Prior to takeoff, pilots run the engine to a high power setting and confirm various system operation levels, including the ignition system. Occasionally, a rough or underperforming engine would result in the pilot abandoning the flight and taxiing back to the parking area. San Carlos Flight Center checklists include shorthand references to guide pilots what
Most people think of aircraft as things that fly high in the sky, well beyond the influence of ground effect. But interestingly, some heavy transport vehicles are designed to skim the surface of the earth or the water, buoyed by the extra lift that ground effect provides. You may have heard of ground effect as
As pilots, we must know how to accurately plan for a cross-country flight. Join us for this in-person workshop at San Carlos Flight Center for a hands-on and scenario based learning experience. Senior CFI Herb Patten will show attendees the important elements of successful cross-country flight planning and walk you through your planning of a
Pursuing the instrument rating can be extremely challenging. It takes lots of training, studying, and commitment from the student and their instructor to master all the necessary skills and build the confidence to fly under IFR. What are some successful approaches to tackling this rating? What are some of the resources to use to study?
As more aircraft are equipped with the computer display instrumentation ( aka "glass cockpit"), pilots trained on traditional analog instruments must adapt their flying skills and knowledge to fly these new aircraft. For a first timer, it can seem daunting, but with the right training most pilots adjust to the new instrumentation very quickly. They
For a private pilot who learned to fly in a C172 Skyhawk, stepping up to the Cessna 182 Skyland is a good challenge to broaden your skills. The larger engine allows you to take more passengers and luggage, and cover longer distances faster. As a natural extension to the Cessna 172, the Cessna 182 shares
Join the FlyOutGroup on April 11-13 for a very special event! For the second time in FlyOutGroup history, FOG and SCFC pilots will venture to March Air Reserve Base in Southern California to attend the SoCal Air Show. March Air Reserve Base is hosting the SoCal Airshow, featuring the US Thunderbirds, aircraft like the C-17
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
On Saturday, April 12, join Full Moon Flyers as we head up to Santa Rosa (STS)! At about 70 NM and less than an hour flight, Santa Rosa is an easy destination. Take in views of the San Francisco skyline as you make your way up and back. Once there, we will have dinner at
The women student pilots, pilots, and flight instructors of San Carlos Flight Center are coming together to begin forming a Women in Aviation chapter for San Carlos. You are invited to meet the group and share your love of aviation at a meeting on Wednesday, April 16th at 7 PM. The activities for this first
