Understanding BasicMed
2023-03-08 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
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BasicMed is an alternate way for pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate as long as they meet certain requirements. Just take the right FAA Form 8700-2 and the BasicMed Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) to your state-licensed physician for the exam. This can take the place of the Class 3 medical exam that was required to be done by an Aviation Medical Examiner.
San Carlos Flight Center invites FAA Basic Med Program Manager, Bradley Zeigler to dive into the details of the BasicMed program. BasicMed is an intuitive and great alternative to the traditional medical certification program and in this seminar learn about the regulations, limitations, and scenarios in which BasicMed can serve as a great resource for pilots.
If you use the regular Aviation Medical Exam process, you still may want to view this seminar to see what your alternatives are in the future. If you are planning on using the new BasicMed process, tune in to find out how to get started.

Brad Zeigler has logged more than 20 years in the aviation safety industry and 30 years as a pilot. Celebrating his 15th year at the FAA, he is currently with the Flight Standards General Aviation and Commercial Division, focusing on issues related to airmen certification policy and regulations. In addition to serving as the program manager for BasicMed, he is crafting the next generation of rules pertaining to new aircraft entrants such as powered-lift and drones. Brad holds Airline Transport Pilot, Remote Pilot and Flight Instructor Certificates. He is an active general aviation pilot and bases his Cessna 182 in the Washington DC 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 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Ground School Refresher: Aircraft Engines and Systems
2023-03-11 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
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You may also be interested in our wealth of Ground School Refreshers that are available to members in our Members Only Seminar Library. For an example, click the link here.

Are you a master of the systems in your aircraft? Do you understand the fine differences between the ignition system vs. the electrical system? When was the last time you refreshed your knowledge of engine principles or the induction system? If it has been a while or you just need a refresher, this is the place to be.
San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI Jack O’Leary to talk about aircraft engines and the other systems used on most small general aviation aircraft. In this seminar, learn the science behind combustion and understand the ignition systems, magnetos, carburetors, constant speed propellers, and associated common failures that all pilots need to know. A competent pilot starts with a full understanding of their aircraft. In this seminar, Jack will give you the foundation you need.
Join us for this seminar to further your understanding of piston engines and common systems onboard single-engine piston aircraft.

Jack O’Leary is a CFI at San Carlos Flight Center. Born and raised in Minnesota, he moved to California to follow his dreams of becoming a pilot. Jack’s interest in flying came from hearing his grandfather’s aviation stories and flying in a seaplane around Minnesota. He progressed through his ratings to eventually become a full-time flight instructor, and he couldn’t be happier. Outside of flying, Jack graduated into the world of tech, and enjoys the outdoors, whether that being out on the water or hiking with his wife and dog.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Transitioning to a Jet
2023-03-15 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a professional pilot? View more seminars like this available on our Members Only Seminar Library by clicking here.

The jump from 120 to 500 knots is not a simple transition. With this speed comes the need for heightened situational awareness and aeronautical decision-making. Adapting to this new fast-paced environment is difficult, yet reveals practices that all pilots should incorporate.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Charter Pilot Bennett Ashley to talk about his experience transitioning to the Learjet 60. In this seminar, Bennett will share lessons learned from his past year flying the Learjet and how he has incorporated these practices into his daily flying. During his formalized training, he was held accountable for proper aircraft management at higher speeds and altitudes. After receiving his type rating, he realized the importance of knowing your aircraft systems, emergency procedures, and performance to better understand and handle any aircraft.
We encourage any pilot who wants to better understand their aircraft and incorporate professional pilot practices into their flying to attend this seminar.

Bennett Ashley is a Commercial Multi-Engine Pilot and a Learjet 60 SIC. He has had the privilege of completing his flight training in the San Francisco Bay Area and now flies for a large charter company based in Van Nuys, California.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Upwind Wine and Cheese Party and Silent Auction
2023-03-17 18:30 - 20:30
It’s that time of year again!
The Upwind Foundation and SCFC invite you to a fundraising Wine and Cheese Soiree on Friday, March 17th at 6:30 pm. All are welcome!
We will celebrate the summer of fundraising, complete our silent auction, and as a special treat, we will meet the winners of the 2023 Upwind Scholarship. Join us to celebrate with the winners and their families.
Please RSVP below so we can get a headcount for food and drinks.
Online bidding for items in the silent auction is open now!

IFR Low Enroute Charts
2023-03-18 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
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Interested in learning more about operating under IFR? Search dozens of IFR-related safety seminars available to view in our Members Only Seminar Library. For an example click here.

Most IFR pilots probably have a general understanding of IFR charts, including Victor airways, MEAs, etc., but when was the last time you really looked closely at all the information available on an IFR Low Enroute Chart. Do you recall how to decipher MRAs? Can you identify the different types of fixes along an airway? It’s always a good idea to stop and refresh these important ground knowledge items.
SCFC Chief Pilot Herb Patten is back with a safety seminar to give depth and meaning to this important IFR resource. He will demystify the numbers and markings on the FAA’s IFR Low Enroute Charts and help pilots develop a better understanding of the details on these charts. Herb will explain waypoint and navigational aid symbology, and describe the various altitudes shown on the charts.
This is a valuable safety seminar for new IFR Students and a great refresher for pilots who are already instrument rated. Don’t miss out on this chart refresher so you won’t miss anything when planning your next IFR 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 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 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

FOG Lunch: Willows
2023-03-19 12:00 - 13:30
Want delicious food and some cross-country time? Join FOG on March 19 as we head north to Willows (WLW), where we’ll break for lunch at Nancy’s Airport Cafe.
Willows can be found in the northwest side of the Central Valley, and is located between Nut Tree and Redding. Flying in the Spring time will hopefully present a green and colorful landscape, as many of the surrounding hills will be various shades of green from the winter rains. On a clear day, you may even be able to get a glimpse of the towering Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen on the descent!
Nancy’s Airport Cafe is a small airport diner, but is known for its all-day breakfast, American fare, and best of all, their pies! Make sure to grab a slice before heading home, as they’re known for keeping pilots coming back for more. To access the restaurant, please park on the ramp alongside the hangers and self-serve fuel depot, and walk through the gate.
As always, if you’re interested in attending, please let us know by signing up below.

Emergency Signaling: ELT’s and PLB’s
2023-03-22 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
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Interested in learning more about survival in your aircraft? Search for our survival series of Safety Seminars such as “First Aid for Pilots” available to members on our Members Only Seminar Library available by clicking here.

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are becoming cheaper and more reliable. Why would a pilot need a PLB if they already have an onboard ELT? How would a PLB help a pilot in an emergency? What is a PLB anyway?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Chief Pilot Herb Patten to explain the critical differences between PLBs and ELTs. In this seminar, he will review the history of the emergence of regulations on ELTs, review accident data that highlights the problems and challenges of the original ELT design, describe the enhancements offered in the new 406-MHz ELT and how they function and provide an update on the proposed regulations for ELT requirements.
Most pilots are aware of the onboard Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) in their personal or rented airplanes. Most know that the older models transmitted a distress signal on 121.5-MHz in the event of a hard landing. But how many know what frequency the new models transmit on? How does an ELT differ from a PLB? Do you know the differences in who receives your distress signal and how quickly?
Don’t miss this seminar if you want to be prepared in post-emergency landing situations, and how you can increase your chances of surviving through the use of ELT’s and PLB’s.

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 thought 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 the Cessna 206
2023-03-25 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

You may also be interested in our “Transition to” series which highlights pilots’ transition to many different makes/models. These seminars are available to view in our Members Only Seminar Library which can be accessed by clicking here.

The Cessna 206 is a six seat, high-performance airplane. It is known as the Stationair and has a variety of mission profiles. With more payload, seating capacity and speed than a Cessna 182, the Stationair provides the capabilities for pilots that have outgrown the 182. In addition to the constant speed propeller the 206 also comes equipped with a turbocharged engine which is an additional complexity for the pilot stepping up from a Cessna 182.
San Carlos Flight Center is pleased to introduce a Cessna 206 to the fleet. This seminar provides the foundational knowledge necessary to understand the engine components, oxygen system, instrumentation, and operating procedures. San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI Herb Patten as he reviews the systems of this aircraft and why it has earned its reputation as the airborne family hauler. This seminar is a fundamental part of the ground training required of pilots planning to get checked out and fly this aircraft at the San Carlos Flight Center.
Pilots transitioning to new aircraft must be familiar with its operating characteristics and limitations. Join us to develop a routine of how to analyze new aircraft and fly with confidence.

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.

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Imagination Set Free: The Story of Stanley Hiller, Jr.
2023-03-29 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
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This seminar does not qualify for WINGS Credit.
Interested in learning more about aviation topics? Check out our Members Only Seminar Library available for Web Members, available by clicking here.

Did you know that one of the nation’s premier helicopter inventors and manufacturers, the Hiller Helicopter Company, originated in the Bay Area? Stanley Hiller Jr. was a successful young entrepreneur who designed a series of early helicopters on the SF peninsula, in an area very near to the location of the current San Carlos Airport.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Hiller Aviation Museum President and CEO, Jeff Bass to share the story of Stanley Hiller, Jr. In this seminar, learn more about the little known story of this Bay Area aviation legend and how his efforts empowered the growth of the aviation industry. Along the way, Jeff will describe the interesting Hiller aircraft which form part of the Hiller Aviation Museum’s 50+ collection of airplanes and helicopters.
Join us to hear about this local Bay Area aviator and a piece of the unique aviation history of San Carlos.

Jeffery Bass is a private pilot and President and CEO of Hiller Aviation Museum, one of the Bay Area’s premiere aviation destinations, founded in 1998 by helicopter pioneer Stanley Hiller, Jr.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Los Angeles Airspace and Destination San Bernadino
2023-04-01 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
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Interested in learning more about unique destinations for pilots to travel to? Check out our “Destination” series of seminars available to members in our online Seminar Library, for an example click here.

Southern California has an extensive and dense airspace system. The airspace, along with its many transition routes, can prove to be a true challenge for pilots new to the area. Be prepared and know what to expect in one of the most unique airspaces in the US.
San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI Ryan Sartor who travels extensively to the Los Angeles area, to cover safe and correct ways to transition LA airspace. In this seminar he will discuss VFR corridors, transition routes, and provide a refresher on airspace regulations. Additionally, he will cover what every pilot needs to know flying in and out of the San Bernadino Airport (KSBD) including departure, arrival, and local procedures in preparation for the multi-day FlyOutGroup trip to KSBD for a SoCal Airshow.
If you are planning on flying within the LA Basin anytime soon or plan to attend this multi-day trip, do not miss out on this seminar.

Ryan Sartor is a SCFC CFI. After navigating the San Diego and Los Angeles airspace for over three years, he decided it was time to challenge himself and move to the San Francisco Bay Area where he is settling in well. With about 800 hours of dual instruction time given, Ryan is continuously striving to grow as a pilot, instructor, and a mentor for his students.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Ground School Refresher: VFR Charts
2023-04-05 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Interested in learning more about ground-school-related topics? Check out our Ground School Refresher series which covers a wide variety of different topics available in our Members Only Seminar Library. For an example, click here.

VFR charts pack an extraordinary amount of material and represent a 3-dimensional world of terrain and airspaces in 2 dimensions. With such a wealth of information, do you really know how to read them? For example, do you know how to identify where certain VFR reporting waypoints are on a chart? Or can you determine if the airport you are landing at has an operating beacon, pilot controlled lighting, or lighting at all?
San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI Edward Abraham to give pilots a refresher on VFR charts. He will entertain you while educating you about common as well as uncommon VFR charts symbology. In this seminar expect a thorough investigation of these charts, the related symbology, and interesting facts that you could use to impress your friends. Throughout the presentation, Edward will provide many real-life examples and allow the audience to follow-along looking at charts on their own.
While you may know the basics, there is always something new or some little nuance that we didn’t realize. All pilots can benefit from a refresher on VFR charts, so join us to refresh your memory and learn more.

Edward Abraham is a CFI at San Carlos Flight Center. A Bay Area native and aviation enthusiast, his passion took flight after graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in business management and a minor in aviation. After graduating, he worked as a Customer Service Supervisor for United Airlines while simultaneously building hours and working towards his advanced ratings at the San Carlos Airport. Edward is excited to be a flight instructor for the San Carlos Flight Center and looks forward to teaching the next generation of pilots.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Full Moon Flyers: Ukiah
2023-04-07 19:00 - 21:00
Take a scenic flight up north with FOG to try out a new destination and restaurant! El Molcajete is a Mexican restaurant right across the street from Ukiah Airport’s transient parking. On April 7th , let’s fly out to Ukiah (UKI) and meet at the restaurant for dinner.
Plan to meet at El Molcajete at 7:00 PM. El Molcajete is a local favorite, and has a lot of praise as one of the best Mexican eateries in the area. The enchiladas and burritos are popular items, but be aware that the portions are often large, so plan on taking some leftovers on the return trip!
Ukiah Airport is a non-towered airport with a long runway about an hour’s flight north from San Francisco. We’ll park at transient parking, where you can also find a fuel-pump with self-serve 100LL. To get to Ukiah, you can follow Highway 101 from Marin, or take a slightly longer but scenic route along the coastline, and then going direct to the nearby Mendocino VOR. For instrument pilots and students, the airport also has three different types of approaches that you can use.
Like other FOG events, please RSVP below so we can get a proper headcount, and we hope to see you at the event!

Enroute Radio Communications
2023-04-08 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing
Interested in learning more about Radio Communications? This is part two of our four-part Radio Communication Series, available to watch for members in our Members Only Seminar Library by clicking here.

Flying through in the many airspaces of California 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 CFI Dan Dyer to show how to perfect your communication and phraseology. They will cover radio phraseology from the basics through advanced ATC services with emphasis on flight following and flight service stations. This seminar will include many examples on how to recognize bad radio calls, and how to fix them. Learn how to make radio communication easier and safer for all pilots.
If you are interested in becoming better at your radio, you don’t want to miss this seminar.

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
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 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

A Comprehensive Look into the 100hr Inspection
2023-04-12 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Interested in learning more from a mechanics perspective? Watch our growing library of mechanically orientated presentations such as Pre-Flight Tips from a Mechanic, What is a 50hr Inspection? and Preventative Maintenance. All of these seminars are available to view in our Members Only Seminar Library available by clicking here.

Many airplanes get inspected every 100 hours, but do you know what the 100-hour inspection entails? Do you know what issues are commonly found during 100 hour inspections? Or do you know what the mechanics are inspecting or looking for throughout this process? If not, you will want to attend this seminar.
San Carlos Flight Center invites A&P Charles Rudolf to give an overview of what problems are typically found during the 100 hour and how to spread more awareness to pilots. In this seminar he will detail the tasks that are performed in a typical 100-hour inspection, provide an overview of how to handle discrepancies, and highlight the common issues that are associated with 100hr inspections. Charles will also relay how pilots can commonly cause wear and tear risking the potential for even further damage on the aircraft.
By using real-life examples and pictures, pilots can be more aware of the most frequent issues present during inspections.

Charles Rudolf is an A&P Mechanic at SCFC. Charles has been an active A&P for over 2 years and enjoys working on general aviation aircraft. He enjoys teaching others and is looking forward to speaking with the greater 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 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Santa Maria Wine Tasting
2023-04-14 - 2023-04-16
A FOG Favorite! Come enjoy a relaxing visit to the Santa Maria Wine Country. We love this trip for lots of reasons – the flight is beautiful no matter which route you choose, we enjoy great wines and great food together, and where else can you request to taxi your airplane directly to the hotel?
On Friday night, celebrate your arrival with live music and munchies at the Friday Night Wine Down at Costa de Oro winery, followed by a group dinner at Cool Hand Luke’s, famous for their BBQ.
Saturday morning, we meet as a group in the lobby, board our private chartered bus, and head out for a great day of wine tasting. Lunch will be waiting for us at one of the wineries.
On Sunday, the FOG coordinator has arranged a visit to California’s newest airport, New Cuyama! This airport reopened in the last few months, and is located close to the Cuyama Buckhorn, a great lunch spot. Grab a bite to eat with the group before bidding goodbye to Central California.
If you have any questions, contact us at (650) 946-1700 or flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com.
Itinerary
Friday, April 14*
– 1:00-4:00pm – Fly to Santa Maria Public Airport (KSMX)
– 4:00pm – Arrive at airport and check into Radisson Hotel
– 5:30pm – Rideshare bound for Costa de Oro winery
– 6:00pm – Wine tasting at Costa de Oro winery
– 7:00pm – Group dinner at Cool Hand Luke’s
Saturday, April 15
– AM – Breakfast at your leisure
– 10:50 AM – Meet in the lobby, load into charter bus bound for wine tasting
– 11:30 – 4 PM – Wine Tasting!

Riverbench Winery
Ranch Sisquoc Winery
Foxen Vineyard & Winery

– 4:00pm – Return to Santa Maria
– 5:30pm – Dinner at your leisure
Sunday, April 16
– Depart at leisure
– 12 PM – Lunch at New Cuyama
*Can’t make the Friday night event, or just prefer a one-night trip? Feel free to join us on Saturday morning for the winery tour!
Cost
The event fee is $170, covering transportation, lunch on Saturday, and administrative costs. Tasting fees and optional add-ons may cost extra depending on the winery and if you decide to purchase wine to take home. Please call the SCFC Front Desk at (650) 946-1700 to pay the event fee.
Hotel and all meals except for lunch on Saturday will not be included.
Hotel Information
Radisson Hotel Santa Maria, on the field at KSMX
3455 Airpark Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 928-8000
Make your reservation here
Registration:
This is a very popular and highly anticipated event. Please register and book your plane early. Sign-ups are limited to the first 14 people.

Risky Weather
2023-04-15 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing
Interested in learning more about decision-making and risk management? Watch a similar seminar, “VFR into IMC: Trapped by the Weather or Trapped by Ourselves?” available to view to Web Members on our Seminar Library. Click here to watch.

Risk is present everywhere. Managing risk is a topic deeply ingrained into our aviation safety culture. Pilots are responsible for identifying risks associated with each flight and take appropriate action to avoid them. While this process may sound easy, it can be a real challenge in the constantly changing environment we operate in.
San Carlos Flight Center invites ATP and CFI Preston Harrison to share more on understanding key elements of risk mitigation both before and in-flight. While some hazards are easy to identify, others can be more challenging to pinpoint. In this seminar, he will share his experience dealing with an inadvertent icing encounter and the unpredictability of weather. Even with thorough briefings and risk assessment, he was missing the greater picture. Join us to unravel what common risk assesment tools do not tell you. Sometimes, when there is a doubt, the best thing to do is cancel the flight.
By anticipating and making sensible decisions about risk, pilots can prevent dangerous situations and fly safely. Join us to hear about this unique situation and make better decisions about your flying.

Preston Harrison is the current Multi Engine Flight Standards Instructor at ATP Flight School located at Ellington Field (KEFD) in Houston, TX. He is a Gold Seal CFI, CFII and MEI as well as a FAA Instrument Ground Instructor. In 2023, he was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by AOPA. Preston’s aviation career began in Lake Charles, LA where he earned his Private Rating in 2013. He continued his training in Austin, TX in 2020, where he earned all his additional pilot and flight instructor ratings. He has since instructed at multiple airports all over Texas and now spends most of his time doing advanced multi engine training such as complex endorsements, commercial and private add-on’s, CFII and MEI training out of his home airport in Houston.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

IFR and G1000
2023-04-19 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Interested in learning more about instrument flight? Check out our Members Only Seminar Library for many IFR-related seminars such as instrument currency, approach plates, departure procedures, and other complex IFR subjects. Click here to watch.

The G1000 offers a plethora of features that are used by both VFR and IFR pilots. All pilots should have a basic level of competence in operation of their G1000 equipped airplane, but it is even more relevant for IFR pilots because of the intricacies of the G1000 and the impacts of failures under IFR.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Brian Eliot, Assistant Chief Pilot, to discuss the most efficient use of the interface. This will improve pilot awareness of the various G1000 modes and understanding of incipient system failures. During this seminar Brian will cover the fundamentals of IFR flight using the G1000 interface, explain how to efficiently use the G1000 for instrument flight, and how to handle failures.
Join us if you are an aspiring IFR pilot and want to know how the G1000 will be a useful aid in your training, or if you are a seasoned IFR pilot looking for a refresher on the G1000 interface.

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

SoCal Airshow and Victorville Airport Tour
2023-04-21 - 2023-04-23
Update 4/20: The event is full! Registrations are closed.
Join the FlyOutGroup on April 21-23 for a very special event! For the first 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 and F-18, and numerous military aircraft on static displays. You’ll also have a chance to visit a local airline boneyard and get up-close with jumbo jets like the 747 and 757.
Before the airshow, FOG pilots will be able to fly into San Bernardino Airport (SBD) on Friday, April 21st, where we’ll spend the night in a hotel located nearby. The next day, we’ll spend all day at the airshow, where you can explore the exhibits, tour the flight line, and be amazed by the airshow in the skies above. The airshow does not require tickets to attend, and is open to the public.
On Sunday, April 23rd, FOG pilots may also have the optional opportunity to stop at Victorville Airport (VCV) on the return flight home. Victorville Airport is offering FOG pilots an exclusive tour of the aircraft storage and airliner maintenance facilities on the field. Not open to the public, this rare tour is being granted only to pilots attending this trip.
Itinerary
Friday, April 21

Fly to San Bernardino (SBD) – arrive by 6:00 PM
Transfer to your hotel – board vans no later than 6:15 PM
Group dinner – 7:30 PM at Riverside Food Lab

Saturday, April 22

All day visit to March Air Reserve Base for SoCal Airshow
Dinner at your own leisure

Sunday, April 23

8:30 am – board vans bound for San Bernardino
9:15 am – Depart for Victorville (VCV)
10:00 AM – Arrive at VCV for boneyard tour
12:00 PM – Depart at your leisure

Hotel
FOG is staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites Moreno Valley. You can make your reservation at this page.
Cost
$150 per person (not per plane) includes ground van transportation, administrative costs, and trip supplies. Transportation to/from San Bernardino and Victorville airports, Hotel, and meals will not be included. The event fee is non-refundable.

Registration
This is a very popular event. The event does have a maximum capacity of 30 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.

In-Person Workshop – Under the Cowling: A Look at a Cessna 172 Engine
2023-04-22 12:00 - 13:30
This is a non-live-streamed, in-person workshop at San Carlos Flight Center. Registration is required. To register, create a free flight center account by clicking here, return back to this page, scroll down and click “sign up”. We welcome anyone to attend this unique look into an aircraft.

As a pilot you learn about airplane engines and systems from the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. That information is supplemented by details from your specific Airplane Flight Manual. So what more do you need to know? You crank the starter and everything works. But how does it work and how do the various systems such as the fuel, induction, and ignition work together to keep the engine flying? Ever wonder how the fuel flows from the tank to the cylinders? Or what happens when the air intake filter becomes blocked? Or what are the purposes of those tubes coming out of the bottom of the engine?
Are you ready to take your airplane systems knowledge to the next step? San Carlos Flight Center invites A&P Charles Rudolf for a unique perspective on airplane engines and systems. In this in-person seminar, you will learn the details of the fuel, ignition, induction and more.
This in-person seminar will be conducted using a Cessna 172 with the engine cowling removed so you can get an up-close appreciation of the components of a typical, small single engine airplane. Space is limited so don’t delay in signing up for this unique experience. You will walk away with a new depth of knowledge that most pilots don’t have.

Charles Rudolf is an A&P Mechanic at SCFC. Charles has been an active A&P for over 2 years and enjoys working on general aviation aircraft. He enjoys teaching others and is looking forward to speaking with the greater 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 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Navigating Brain Biases and Mastering Decision-Making
2023-04-26 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Interested in learning more about the potential hazards different flight conditions have on our decision-making? Check out a related seminar covering the effects of High Altitude Flight on decision-making. This seminar is available to view for Members in our Seminar Library by clicking here.

Flying involves making a continuous series of decisions. Human decision making has a number of known pitfalls and error laden tendencies that can be a hazard in flight. As pilots, we can improve our decision-making by understanding the brain’s decision-making process and recognizing biases that may affect our choices.
San Carlos Flight Center invites ATP and CFI Gerry Binnema to cover a basic model of decision making, and discuss the six brain biases that can lead us to make risky decisions. In this seminar, learn a new approach to decision-making by understanding our brains behavior and its influence both in and out of the flight deck. By recognizing these biases and utilizing a new approach to decision-making, pilots can effectively manage risk and avoid dangerous situations.
We encourage all pilots to tune into this seminar to gain valuable insights into the workings of the brain and its surprising relationship to our everyday flying.

Gerry Binnema is an ATP and CFI, a former aircraft accident investigator, safety officer, and aviation safety consultant with a passion to help people fly safe.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Reflections on the Pilot in Command Role in General Aviation
2023-04-29 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Interested in learning more about regulations surroundings pilots? Check out similar seminars available to view in our Members Only Seminar Library by clicking here.

Most pilots first hear the term “Pilot in Command” (PIC) during flight training. You may have learned the textbook definition, but do you really understand how to act as PIC? It comes with a great deal of responsibility. Do you know how to handle difficult situations where it requires you to assert your authority as PIC?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Captain Brian Schiff, an experienced ATP and CFI to provide valuable insights into the responsibilities of being a PIC. With years of experience flying as a Captain in professional flying environments, he’s developed a better understanding of what a true PIC should embody. In this seminar he will discuss the regulations that govern PIC authority, the importance of aeronautical decision making, and setting a good example for others. Being a PIC is a significant responsibility that requires both technical knowledge and good judgment. Brian’s experiences will shed light on the many aspects of this role and help pilots better understand their responsibilities when flying general aviation aircraft.
Join us for this unique opportunity to learn more about the responsibilities of a PIC and incorporate these practices into your daily flying.

Captain Brian Schiff is an ATP and CFI. Schiff is a highly-experienced pilot who is type-rated on a variety of aircraft, including Airbus A320, Boeing 727, 757, 767, DC-9 (MD-80), CL-65, LR-JET, and G-V. He has a strong background in general aviation and holds several flight instructor ratings, as well as being a former FAA Pilot Examiner. Schiff is an accomplished educator, known for simplifying complex procedures and concepts for his students. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Masters of Science Degree in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri. Schiff is a regular presenter, an FAASTeam Representative, NAFI Board Member, has been published in many aviation publications.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Ground School Refresher Flight Instruments
2023-05-03 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Are you interested in learning more about ground school-related topics? Check out our entire series of ground school refresher seminars available in our Members Only Seminar Library. Click here to view.

When pilots first start flying, they learn enough of the basic flight instruments to read and interpret them in flight. You have learned a bit more, but it may have been a while. In this Ground School Refresher, we’ll take a new and fresh look at the fundamental flight instruments, pushing maybe a little deeper than you did as a student. Join us for a review and maybe even to learn something new.
When pilots first start flying, they learn enough of the basic flight instruments to read and interpret them in flight. You have learned a bit more, but it may have been a while. In this Ground School Refresher, we’ll review the fundamental flight instruments, pushing maybe a little deeper than you did as a student. Join us to learn, review, or polish your knowledge on this important topic.
It is important for every pilot to have an understanding of their flight instruments, as many pilots rely on them throughout their flights. Join us to learn, review, or polish your knowledge on this important topic.

Sid Basu is a CFII, and MEI with his Commercial ASEL, AMEL and instrument rating with over 2000 hours total time and over 1500 hours of dual given. He has been flying since 2008 and has been instructing at San Carlos Flight Center since 2017.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

Full Moon Flyers: Livermore
2023-05-05 19:00 - 21:00
Join us on a spectacular full moon flight to a popular local favorite located directly at Livermore Airport.
Elevation LVK is located in the airport building next to transient parking. After parking on the ramp under the tower, walk the short distance to the airport building, where the restaurant will be. Please plan to be seated by 7:00 PM. With options like fresh fish, steak, pasta, and salads, there are plenty of choices for everyone.
Since it’s a short flight, consider taking your passengers on a sunset Bay Tour before dinner. The views during the cooler winter evenings will be spectacular, and nothing beats the gorgeous sunsets. After dinner, you can refresh your night landings at many of the nearby airports, such as Livermore, Hayward, or Oakland on your way home.
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. As this is a new restaurant, it may be a popular event, so please book your plane early. Hope to see you there!

In-Person Seminars Begin – Private Pilot Jeopardy
2023-05-06 12:00 - 13:00
Starting with this presentation, most of our seminars will be held at SCFC’s office. In-person attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.

Do you remember everything from your private pilot checkride? Being safe means keeping all that knowledge current and finding a fun way to test yourself. The San Carlos Flight Center has just the answer for you!
Calling all pilots to play Private Pilot Jeopardy! Put yourself to the test against other pilots to win the title of Private Pilot Jeopardy Champion. You are surely up for a challenge with our facilitators Chief Pilot Herb Patten, and SCFC Founder Dan Dyer.
In this game show-styled safety seminar, you will be quizzed on Federal Aviation Regulations, cockpit resource management, weather safety, aeronautical principles, situational awareness, and much more. Come to this seminar prepared with all the knowledge you brought to your private pilot checkride. All information that a VFR private pilot should know is fair game. May the best pilot win!

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2023, Herb was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by AOPA.
Dan Dyer is the founder of the San Carlos Flight Center, and has built the motto of Safety, Community, and Adventure for over 8 years. Dan was an instructor for 15 years, accumulated over 4,000 flight hours, and is the Bay Area’s local expert in crosswind landing instruction. He is known for finding simple and innovative ways to explain complex topics and regularly speaks on advanced ground-school topics. Find out more about Dan at www.sancarlosflight.com or contact him at dan@sancarlosflight.com

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

SCFC Summer Kickoff BBQ
2023-05-06 13:00 - 15:00
With the start of summer approaching, the San Carlos Flight Center invites all of its members and their families to join us for our Summer Kickoff BBQ. Join us for an afternoon full of food, drink, snacks, sweets, and activities for everyone.
Today will also mark the return of in-person safety seminars, we encourage pilots to participate in our “Private Pilot Jeopardy” held in our classroom at 12PM. We are looking forward to welcoming audience members back in-person.
Enjoy a fun time under the sun with your friends, family, and fellow aviators outside our main office at 795 Skyway Road, Suite A, San Carlos at 12 PM.
Please RSVP by registering below so we can get an accurate headcount. We look forward to seeing you there!

Planning the FOG Multi-Day Southwest Trip
2023-05-10 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will be held in-person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.

Interested in more seminars like this? Check out our Members Only Semianr Library with access to a growing library of over 500 recorded safety seminars. If you can think of a topic, we likely have it! Click the link here to view.

Southern California and the Southwest are popular destinations due the appeal of the scenery along the way as well as the attractions and dining once you reach the destination. A number of pilot bucket list destinations can be found in this part of the country including Catalina, San Diego, Sedona, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas among others. Every summer, the San Carlos Flight Center plans a multi-day journey to seek out new destinations, spectacular scenery and challenging airports that represent unique aeronautical challenges.
Join SCFC Chief Pilot Herb Patten as he introduce these challenges present within the region, and provide an overview to the flight planning process. All long cross-country trips involve lots of thorough and thoughtful planning; so in this seminar, Herb will preview potential trip routes, considerations while mountain flying, and provide previous insight to pilots from his experience within the region.
Whether you are considering flying to the Southwest or are just curious about what it is like to plan a sophisticated long-cross-country trip, you will enjoy this seminar.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2023, Herb was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by AOPA.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Challenges Flying to Oshkosh
2023-05-13 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will be held in-person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.

Interested in more seminars related to long cross-country trips and flight planning? Check out our series of flight planning presentations available in our Members Only Seminar Library. Click here for an example.

Each year, EAA holds the world’s most renowned airshow in Oshkosh. This event boasts thousands of unique aircraft, presenters, and new learning experiences. Ambitious pilots may consider flying themselves to the show. If it’s your first time, you may wonder what it takes to create a flight plan across the country, to fly one of the most challenging arrival procedures, and most importantly to land safely?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Oliver Coolidge, an experienced Oshkosh Pilot and CFI, and Private Pilot Obed Han to talk about how to fly safely and efficiently into the “world’s busiest airport”. For one week each summer, EAA members and aviation enthusiasts totaling more than 500,000 from more than 60 countries attend EAA AirVenture at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they rekindle friendships and celebrate the past, present and future in the world of flight. “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration ” has it all when it comes to aircraft, you certainly won’t want to miss out. For many, arriving at Oshkosh is a rite of passage that can only be satisfied by being one of the more than 10,000 aircraft flying in, landing at what becomes the busiest airport in the world. It can be a challenging experience, but after attending this seminar, we are sure that you will feel more confident in your flying abilities.
Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or an aviation novice, AirVenture has something for you. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn more about this event, and more importantly learn how you can safely and efficiently plan flight across the country, and arrive at Oshkosh. Experience AirVenture with us. Your spot along the flightline is waiting for you.

Oliver Coolidge started flying in 1969 and is a retired FedEx captain with over 14,000 hours of flying. He owns a vintage 1954 Cessna 195 and has a new project with a 1971 Beechcraft Bonanza G33 “straight tail”. He also is involved with the Flying 12 Club which has built their own RV-12. Chapter 20 was recently the recipient of an EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship which has awarded a $10,000 flying scholarship to a local young aviator.
Obed Han is a Private Pilot. He is an EAA James Ray Scholarship recipient and continues to advance in his training because of it. 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 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Hazards of Landing at Unimproved Airports
2023-05-17 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will be held in person, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.

Operating at new airports poses new challenges with exciting awards. Check out our “Destination” seminar series which is available in our Members Only Seminar Library. Available to view by clicking here.

Not all airports are well maintained, and as pilots, we need to know how to operate there safely. These airports pose new challenges and different operational considerations; however, these challenges present extraordinary access to outdoor recreation and the wilderness.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Terry Cross, a Private Pilot and Ambassador for the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) to highlight the hazards of operating at backcountry recreational airports. In this seminar, Terry will share what it takes to operate out of these airports safely. All pilots should be aware of the differences in operational technique when flying into or out of unimproved surfaces, in addition to differences present with limited communication receptivity and limited services. In addition to these safety considerations, he will also share how the RAF constantly works to preserve access to recreational airports, and improve the sustainability of unimproved airports, ensuring their accessibility for future pilots.
You never know when you might have to land at an unimproved airport, so all pilots should have the knowledge of what it takes to operate safely. Join us to learn more on this unique subject.

Terry Cross is an Ambassador for the Recreational Aviation Foundation in California. He is an outdoorsman and has been a private pilot since 1989. He has flown his Cessna 182 and 206 throughout the western United States, with forays into Canada and Mexico. He learned to fly out of the OAK north field and has been based at San Carlos since 1998.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Flying the Bay Tour
2023-05-20 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will be held in person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.

Want to learn more about operations at local Bay Area Airports? Click here to watch a similar seminar available for Members on the Members Only Seminar Library.

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 SCFC Founder Dan Dyer 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, he’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.

Dan Dyer is the founder of the San Carlos Flight Center, and has built the motto of Safety, Community, and Adventure for over 8 years. Dan was an instructor for 15 years, accumulated over 4,000 flight hours, and is the Bay Area’s local expert in crosswind landing instruction. He is known for finding simple and innovative ways to explain complex topics and regularly speaks on advanced ground school topics. Find out more about Dan at www.sancarlosflight.com or contact him at dan@sancarlosflight.com

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2023 as a Distinguished Flight School for the third year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

FOG Lunch: Auburn
2023-05-21 12:00 - 13:30
Located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Auburn Airport (AUN) displays a change of scenery from its Central Valley counterparts, with rolling hills and beautiful pine trees lining the field. Take advantage of the warming temperatures this May to visit this airport and sample the delicious cafe serving both breakfast and lunch during the outdoor dining season. Wings Grill and Espresso Bar is located right next to transient parking on the south side of the ramp and serves pilots both breakfast and lunch. On Sunday, May 21, let’s meet up for lunch at Auburn at 12 PM.
While not considered a mountain airport, pilots should watch the temperatures when operating at Auburn to ensure the density altitude does not affect your flight. If it is warm enough, density altitude can climb a few thousand feet above field elevation, so make sure to double-check your performance numbers on takeoff and landing.
As always, please RSVP below, and indicate if you can take passengers, so student and prospective pilots can participate, as well. We hope to see you in Auburn on May 21!
