San Carlos Flight Center

GSR: Airport Signs and Markings
2022-10-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

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.

Terry Kelly is a CFI at San Carlos Flight Center, who has a background as a first responder working as a wildland firefighter. Terry’s obsession with flying began during his senior year at the University of Oregon when he took a demo flight and decided that the world of flying is more suitable to him than the boardroom. After college, Terry moved to Dallas to complete his flight training where he learned the intricacies of busy airspace and quick-changing weather. He looks forward to helping others make their flying dreams become a reality in the safest and most enjoyable way possible.

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

NO SAFETY SEMINAR on October 15
2022-10-15
There will be no safety seminar on Saturday, October 15. Please join us for our next seminar on Wednesday, October 19 for Ground School Refresher: Airport Signs and Markings. More information on this seminar is accessible by clicking here.
-Seminar Team

FOG Edwards AFB: Aerospace Valley Airshow
2022-10-14 - 2022-10-15
Join the FlyOutGroup on October 14-15 for a very special event! For the first time in over a decade, Edwards Air Force Base will be open to the public for the Aerospace Valley Airshow, where participants will be able to get up close with military aircraft on the Flight Line, see a variety of exhibits for all ages, and watch an incredible airshow over the backdrop of the Mojave Desert.
According to the event website, “the world-famous U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team will headline the show and include performances from nearly every aircraft in the current Air Force inventory, various NASA aircraft, and a world-exclusive special ‘Race to Mach 1’ high above the crowd. The event will be anchored by a large STEM Expo, featuring dozens of hands-on activities that encourage the community to think big and create.”
Before the airshow, FOG pilots will be able to fly into Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) on Friday, October 14th, where we’ll spend the night in a hotel located in nearby Victorville. The next day, we’ll board a bus that will take us to Edwards AFB. Once the show is over, the bus will then drop us off at the airport where you can depart for home that evening.
Itinerary:
Friday, October 14

Fly to Victorville (VCV) – arrive by 6:30 PM
Transfer to your hotel – board charter bus no later than 6:55 PM
Group dinner at the hotel

Saturday, October 15

7:15 am – board bus bound for Edwards Air Force Base
9:00 am – event begins
5:00 pm – event ends, board return bus to Victorville
~6:30 pm – return to Victorville, depart at your leisure

Hotel:
After you register, FOG will reach out to you with instructions on how to book your hotel room for the night of October 14th using our special Group Rate.
Cost:
$150 per person (not per plane) includes bus to and from the base, administrative costs, and trip supplies. Transportation to VCV, Hotel, and meals will not be included. The event fee is non-refundable within two weeks of the event.
To pay the $150 attendee fee, please call the Flight Center at (650) 946-1700 within one week of registering, otherwise your spot may be released to other attendees.
Registration:
This is a very popular event. The event does have a maximum capacity of 50 attendees, so please register and book your plane early. When registering, please ensure your aircraft headcount is accurate.
Questions:
If you have any questions, please contact the FOG Coordinator, Travis, via email at travis@sancarlosflight.com
FOG is open to all pilots, even pilots not affiliated with the Flight Center. However, you must create a free account to register for FOG events, which you can do here. If you have any questions, please contact flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com for assistance.

G1000 Idiosyncrasies
2022-10-12 19:00 - 20:30
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 G1000 instrument panel for small aircraft has been certified as a class III EFB (no paper required in the cockpit) for years. Pilots trust the G1000 avionics as a reliable source to deliver information while in-flight; but there are many intricacies that many pilots do not know about. Safety requires a full discussion of some specific choices Garmin made in system design, to prevent encountering something the pilot was preferred for.
San Carlos Flight Center invites King Air Captain and check airman Ben Taber to discuss the idiosyncrasies related to the G1000 avionics. In this seminar, Taber will highlight things that pilots should be aware of while operating planes equipped with these avionics. The G1000 often has airspace lines that aren’t depicted on the MFD, flight plan entry restrictions, invalid weather depictions, no radio altimeters, and countless other complications while operating under IFR.
Join us as you learn about these new things that might’ve never appeared to you while flying this aircraft.

Capt. Bennett Taber is a check airman and training captain with over 35 years and 18,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Full Moon Flyers: Half Moon Bay
2022-10-09 19:00 - 21:00
On October 9th, make the quick hop over the Santa Cruz Mountains to Half Moon Bay for dinner. The flight is quick from points around the Bay Area but is much faster and less stressful than navigating the traffic on Highway 92. This is a perfect flight to take friends and family on, as it affords stunning views of the local coastline, beaches, and mountains in such a short flight.
After landing, taxi to the small ramp on the southeast side of the airport (located southeast of the taxiway that takes you to Runway 30). Secure your aircraft, and we’ll walk through the gate to meet at Mezza Luna at 7 PM, one of the best restaurants in the town. Enjoy an Italian dinner, complete with classic favorites like pasta and freshly-caught seafood.
While October is often a good time to visit Half Moon Bay, low fog and clouds may prevent VFR traffic from participating. If this is the case, we will alter our destination to Livermore. The FOG coordinator will advise those who registered if a change is needed.
Please RSVP below so we can inform the restaurant of our headcount. We hope to see you in Half Moon Bay on October 9!

Knowing What You Don’t Know – CFI Edition
2022-10-08 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Please click the link here to learn more about our CFI finishing school.

Flight instructors learn constantly with every flight. With time, the “aha” moments may come less frequently, but they never stop. There’s always something to learn that can improve your effectiveness; whether that be a ground topic or an instructing method. Even though an instructor’s hands aren’t on the flight controls at every moment, learning is happening. For brand new flight instructors embarking on a journey of teaching, there are some common areas that you can start working on now that will make you a better instructor, even for your first students.
SCFC invites former Chief Pilot Dan Dyer to talk about the advanced CFI training program they offer called “CFI Finishing School”. The one-week program was created in response to common deficiencies that SCFC often saw during the CFI hiring process. While the goal for most initial CFI training programs is the CFI checkride, in truth these programs are often rushed and designed to meet the baseline FAA standards for the certificate – 70% Knowledge Test score, and basic flight skill competency. Many flight instructors that complete a rushed program may only have been exposed to cursory explanations that don’t begin to prepare them for the depth they’ll need to respond to student questions. Additionally, many CFI programs are unstructured, leaving the content to be defined only as whatever the instructor was taught by their instructor, who was taught by their instructor, etc. down through the years. SCFC instructor applicants often spout disproven theories of lift, or rote answers to advanced concepts based only on a 1-line knowledge test answer. To teach, you must understand things at a deeper level.
In this presentation, Dan will outline the main areas of deficiencies that new CFIs tend to exhibit, and describe the course material that SCFC uses to educate a brand new CFI to full depth of knowledge and ability. If you’re a new CFI, or are looking for a way to fill gaps in your initial CFI training, we invite you to tune in to this presentation.

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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Castle Air Museum Open Cockpit Day
2022-10-08
October 8th is a special day at the Castle Air Museum – it’s Open Cockpit Day! Castle Air Museum has a wide variety of historic aircraft, and on two days per year, the museum allows visitors to visit the inside of normally off-limits aircraft! Let’s spend a Saturday viewing the insides of these magnificent aircraft, as well as the exteriors in the museum’s beautiful outdoor setting.
The museum is conveniently located next to Castle Airport, which as a former B-52 Air Force base, boasts one of the longest runways in California. The sole 11,800’ foot runway can be seen miles away and is a great place to practice your flare upon landing. It also boasts numerous instrument approaches should you wish to spend some extra time resetting your instrument currency before or after the museum visit. After landing, park at Gemini Flight Support (offering no ramp fees) and walk fifteen minutes to the museum.
At the museum, see aircraft such as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, SR-71 Blackbird, and the Convair RB-36H Peacemaker, which is the largest mass-produced piston aircraft. Another highlight is a chance to view the museum’s “Hidden Collection” of special exhibits. In addition to the static displays, the museum will open simulators and other fun activities for people of all ages. The museum also offers a food court for lunch along with food trucks.
The museum opens at 9 AM and closes at 4 PM, so feel free to arrive anytime within that window. The museum is fairly large, so plan to stay at least a few hours. It also is mostly outside, so please bring water and sunscreen. Afterward, grab fuel with the FBO, and enjoy a leisurely flight home.
This is always a popular FOG event, so please RSVP early and let us know if you are able to take passengers, in order to allow student pilots to participate. Looking forward to seeing you at Castle Air Museum this fall!
FOG is open to all pilots, even pilots not affiliated with the Flight Center. However, you must create a free account to register for FOG events, which you can do here. If you have any questions, please contact flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com for assistance.

Operating at Non-Towered Airports
2022-10-05 19:00 - 20:30
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 FAA provides guidance for operating at non-towered airports through a limited number of sources. A primary one is Advisory Circular (AC) 90-66B,Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations. Other sources include the AIM and several industry groups such as AOPA. While it may seem like anything goes at a non-towered airport, best practices should be followed.
In this safety seminar, we will review the recommended procedures and best practices while operating at non-towered airports. Including arrival, approach/departure, landing, and ground operations. We will review regulatory requirements, recommended operations, and communications procedures for operating at an airport without a control tower or an airport with a control tower that operates only part time. The presentation will also discuss traffic patterns, communications phraseology, and operational procedures for use by aircraft.
So if you are going to lunch at Watsonville, flying to Byron for fuel, doing crosswind landings at Tracy, heading to the Estrella Warbirds Museum at Paso Robles or for any other reason at any other non towered airport, this seminar will be of particular interest to you.

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 2021, 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Webinar
2022-10-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2022-09-02 08:00 - 17:00

Flying the Bay Tour
2022-10-01 12:00 - 13:30
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 in the San Francisco Bay area is spectacular, a real privilege for local pilots. The Pacific Ocean, a dramatic coastline, beautiful hills, and many famous landmarks. As pilots, we are afforded a rare bird’s eye view that we long to share with our friends and family.
So what exactly is a “Bay Tour”? What airspace is present along the Bay Tour, and what new implementations will require pilots to take into account? Join CFI David Agranovich to examine the airspace, explain the “Bay Tour” and how a pilot can accomplish one in the safest, simplest, most enjoyable manner.
In this seminar, we’ll review the various overlapping airspaces in the area, the territories for each local ATC facility, and the routings most commonly used by Flight Center pilots and suggested by ATC. You’ll learn what options are available to you even if SQL ATIS has the phrase “San Francisco is not taking surface area transitions.”
This is a thorough discussion of the regulations and procedures used in flying a San Francisco Bay Tour through Class B and C airspace. If you are new to the Bay area, want to imagine the different sights you’ll see, or just want to improve your understanding of local airspace customs and procedures, please join us for this popular seminar.

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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Destination Santa Barbara
2022-09-28 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Santa Barbara, the city by the sea. Whether you travel here for the classic California getaway or just to watch the perfect sunset, Santa Barbara will not disappoint. This highly accessible location is a short flight away from the San Francisco Bay, and nearby to the major metropolis of Los Angeles. Taking on new cross-country destinations such as Santa Barbara challenge us to expand our skills and adapt to different scenarios.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Commercial Pilot Brandan Dadoun to discuss his recent flights into Santa Barbara and share with us what pilots flying into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (KSBA) need to know. In this seminar, Brandan will summarize flight planning including special considerations for pilots operating in the vicinity of Santa Ynez mountains. He’ll help familiarize us with operations at a busy Class C airport with constantly changing weather patterns, and give tips on what to do after you land. Brandan’s demonstration will include the use of flight planning tools such as ForeFlight, SkyVector, and AviationWeather.Gov to ensure you have familiarized yourself with all aspects of your flight.
If you ever considered venturing to Santa Barbara, this will be an informative head start to your flight planning. We hope you can join us.

Brandan Dadoun is a commercial, multi-engine pilot and SCFC’s Seminar Coordinator. He has completed the majority of his flight training at SCFC with over 500 flight hours and has extensive flying experience throughout the West Coast in both piston and turbine-powered aircraft. 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

The Bay Area Pilots Guide to Travis AFB RAPCON
2022-09-24 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Travis Air Force Base’s Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) is a unique approach facility that many Bay Area Pilots get the opportunity to talk to. Either transitioning through to Sacramento, or when landing at Nut Tree in Vacaville, GA pilots will often communicate with Travis RAPCON for radar services and to better interact with the unusual flight activities in the Travis Alert Area A-682. From VFR aircraft to C17’s practicing approaches, Travis handles it all.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Technical Sergeant Gordon Lynch to discuss the Travis RAPCON and its ATC services. In this seminar they will cover how Travis accommodates basic service to VFR aircraft, and the benefits of receiving VFR flight following within their airspace. They will also explain some of the ways that Class E airspace relates to Travis AFB, and why it’s important to be talking to Travis RAPCON while operating in their airspace. Lastly, how pilots can be direct, clear, and concise on the radio while talking to ATC.
The presenters are also eager to take questions from the GA flying community. If you have ever wondered about the approach operations at Travis AFB, or if you want to learn more about their services and experiences; you won’t want to miss this seminar.

Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Thomas Gordon “PJ” Lynch has had a wealth of experience serving as an Air Traffic Controller across the world. He has served in both the terminal control and radar environments in Georgia, Turkey, Portugal, Qatar, and most recently at Travis Air Force Base in California as head of ATC Standards and Evaluations. He has always enjoyed educating pilots and controllers and improving the pilot-controller relationship.
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Derek “DK” Calmeyn is a Radar Approach Controller and Tower Watch Supervisor at Travis Air Force Base in California. He is excited to share his knowledge with the surrounding pilot community.

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

Ground School Refresher: Weather Services
2022-09-21 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

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 Chief Pilot Herb Patten investigates 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 2021, 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

G1000 Idiosyncrasies
2022-09-21 08:00 - 17:00
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 G1000 instrument panel for small aircraft has been certified as a class III EFB (no paper required in the cockpit) for years. Pilots trust the G1000 avionics as a reliable source to deliver information while in flight; but there are many intricacies that many pilots do not know about. Safety requires a full discussion of some specific choices Garmin made in system design, to prevent encountering something the pilot was preferred for.
San Carlos Flight Center invites King Air Captain and check airman Ben Taber to discuss the idiosyncrasies related to the G1000 avionics. In this seminar, Taber will highlight things that pilots should be aware of while operating planes equipped with these avionics. The G1000 often has airspace lines that aren’t depicted on the MFD, flight plan entry restrictions, invalid weather depictions, no radio altimeters, and countless other complications while operating under IFR.
Join us as you learn about these new things that might’ve never appeared to you while flying this aircraft.

Capt. Bennett Taber is a check airman and training captain with over 35 years and 18,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

FOG Lunch: Monterey
2022-09-18 12:00 - 14:00
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 18th, 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 before or after lunch with a variety of approaches into nearby airports like Marina or Salinas.
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!

The Devil in the Details of Practical Tests – Insights from a DPE
2022-09-17 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Checkrides can be intimidating. Leading up to a checkride, applicants always hear about the stories of failure. Often applicants get too caught up in the failures of others, what they did wrong, and how the examiner “wanted” them to fail. This leads many to prepare themselves specifically for one examiner, meanwhile overlooking the details of the ACS standards and the habits that could ultimately make them a better pilot.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), Scott Rohlfing, to share with applicants how a detailed approach to flying can set them apart from the rest of the applicants. DPEs do not just evaluate an applicant on their ability to perform within ACS skill standards, but the way they behave in practice, the risks they take, and their overall aeronautical decision making. In this seminar, learn how to develop good flying practices through the attention to detail. The Airmen Certification Standards refers to many of the following details as evaluation criteria including, the proper and consistent use of checklists throughout every phase of flight, the positive exchange of flight controls, real time weather briefings, the usage and familiarization of all installed equipment in the aircraft, and much more. Learn to be aware of the way you operate and the bad habits you’ve already developed as a fledgling pilot. These details, individually may not fail you on a check ride, but collectively they will end in a notice of disapproval or worst case, an NTSB investigation or Pilot Deviation. Make it your mission to become a detail-oriented, safe and competent pilot.
Join us for this unique opportunity to hear from a DPE on how you can improve the way you fly, and feel confident about your next practical test.

Scott Rohlfing is a DPE in the San Jose FSDO District and has conducted almost 1,000 practical tests. As a Gold Seal Flight Instructor he has given more than 6500 hours of dual instruction to CFIs and pilots of every level. When not evaluating airmen or providing training, Scott has been a corporate pilot for 17 years and an active political advocate against the closure of Reid Hillview Airport.

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

Lessons Learned from the Airlines
2022-09-14 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Earning a pilot certificate means getting a ticket to learn. But how do you learn without making mistakes? Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment. More advanced ratings provide exposure to challenging situations. In particular, pilots transitioning to the airlines train to deal with challenging scenarios and to work with others to safely make the right decisions.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Airline Captain Jessica Reinschmidt to share lessons learned from the airlines. In this seminar, Jessica will discuss how her complex training prepared her to perform under pressure, effectively work with others, and practice proper resource management both inside and outside of the flightdeck. Learn from real life examples recognizing hazardous scenarios, how to handle them, and knowing which resources to use.
We encourage everyone to join us for this unique opportunity to learn from an experienced aviation professional, ask questions, and improve your skills.

Jessica Reinschmidt is an Airbus Captain at Alaska Airlines, by way of Virgin America. Her path to the flight deck has not been a straight shot. Instead, she followed an indirect path to follow her dream. After being told in High School that she could never be an airline pilot, she pursued a degree in Meteorology, but found that her guidance counselor was wrong. She transferred to the University of Illinois’ Combined Flight/Maintenance Program. She has experience being a Line Fueler, Gate Agent, Ramp Agent, Customer Service Supervisor, and long time CFI before landing her first airline job with Mesa Airlines in 2005. She grew up in suburban Chicago, where she continues to live with her husband (a Spirit Pilot), and her two sons.

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

Full Moon Flyers: Nut Tree
2022-09-10 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 Saturday, September 10th 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 below, and please indicate if you can take passengers to allow student pilots and other aviation community members to participate. Hope to see you there!

How a Seaplane Rating Will Save Your Life
2022-09-10 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Have you ever thought about how having a Seaplane rating will enhance your knowledge of how to handle emergencies? Most pilots have never had to think about landing in the water, until the unexpected happens. Which way will you land? Gear up, down, or does it matter? Open the doors before you land? How can you practice an emergency water landing?
San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI Shane Terpstra to discuss how a Seaplane rating can be a useful rating for pilots. Most of us spend a lot of time looking down as the ground goes by thinking about the best place to put our airplanes in the event of an emergency. Living in an area where water surrounds us, the possibility of having to ditch becomes even more prevalent. With a Seaplane rating, pilots can feel more at ease about safely evaluating the landing site, and ditching in the water. In this seminar, Shane will discuss how Seaplane pilots can understand the water below, and carefully handle all the risks.
Join us for this unique opportunity to explore the benefit of adding a seaplane rating to your certificate.

Shane Terpstra is an Airline Transport Pilot, Certificated Flight Instructor (Single & Multi-Engine Land and Single-Engine Sea) with Instrument Privileges, an FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor and a NAFI Master Instructor. After pursuing a career in Information Technology, Shane stayed true to his passion for aviation by continuously flying or advancing his ratings over the past 30 years. Shane has over a decade of experience as a flight instructor and is currently the Director of Safety and Chief Pilot for the largest flight club in the world. Shane is a passionate aviation enthusiast, FAA FAASTeam Lead Representative, NTSB-trained Accident Investigator, and former airline Captain. He is also a former Civil Air Patrol Incident Commander and SAR Pilot with over 20 years of experience.

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

Colorado Trip Recap
2022-09-07 19:00 - 20:30
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 Colorado mountains are filled with countless picturesque sights and landmarks, and the Bay Area Fly Out Group (FOG) recently experienced that on an amazing flying trip throughout the rocky mountains. Colorado brings pilots some of the most challenging terrains to fly around, and toughest airports to land at; and during this seminar you’ll learn from our pilots first hand experience of how to navigate this process.
San Carlos Flight Center invites private pilots Daivde Semerzin and John Hendricks to discuss some of the highlights from the trip which include mountain flying operations, high density altitude awareness, positive aircraft control, 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.

Planning a Flight with ForeFlight
2022-09-03 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

ForeFlight is a useful tool for many pilots as it provides a number of tools a pilot might need to plan a flight, obtain a weather briefing, and track their flight in real time. Living in a digital age, pilots should learn to use tools like this to enhance their overall flight planning process.
San Carlos Flight Center invites commercial pilot Travis Bender to provide a walk-through of how they use ForeFlight to plan a cross-country flight. In this seminar, they will investigate what it takes to accurately plot checkpoints, calculate performance values, and ensure that you as the pilot are familiar with “all available information concerning a flight.” The presenters will start the session with a sample flight mission so that viewers/attendees can follow along in real-time using ForeFlight on their own device.
ForeFlight offers a wealth of features that can sometimes be overwhelming. We hope you will join us for this seminar to see a practical aspect of this app towards real-world flight planning.

Travis Bender is a commercial pilot who learned to fly at the Flight Center. He is actively working on his CFI rating and leads the Marketing and Events team at SCFC. When he’s not at the airport, Travis currently works in a strategic finance role at a major Silicon Valley company.

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

The Green Book - What’s New in the Chart Supplement
2022-08-31 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Pilots sometimes refer to the FAA Aeronautical Chart Supplement as the “Green Book” due to the color of the printed book. This reference is rich with details about airports, and is re-issued every 8 weeks, making it one of the most repurchased components of a complete flight deck. With the advent of digital flight tools and digital publishing, many pilots now access this trove of data via computer tables and in-flight cockpit displays, but the value is still there. There may be even more content than you are familiar with, as a result of recent FAA changes and improvements to the Chart Supplement.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Herb Patten, Chief Pilot to give a guided tour of the amazing details found in the Chart Supplement. What has changed? Hot Spots! What is new? Arrival Alert Notices! What is no longer published? Aeronautical chart updates. This seminar will provide you with a refresh of the content as well as helping you to find this content if you use ForeFlight.
The Chart Supplement is full of lots of features to aid in your flight planning. Join us to get reacquainted with us to be better prepared on your next flight.

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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Preventive Maintenance at a 50-Hour Service
2022-08-27 12:00 - 13:30
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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Upwind Year End Event
2022-08-26 18:30 - 20:30
Summer of Upwind has ended, Checkride dates are set, and we are ready to celebrate another successful year of the Upwind Scholarship Program!
Please join us to congratulate both the Upwind Class of 2022 on everything they have achieved. We will be hosting their families and friends outside in our half-hangar, so come on out and raise a glass to the next generation of pilots!

We ask that you RSVP no later than Wednesday, August 24, so we can accurately supply enough food and beverage for the event.

How I Prepared for My Private Pilot Checkride
2022-08-24 19:00 - 20:30
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 most pilots, the first checkride is the most intimidating one. It can be a nerve-wracking experience decoding the ACS and sitting through the glare of the designated pilot examiner. Have you prepared, studied, and reviewed what’s required of you on checkride? Are you ready to fly on your own? And can you be the safe, competent pilot that we all aim to be?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Private Pilot Obed Han to share his journey in becoming a Private Pilot. Obed will provide an overview of the training, how he prepared, some pitfalls to avoid, and how he and his instructor worked together to ensure that he was ready for the practical test. How they provided him with the required aeronautical knowledge, trained him to model proper risk management while developing full aircraft control and flight proficiency. It’s crucial that each pilot recognizes these areas as they develop themselves as a pilot.
Join us to hear more about the checkride experience, how to prepare, and have an insight into the first step of becoming a certificated pilot.

Obed Han is a Private Pilot and received his training at San Carlos Flight Center. Obed became interested in aviation after taking a Young Eagles flight in 2018. As a result he earned the James Ray Scholarship which provided him funding for his flight training. He is also involved within numerous aviation programs, including co-founding the local EAA Chapter’s Young Aviators program, participating in the RV-12 build, and volunteering as a mentor for VATSIM, virtually controlling airplanes across the Bay Area and training other ATC candidates.

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

FOG Lunch: Watsonville
2022-08-20 12:00 - 14:00
Come join the FlyOutGroup (FOG) on Saturday, August 20th, with a scenic flight to Watsonville (WVI)! An easy location to get to from the Bay Area, enjoy a scenic hop over the Santa Cruz Mountains, and then descend over Monterey Bay. Park in Transient Parking, and we’ll all meet at Zameen’s at the Hanger for lunch.
Zameen’s is located across the street from the aircraft terminal. A new restaurant for FOG, this Mediterranean establishment is known for its gyro wraps and salad bowls. You can place your order inside, and the group will most likely be seated in the patio area. Zameen’s has received a lot of positive feedback, so bring your appetite and beat the summer heat with a refreshing lunch!
We’re excited about the event, and look forward to seeing you in Watsonville! Please RSVP below.
FOG is open to all pilots, even pilots not affiliated with the Flight Center. However, you must create a free account to register for FOG events, which you can do here. If you have any questions, please contact flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com for assistance.

How Flight Sim Training Improved my Radio as a Pilot
2022-08-20 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing

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 Brandan Dadoun 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, Brandan 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 Brandan 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.

Brandan Dadoun is a commercial, multi-engine pilot and SCFC’s Seminar Coordinator. He has completed the majority of his flight training at SCFC with over 500 flight hours and has extensive flying experience throughout California in both piston and turbine-powered aircraft. In 2021, Brandan was recognized 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

You’re Not the Only Pilot in the Sky
2022-08-17 19:00 - 20:30
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 18,000 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.

Truckee Airport Operations
2022-08-13 12:00 - 13:30
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 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 2022 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive.
