Hazards of Frost and Icing
2021-02-06 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Flying along, you might think it’s a beautiful crisp winter day until suddenly you take a peek at the beautiful scenery below and see frost on your wingtip. What are you going to do next? Do you know all the hazards of frost and icing?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Dave Kramer, an experienced instrument rated pilot, and avid weather specialist to talk about how frost and icing can affect an airplane. With atmospheric moisture, comes the hazards of icing. Other than a thunderstorm, nothing else is so detrimental to flight. California, because of it’s warmer winters, is notorious for icing. How can we predict it and where can we find it? In this seminar, anyone will be able to gain a better understanding of how frost and ice forms, how to avoid it, and what to do if you get it.
Join Dave as he discusses these important topics from a pilot’s viewpoint. If you are an aspiring IFR pilot or a seasoned Instrument rated pro, you won’t want to miss this seminar.

Dave Kramer MD, an ophthalmologist for over 30 years, is an instrument rated, tailwheel, complex and high performance endorsed commercial MEL pilot as well as a basic and instrument ground instructor with an interest in weather. He has been flying since 2012, has over 1100 hours of which over 500 have been in the IFR system. He also enjoys long cross country flying, night flying and flying in the LA area.

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.

How Outside Flying Trips Enhanced My Path to Checkride
2021-02-10 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Most pilots take a straightforward path through training. One flight at a time, slogging through training exercises, completing FAA knowledge requirements and obtaining the necessary aviation experience. But Nico Ghilardi isn’t like most pilots, join us to hear his story of one pilot’s novel journey to his private pilot checkride.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Private Pilot Nico Ghilardi to share his path to becoming a private pilot, highlighting the unique side opportunities he took to get real mountain flying experience, learn about challenging weather conditions, apply short-field takeoff and landing techniques in the beauty of the Colorado mountains.
There are a lot of ways you can customize your training adventure to the way you want. If you are looking for ways to spice up your training for your private pilot certificate, join us to hear Nico as he shares his innovative training flights.

Nico Ghilardi is a private pilot with over 150 flight hours. Recently he obtained his high performance endorsement, and is currently receiving aerobatic training. He has a surplus of flying experience after adventuring on a multi-day flying trip throughout Colorado, and various other iconic destinations across the country. During the day he works as a biologist, competes in professional swimming competitions, and enjoys spending time with his family.

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.

Preventative Maintenance at a 50-Hour Service
2021-02-13 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

In November of last year, SCFC presented a seminar in which we reviewed the types of things a pilot can do that qualify as preventive maintenance. Now, we will revisit the topic in the context of a real-world 50-hour service done on a regularly flying aircraft.
San Carlos Flight Center invites A&P Tim Davis to talk in-depth about tasks pilots can perform during a 50-hour service. There are many tasks that qualify as preventive maintenance. In this seminar, Tim will identify those tasks that pilots could perform such as oil changes, cleaning and gapping spark plugs, light bulb replacements and lubrication of flight controls. He will describe the steps to perform these tasks and the required steps to document the maintenance.
If you wanted to gain a real world understanding of how to apply your knowledge of preventive maintenance, join us for this unique opportunity.

Tim Davis is an A&P and aircraft mechanic at San Carlos Flight Center. 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.

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.

From Six Packs to Glass – a look into Avionics Upgrades
2021-02-17 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Are you an airplane owner? Have you ever thought that it may be time for an avionics upgrade? Maybe you have even considered overhauling your entire instrument panel.
Maybe you’re thinking of buying your first plane, and you’re looking at options to modernize it’s old instrument panel to a modern instrument panel without the cost of a factory, new airplane.
SCFC has invited local Bay Area pilot and flight instructor, James Sloan, to describe the path he took a few years ago to transform his Cessna 182 from a “six pack” to a glass panel. The process took a significant amount of research and coordination between the offerings of various avionics manufacturers. The result is a beautiful, clean, modern interior and fantastic system management features.
The presentation is an inner look at a complicated process and is of interest even if you don’t own a plane.

James Sloan earned his PPL in 2002 and flew around the East Coast for a few years. After several years off he joined SCFC in 2017 and has since obtained his instrument, commercial, advanced and instrument ground instructor, and flight instructor ratings. I currently have about 550 hours in single engine airplanes and own 1.6 Cessnas.

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.

Supplemental Oxygen Systems
2021-02-20 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Supplemental oxygen is required in unpressurized aircraft by regulation above 12,500 MSL and often by good operating practice at lower altitudes. Pilots-in-command must consider the oxygen needs of both crew and passengers when planning flights during which oxygen will be used.
Join us as our Assistant Chief Pilot Brian Eliot discusses the use of supplemental oxygen systems and their usage in flight. In this seminar we will consider the provisioning of oxygen for flight, including both built-in and portable systems, preflight testing of oxygen, briefing and supervision of passengers, and proper dispensing of oxygen in flight. Brian will also examine the major classification of oxygen systems with a focus on the continuous-flow systems common to general aviation. Concluding with recommendations on assembling a personal oxygen kit that satisfies the aircraft and circumstances of the pilot and prospective passengers for flight in unpressurized aircraft.
If you have ever considered using or have used supplemental oxygen methods – don’t miss out on this seminar.

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 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.

So You Want to Buy a Turbine?
2021-02-24 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

So you think you want to own a turbine aircraft? With owning a turbine comes many advantages including speed, endurance, safety, and reliability.
San Carlos Flight Center invites TBM pilot and owner Tom McGrath to highlight his experience as an owner of one of the most popular single-engine turbines on the market. In this discussion, he’ll cover the performance and costs of ownership, focusing mainly on Turboprop aircraft, but also light jets. Tom will emphasize the increased performance he experienced in turbines as he was flying across the world, along with some of the expected maintenance associated with the airplane. He’ll also provide a high-level overview of what to expect while operating a turbine aircraft including performance characteristics in all critical phases of flight, and additional training all pilots should consider.
Come hear and discuss the pros and cons of stepping into the “I love the smell of Jet fuel in the morning” crowd.

Tom McGrath is a 7000 hour pilot with 2700 in TBM aircraft over the last 9 years. Tom stepped from Beech Bonanza’s to the TBM in 2012. Tom will use the experience of owning the TBM’s and buying knowledge of competitors to bring the discussion to the prospective owner or dreamer.

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.

Full Moon Flyers Modesto
2021-02-27
COVID is at the peak but we can still maintain our night currency by flying to Modesto (KMOD) during February’s full moon on the 27th. The central valley is beautiful at night and the folks at Modesto friendly. Also it’s a great training place for IFR pilots as well as VFR training for the monthly breakfast outings when they return. Because of COVID-19, there will be no gathering or meeting up. : (

Radio Communications 1: Radio Basics
2021-02-27 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Flying through SF Bay Area airspace 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.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Chief Pilot Herb Patten and pilot Dan Dyer to bridge the communication gap, help newer pilots understand the structure of radio and how to improve their own. The presentation will begin with a review of radio communication phraseology and use. What part is structured? What part is unstructured? What words are good official phraseology, and what words are considered jargon, slang, or poor grammar?
If you are new to radio communication, or just want a great review to fill gaps in your pilot education, please join us for this unique opportunity.

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 1,500 hours into at least 120 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2015, Herb was named a Master Instructor by the National Association of Flight Instructors.
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.

Death Valley Bloom
2021-03-01 - 2021-03-31
We are in flying distance of Death Valley, one of the most beautiful places on earth during the spring desert flower bloom. This usually occurs between mid February through mid May but depends on several variable such as amount and timing of rainfall, winds and temperature. We have to maintain social distancing from each other but not the flowers. During the month of March, fly to Death Valley for a once in a lifetime experience and submit your favorite area photo to flyoutgroup@gamil.com.
For the latest information predicting the exact timing of the bloom visit Death Valley Wildflower Update

Airport of the Month: Marina Municipal Airport (KOAR)
2021-03-01 08:00 - 2021-03-31 17:00
An airport under the Monterey Charlie Airspace and near the beach, the Marina Municipal Airport is the newest general aviation airport on the Monterey Peninsula. It consists of approximately 845.5 acres of property. It has been open for public use since 1995 and is dynamic and growing. This is a great place to practice flying VFR into an airport under the Charlie and for you IFR pilots, the RNAV (GPS) 29 approach. Looks easy, but you will be surprise how fast it goes. AND BEST OF ALL, IT’S NEAR THE BEACH!

Get those walking shoes out and get some exercise by walking to the Marina State Beach.

Webinar
2021-03-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2021-04-02 08:00 - 17:00

GSR: VFR Charts
2021-03-03 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Do you know how to identify where certain VFR reporting waypoints are on a chart? Do you know how to determine if the airport you are landing at has an operating beacon? Do you know if the airport you are landing at has pilot controlled lighting, or lighting at all? Maybe you know those basics but are interested in a VFR chart refresher, then this is the place for you.
VFR charts pack an extraordinary amount of material and represent a 3-dimensional world of terrain and airspaces in 2 dimensions. They describe graphically the earth as it looks to us pilots from the air. And no matter how much we study them and how good we get at interpreting them there is always something new or some little nuance that we didn’t realize. Lastly, they are fun. Who doesn’t enjoy looking at a map, especially an aviation one?
Join San Carlos Flight Center CFI Mari Baratto as she gives a ground school refresher on VFR charts. She will entertain you while educating you about common as well as uncommon VFR charts symbology. After this seminar you will have knowledge of interesting facts that you use to impress your friends.

Mari May Baratto is a Certified Flight Instructor and an FAA Instrument Ground Instructor with experience teaching both Private and Commercial Pilot students. A commercial rated pilot both in Brazil and in the United States, Mari has a diverse background flying through different airspaces, especially through one of the country’s most intimidating areas, the Washington DC SFRA. Mari has been recognized as a 2018 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 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.

4 Things You Should Have Learned in Your First 10 Hours
2021-03-06 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

What we learn first, we learn best. The Law of Primacy says it is critical that some things should be learned early in flight training giving you the best chance of learning them well, and retaining those skills.
Dan Dyer is a nationally-recognized flight instructor that has spent years thinking deeply about pilot training and how best to sequence the transfer of ground knowledge and in-flight skills to student pilots. He has a degree in Cognitive Science and that gives him interesting insights into the ways humans think and learn. At SCFC, he brought that background to the development of the SCFC private pilot training syllabus, which has become known for its structure and effectiveness.
In this seminar, Dyer reveals the four most important skill areas that all early student pilots should learn, and sadly, why they are often overlooked. If your pilot training didn’t provide you with solid ability in these four skill areas, you may have real difficulty learning and perfecting them later in training. Primary skills must be presented in a logical order, step by step, making sure the students have learned the preceding step before moving to the next step. In his work helping experienced pilots perfect basic skills, Dyer has seen that the process for re-learning primary skills late can be confusing and time consuming. Note: If you think the four are climbs, descents, turns, and straight-and-level flight, you aren’t thinking deeply enough about what makes you a safe and competent pilot.
Join us for one flight instructor’s opinion on what skills you should challenge yourself to learn in your first 10 hours of training, or relearn as soon as you can.

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.

You're Not the Only Pilot in the Sky
2021-03-10 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

The radio frequency is a precious and shared resource, with every pilot on frequency hearing everyone else’s good, bad, and ugly transmissions. Radio skills are essential but often not taught or taught poorly. Sadly, pilots often learn from listening to the radio where there is a plethora of jargon, slang and extraneous words. Learning to use direct, clear, and concise phraseology is imperative to effective radio communication; although not everyone always follows that motto.
San Carlos Flight Center invites King Air Captain and check airman Ben Taber to share with us the things that grate on the ears of other pilots and air traffic controllers. After 30 years of flying throughout North America, Ben has developed a keen ear for quality radio practices, and useful tips & tricks that can improve your radio skills and make you sound like a pro. Sounding like a professional on the radio doesn’t have to be just for airline pilots – take this opportunity to see if you have been developing bad radio habits over the years, and find a solution to remedy the issue.
Join us for this ear-opening opportunity to discover key radio practices that you might’ve missed out on for all these years.

Captain Bennett Taber is a check airman and training captain with over 20 years and 17,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were in Alaska. Captain Taber manages flight operations and charter sales for Dreamline Aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a Dreamline Training Captain in 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 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.

IFR New (No) MOON Flyers
2021-03-11 - 2021-03-16
New this year for IFR pilots, New (No) Moon Flyers. The night does not get any darker and the terrain disappears.
This month, the official New Moon is March 13th and if you are IFR current and proficient, lets fly to Castle (KMER) and back sometime from March 11 through March 16th. . The valley is peaceful, the air is usually calm and the runway long. While single pilot IFR is legal, these night flights are the real deal and having a second IFR pilot in the cockpit is always a good idea. This is the time to really use the PAVE mnemonic before the flight.
Be safe up there.

An Overview of the WINGS Program
2021-03-13 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Dealing with a Post-Covid environment means there will be changes to the way we fly and what we have relied on to keep us safe. The FAA alerts pilots to occupied ramps, parked up runways and taxi routes pilots are accustomed to using. Building a good defense and expecting the unexpected when returning to active flying is a great strategy, so join us for a discussion on distractions and how to manage them on the surface and in the air, ways to gain proficiency through the WINGS program, and managing our expectations from the time we arrive at the airport to when we get back on the ground.
In this presentation, FAASTeam Program Manager, Karen Arendt will call on pilots to be alert to conditions that have changed in the last year due to COVID-19 pandemic related flight restrictions, including parking of overflow traffic and part-time towers, degradation of flying skills and how to improve manual flying skills, flight risk tool and how to manage risk. This event qualifies for Wings Credit.
Join us to learn about new tools the FAA has implemented to help pilots stay proficient and safe for every flight.

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.

IFR Currency - The Devil in the Details
2021-03-17 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

There is a thin overcast layer at 800 at your destination and you are ready to fly the ILS which shouldn’t be too hard with the light IFR conditions, but are you legal? What is that regulation about IFR currency and what are the specifics?
Join Herb Patten, Chief Pilot at San Carlos Flight Center for this “Devils in the Details” seminar on IFR currency. In this seminar we will take an in-depth look at the regulations instrument rated pilots must follow to maintain their IFR currency. Pilots sometimes remember this as six approaches within the last six calendar months. What counts as an approach? Oh, and there is something about tracking and holding. What is meant by holding? Can I do these in a simulator instead?
Don’t let the fog of the regulations put you in a hold. This seminar will clear you for the approach as we descend via the FAA regulations and legal interpretation to clarify some of the ambiguity in the regulations.

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 1,500 hours into at least 120 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2015, Herb was named a Master Instructor 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 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.

CAL FIRE – An Insight to Fighting Fires From the Sky
2021-03-20 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

CAL FIRE is the leading aerial firefighting force, protecting California and neighboring states throughout major fire-seasons. Aviation is an integral part of what makes CAL FIRE successful, with hundreds of aircraft and pilots, it takes a team to ensure people are safe.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Chief of CAL FIRE Flight Operations Stu Sprung to provide an insight of their daily operations, a summary of the types of aircraft used, and a description of the various mission profiles flown in fire areas. In this seminar, Stu will detail the typical flight operations that are active around TFR’s and the “Fire Traffic Area”. He will share observations about typical conflicts between CAL FIRE and GA aircraft and provide recommendations to mitigate them. With rapidly growing wildfires, it’s imperative that GA pilots understand the activities that take place in fire operations so they can remain well clear.
If you have ever wanted to gain an insight into the aerial firefighting operations of CAL FIRE and how it pertains to you; don’t miss out on this seminar.

Stu Sprung is the Chief of Flight Operations for CAL FIRE. CAL FIRE is the second largest fire department in the United States, with the largest dedicated aerial firefighting fleet in the world with over 70 aircraft. Stu primarily flies the C-130H Hercules, UH-1H Super Huey, and OV-10A Bronco.

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.

Transitioning to a Cirrus, What to Expect?
2021-03-24 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

The Cirrus SR series aircraft is known as the most technologically advanced single-engine piston on the market. With seamless integration across its systems, pure luxury, speed, and safety – who wouldn’t want to fly one?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Private Pilot Brandan Dadoun, who recently completed his Cirrus SR20 transition training, to highlight his experience. Cirrus is the only GA manufacturer that provides structured training courses and supplements for all Cirrus pilots. With an emphasis on safety brought about through their redundant reliable systems, CAPS airframe parachute, or structured training, no pilot will be left behind. Their training provides colorful and detailed step by step procedures & tutorials for all phases of flight and includes interactive activities to ensure comprehension. Brandan will conclude with an overview of the systematic, operational, and flight handling differences in the Cirrus compared to most other GA aircraft.
If you have ever dreamt of flying the sports cars of the skies, or want to learn more about the most incredible airplane in its class – join us for this seminar.

Brandan Dadoun is a private pilot and SCFC’s Seminar Coordinator. He has completed the majority of his flight training at SCFC with over 200 flight hours and has extensive flying experience throughout all of California. He is an advocate for getting youth involved in aviation and is actively involved in many aviation programs himself. When he’s not flying, he enjoys teaching others and spreading his love for aviation.

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.

Airplane Performance Charts and Tables
2021-03-27 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Prior to certification, airplane manufacturers and the aerospace engineers that work for them, run exhaustive tests of new airplanes as they perform normal and emergency maneuvers in a variety of atmospheric and loading conditions. That critical performance information is communicated to future pilots through Section 5 of the POH – Aircraft Performance. Pilots must fully understand this section to fully understand their aircraft.
Although there is no single standard for the display of performance information, new pilots should be taught to decode performance information conveyed in both table format, or on performance graphs. Additionally, the complexity of performance information can also be found in footnotes, inset boxes, and textual addendum.
Join us on March 27, as San Carlos Flight Center CFI Brian Eliot reviews the publication and display of aircraft performance information and walks us through the most important types of charts and tables. If you are a new pilot, prepare to welcome in a tremendous amount of new information. If you are a high-time pilot, we think you will still enjoy this review of this critical part of knowing your aircraft.

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 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.

Destination Sedona & Tuscon
2021-03-31 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

From the Grand Canyon to the painted rocks of Sedona, Arizona is home to America’s most stunning vistas. While breathtaking in beauty, these locations have hidden challenges that demand attention.
San Carlos Flight Center invites commercial pilot David Agranovich to highlight his experience flying in the Tucson and Sedona regions of Arizona. In this seminar, David will discuss his route planning from the Bay Area to Arizona, factors to consider along the way, and airport operations at Sedona and Tucson. He will also cover other factors common to this region including high elevation airports, density altitude, rising terrain, and busy airspace. Lastly he will share activities to do while on the ground, including hiking up the rocks of Sedona and strolling around the local cities.
Whether you choose to visit Sedona’s legendary Airport Mesa, fly in the Grand Canyon, or operate among F-16s and A-10s in the pattern at Tucson International – Arizona will not disappoint.

David Agranovich is an instrument-rated commercial pilot working on his instructor certificates. He’s normally found taking 182 out for flights in the Sierras or running shelter dogs up the coast for Pilots and Paws. 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 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.

Airport of the Month: Kern Valley
2021-04-01 - 2021-04-30
This month, venture into the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas to Kern Valley Airport (L05), which resides near Lake Isabella, 2600 feet above the city of Bakersfield. Kern Valley is surrounded by mountain peaks on all sides, so make sure you examine the surrounding terrain before departure and plan a safe descent from cruising altitude to the pattern. Flying in the spring allows us to view Lake Isabella at its fullest capacity, and the mountain peaks may still be covered in snow. Combined with the green grass from winter storms, this airport is a spectacular place for a cross-country flight.
The field also has a restaurant on-site next to the tie-down area, but there’s no fuel. Pilots who need fuel should plan accordingly and refuel at one of the many airports in the Central Valley either en route to or coming back from Kern Valley. While not an easy airport to fly into, Kern Valley promises to be an airport that will leave you breathless as you descend through the foothills with the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas as your backdrop.

Overfly Yosemite National Park
2021-04-01 - 2021-04-30
Yosemite National Park is one of America’s greatest treasures, with stunning glacier-carved cliffs, giant trees, and towering mountain peaks. Many of us have experienced this majestic place from the ground, but not many people have seen the park from the air. While one cannot land in Yosemite Valley (the closest airport is Mariposa on the western side and Lee Vining on the eastern side), pilots are allowed to overfly the park and soak in the views from above.
This month’s challenge is to capture the best photo of the grandeur of Yosemite from the sky. Please note that flying in Yosemite Valley is prohibited, as is flying below 2000’ AGL, as the park is protected by a wilderness area. Per our member regulation, SCFC pilots may need a mountain checkout to cover much of Yosemite’s area, although the Valley and western part of the park can be viewed from over the foothills near Mariposa and Pine Mountain Lake.
This is a great opportunity to bring family or friends who enjoy photography, as the views will be incredible. If you take photos from above, please submit them to FOG, and we’ll share them with the greater flying community!

Destination - French Valley Airport, Staying Safe at a Busy Non-Towered Airport
2021-04-03 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

French Valley Airport (F70) is a busy non-towered airport located just a short flight from Los Angeles. With hundreds of operations a day, operating at this airport will keep many pilots at the top of their game.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Commercial Pilot Dave Kramer for a review of his recent round-trip journey to French Valley airport in a Beech Baron. In this seminar, Dave will discuss his route of flight, planning considerations such as the crowded Los Angeles Bravo and Ontario airspaces, along with a review of operations into and out of F70. Long cross-country trips require extensive planning and Dave will demonstrate his process for obtaining preflight planning information about a new airport in a systematic manner. Lastly, he will cover the different things one might do at French Valley, such as golfing, dining, and an abundance of outdoor activities.
Flying long distance can be a new challenge for some, but navigating the complexities of the LA airspace while getting to your destination poses an entirely different learning curve. Join us to feel confident on your next trip to this beautiful airport

Dave Kramer MD, an ophthalmologist for over 30 years, is an instrument rated, tailwheel, complex and high performance endorsed commercial MEL pilot as well as a basic and instrument ground instructor with an interest in weather. He has been flying since 2012, has over 1100 hours of which over 500 have been in the IFR system. He also enjoys long cross country flying, night flying and flying in the LA area.

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.

Transition to Multi-Engine
2021-04-07 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

One engine is good. Two are better. A multi-engine rating opens up a whole new set of aviation opportunities. Have you ever wondered what it takes to upgrade your ASEL to an AMEL? Or maybe you’ve wondered how much additional knowledge and training it could possibly take to operate a twin-engine aircraft safely? Bring your curiosity and join us to find out.
San Carlos Flight Center CFII Brian Eliot will present a seminar designed to introduce ASEL pilots to the world of AMEL. He will walk the audience through the basic requirements found in FAR Part 61, including both knowledge items and flight skills, and then dive more deeply into the required flight proficiency items in terms of preflight inspections, ground operations, maneuvers, and emergency procedures.
Whether it’s in your near future or still in the dream phase, plan to join us for this informative safety seminar all about transitioning to Multi-Engine Aircraft.

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 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.

Ground School Refresher: Tips for Understanding VORs
2021-04-10 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

For decades, pilots navigated the skies accurately through all kinds of weather by “flying the needle” on a VOR. The VHF-based ground facilities formed the basis of the Federal Airway System that still exists to this day. Easily recognizable to pilots as large white bowling pin structures, or rings of white stonehenge teeth on mountain ridges, the sight of these stations means you’ve navigated the airway successfully.
Although GPS has revolutionized cross-country navigation, private and instrument pilots are still tested on their ability to tune and track VOR courses. What is your VOR-IQ? How well do you understand these navigational aids? Do you know how to stay “Same Side Safe”?
While many instructors devote only a glancing interest in VORs, CFI Dan Dyer became intrigued with VORs as a tool for pilots and has spent hundreds of hours trying to understand the best way to explain them to new pilots. If you’ve taken the “Radio Navigation” module of the Flight Center’s private pilot ground school, you’ve likely seen his tips for how to think about VORs. If not, consider tuning in on Wednesday as Dan shares his VOR Tips and Tricks with the goal for a better informed Bay Area flying community.

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.

An Insight into the Operations at Oakland Center
2021-04-14 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Oakland Center is unique in that it has two distinctly different air traffic control functions. There is the normal en route air traffic control as well as an oceanic air traffic operation that manages the largest volume of international airspace in the world at one facility. Enroute controllers often control large amounts of airspace with substantial amounts of traffic, and it takes a lot of effort to ensure things go smoothly.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Justin Martin of Oakland Center (ZOA) to provide an insight to the procedures that take place within the enroute environment. In this seminar, Justin will discuss the different separation minimas, airspace configurations/delegations, and technology used. Many think that pilots only deal with enroute controllers while in Class A airspace, but GA pilots interact with enroute controllers more often than most think.
If you have ever wanted to learn more about what takes place at Oakland Center, and how GA pilots can improve their effective communication and understanding, join us for this seminar.

Justin Martin is an Air Traffic Controller and NATCA Representative at Oakland ARTCC. Along with his ATC experience, he has 15 years of GA flying experience. He is very passionate about aviation education and outreach, and is a subject matter expert on enroute airspace and procedures

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.

Adventures in Crosswinds
2021-04-17 12:00 - 13:00
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Adventures in Crosswinds
2021-04-17 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

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 confidance 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.
