drinks.
Friday, August 28th 6:30 PM
Upwind EOY Celebration
Skyway Center
655 Skyway Rd
San Carlos, CA 94070

Women in Aviation @ SCFC August Meeting
2026-08-29 11:00 - 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Join SCFC Women in Aviation for a presentation on how to develop the mental skills to thrive both in the cockpit and beyond.

The SCFC Women in Aviation has invited Tammy Barlette to talk about what she has learned from the study of mental performance training, translating principles used by elite athletes into practical, repeatable tools for pilots.

Tammy is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and fighter pilot with over 20 years of military aviation experience. She concluded her career in 2018 after flying the T-37 Tweet, A-10 Warthog, T-38 Talon, MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper, serving as both a combat pilot and an instructor pilot. She accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours and is a graduate of the prestigious U.S. Air Force Weapons School.

Following her retirement from military aviation, Tammy founded Crosscheck Mental Performance, where she teaches a popular online course that helps aviators build confidence, improve focus, and perform effectively under pressure.

With over a decade of experience instructing in U.S. Air Force pilot training and more than seven years studying and teaching mental performance, Tammy brings a unique and powerful perspective to general aviation. Today, she is dedicated to equipping pilots with the mental skills they need to thrive both in the cockpit and beyond.

Any and all are welcome!

5-Day Colorado Mountain Flying 2026
2026-09-03 - 2026-09-07 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
5-Day Colorado Trip
Exploring the Great Basin and Continental Divide
From the Bonneville Salt Flats to Leadville to the Grand Canyon and everything in between.
This year FOG travels across the Great Basin of Nevada & Utah to the highest elevation airport of Leadville in the Colorado Rockies and then on to Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon and finishing at the lowest altitude airport of Furnace Creek, Death Valley. After this trip, you will be experienced in 95% of terrains you will ever fly.
Join FlyOutGroup as they go on an unforgettable flying adventure of a lifetime.
Thursday Sept 3rd – Day 1
Cross the Sierras, the Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Salt Lake to layover somewhere fun in the Salt Lake City Area
Friday Sept 4th – Day 2-3
Flying in the Rockies landing at challenging high elevation airports, Canyonlands (KCNY home of Arches National Park), Glenwood Springs (KGWS)(if open), Aspen (KASE), Leadville (KLXV) and Telluride (KTEX)
Sunday Sept 6th – Day 4
We will travel west near Four Corners then across Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon and into Sedona for our final night before flying home on Monday Sept 7th – Day 5.
Experience landings at the famous Leadville, North America’s highest airport (9927 ‘) and Furnace Creek (-210’) below sea level in California’s Death Valley.
We put 1 CFI and 2 pilots / students in each plane so it is open to pilots at all levels.
This is a great way to complete an avionics or airplane-specific checkout, earn your high performance endorsement, complete a club or mountain checkout, or do all at the same time.
Cessna 182s or higher performance aircraft recommended.
Hotel Information
Salt Lake City
Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites.
Address: 230 W 500 S, Salt Lake City, Utah
(855) 516-1090
Group Rate Code: SC0826
Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Hot Springs Hotel
(970) 945-6571
Sedona
Sky Rock Inn
Please Note: a deposit of $500 is required to reserve instructor/aircraft rental.
Each individual will be responsible for overnight accommodations.
Since this is a FOG training trip, all pilots will be required to fly with a CFI and attend a Mountain Flying Ground Course/Seminar. Any exceptions will need approval from FlyOutGroup.
Contact SCFC at (650) 946-1700 to sign up.

Weather Services Workshop
2026-09-19 12:00 - 14:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Are you checking the weather before your flight simply by looking at METARs? Have you struggled with trying to get a comprehensive view of weather? Are you looking to get an understanding of ways to conduct a weather briefing?
If you are a student pilot or recent pilot trying to better understand options for accessing weather for a flight then join us for this workshop to learn more about weather briefings. We will use a cross-country flight scenario and walk through the process of gathering relevant weather for a flight. We will show you how to get aviation weather information from www.aviationweather.gov, ForeFlight, 1800wxbrief.com and by speaking to a flight service station weather briefer.
If you want to better understand how all these sources of weather fit in a briefing, join us for this interactive session.
Herb Patten is the Assistant Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches the private pilot and instrument ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 4,000 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 2025, Herb was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by AOPA.
This seminar is in-person. There will not be a live stream.

Flying Safely At Night
2026-10-28 19:00 - 20:30
On November 1st, Daylight Savings Time will end, and with it comes early nightfall. For those of us who work a regular 9-5 schedule, early nightfall means an increase in night flying time. How current are your night skills? Maybe it’s time to focus on what is different between day VFR and night VFR flight.
Obviously, less ambient light adds challenges for anything requiring eyesight. This includes preflight inspection, taxi safety, obstruction avoidance, IMC recognition and avoidance, cockpit resource management, and a number of other things. Most familiar to pilots is probably the differences in landing. The sight picture of a normal approach to a runway is very different with reduced external visual cues from night. Flashing lights can help or hurt pilot attention and recognition.
So should night flight be avoided? Not necessarily. Night flight brings with it reduced ATC workloads, often calmer winds, cooler temperatures that help performance, and the ability to spot traffic from farther off. Your decision about flying at night can be aided by attending a Night Flying Refresher seminar like this one.

Herb Patten is the Assistance 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 4,000 hours in more than 150 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2024, 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.

Young Aviators Workshop
2027-01-02 09:00 - 13:00
Are you a teenager interested in aviation but not sure where to begin? Are you looking to share your passion with aviation with other like minded young people?
The Flight Center invites all high school students to attend this workshop to learn about aviation. This event provides you the opportunity to discover the steps of becoming a pilot and career options, how to read and interpret aviation charts used by pilots, hands-on experience with aircraft engines and systems, as well as aviation scholarship opportunities.
If you are a budding young aviator we welcome you to participate in this event. Lunch is provided.
This event is a workshop for high school students and not eligible for the Seminar Engagement Program.
