NO SAFETY SEMINAR on October 15
2022-10-15 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
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

GSR: Airport Signs and Markings
2022-10-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
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.

Local Airport Operations
2022-10-22 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

The Bay Area has many airports for pilots to choose from. Flying to a new airport can bring a new set of challenges and risks, along with new procedures. For student pilots trying to branch out of their home airport, it can be overwhelming to become familiar with local procedures. So, what airport information is crucial to know when operating at a new airport? What specific things do you need to watch out for? What hot spots or other things may be confusing to a student or new pilot?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Chief Pilot Herb Pattern to discuss local procedures including noise abatement, pattern operations, and where to find information for several local Bay Area Airports. Some examples will include PAO, HWD, and LVK. He will review common ATC instructions so you can be familiar with what to expect when operating at these airports. After attending this seminar, students and new pilots will have more confidence in operating safely at local Bay Area airports and understand what to consider when flying to a new airport.
We encourage any student pilot to attend, and pilots of higher rating to attend too. Do not miss out on this seminar, learn how to gain confidence, operate safer, and be on your A game flying to new airports.

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.

FOG Lunch: Sacramento
2022-10-23 12:00 - 14:00
This month, come along with FOG on a lunch trip to Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC)! Inside the airport’s main terminal building lies Aviator’s Restaurant, a neat aviation-themed cafe serving all-day breakfast and lunch fare. The prices are very reasonable, and the seating allows you to view movement on the airport ramp below.
Sacramento is a great cross-country destination, and this flight is a good opportunity to complete the requirements for the next rating you’re working on. Grab your CFI and gain experience flying into a new airport. Instrument students also can utilize a variety of practice approaches into the airport, with an ILS, RNAV, and VOR approach.
Interested in going? Sign up below so we can get a headcount for food, and we’ll see you in Sacramento at 12:00 PM on October 23!

Destination Mexico
2022-10-26 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

Flying a cross-country trip might seem like the adventure of a lifetime, but how about flying across the Southern border to Mexico? International trips require extensive planning and pose many new educational challenges to pilots.
San Carlos Flight Center has invited TBM owner Tom McGrath to share his experience of flying for your first time to Mexico. Tom devoted many hours of planning, flying, paperwork, and applications for customs clearing before stepping foot in the airplane. In this seminar, Tom will talk about the entry and exit procedures of international flying, provide an overview of the differences in flight rules, and describe some of the unique airport operations he experienced on the trip. Overall, this trip brought a whole new set of challenges, with unusual weather patterns, new ATC procedures, limited options in case of an emergency, and overall added stress. We hope that all pilots can use this information to become comfortable with their own new travel experiences.
Whether you plan on flying to Mexico or not, hearing this story from an experienced aviator is a great opportunity to develop a better thought process of how to plan for a complex flight.

Tom McGrath is a long-time pilot using his planes for business and pleasure. With over 7500 hours of flight time in Bonanzas and TBMs, his flying has taken him all across the world. He has previously presented at SCFC on numerous occasions and is excited to share his experience with you.

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.

Radio Communications 4: Class B and C Airspace
2022-10-29 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

Pilots new to the SF Bay area sometimes feel uncomfortable communicating with controllers in busier Class B and C airports. Let’s address that. Let’s talk about radio communications and help each other overcome fears, operate more safely, and smooth the work of Tower and Approach Controllers.
In this seminar, San Carlos Flight Center continues our radio communications series, this time focusing on general aviation operations at Class Bravo and Charlie airports. SFO, OAK, and SJC come with a whole new set of challenges for GA pilots; increased traffic loads operating in the airspace, more frequency congestion, different entrance requirements, and a whole lot more. This seminar can help you to become a more effective communicator within class B and C airspace, and prove to the controllers that you got it under control.
You surely won’t want to miss this seminar if you have ever felt uneasy operating within Class B or C airspace. This seminar is guaranteed to make sure that all pilots will feel safer on their next flight into these airports, don’t miss out.

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 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
2022-11-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2022-12-02 08:00 - 17:00

Lessons I Learned in the First 250 Hours of Flight
2022-11-02 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 first 250 hours of flight are often one of the most overwhelming times in a pilot’s career. Pilots should use this stage to develop best practices and learn from their mistakes. Join us to learn from one pilot’s experience and set yourself up for success.
San Carlos Flight Center invites commercial pilot Travis Bender to share lessons learned from his first 250 hours of flight, and what he wished he knew when he earned his private pilot certificate. Travis will walk through his flying career, sharing insights that shaped his flying habits, as well as mistakes that motivated him to advance his skills. For pilots looking to eventually pursue an instrument or commercial certificate, he’ll also share some techniques that helped drive him along that path.
Whether you’re a recently certificated private pilot or looking for ways to level-up your flying and improve your techniques, join us for this seminar.

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.

Using the KLN89B/94 GPS for IFR Flight
2022-11-05 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

The Bendix/King KLN89B/94 can be a powerful GPS navigation tool for IFR flight. The systems have been around for decades and are found in many aircraft. It may have been a while since you took a close look at the functionality of these units and their ability for use in IFR flight.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Assistant Chief Pilot Brian Eliot to describe the functionality of these capable units. He will review the buttonology and knowledge required to confidently operate the unit in various IFR scenarios. While many of these units are being replaced with newer technology, renter or veteran pilots might still encounter them and should know how to operate them. Take the time now to become better acquainted with the operations of these units. Knowledge on your aircrafts avionics package is crucial for flight safety, and the KLN89B/94 is no exception.
There is a reason why they are still approved by the FAA for IFR Flight. Join us to find out how to use this capable system on your next flight.

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 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: Hollister
2022-11-08 19:00 - 21:00
Fall is here, and with the cooler temperatures comes earlier nightfall. Need to practice night flying, or just want to gain more experience at night? Come join us for dinner at Seabrisas Eatery in Hollister (CVH) on November 8th at 7 PM.
On the way down, soak in the gorgeous sunset over the coastal mountains before descending into Hollister Airport. Make sure to remain clear of the San Jose final approach course, and consider talking to NorCal Approach to have an extra set of eyes looking out for you. Park in transient parking, and then walk across the street to the local airport restaurant – Seabrisas! A local favorite for many pilots in the area, they’re known for their unique flavors and vegetables grown from many of the local farms.
After dinner, Hollister is a great place to work on night landings or fly to San Jose (SJC) to complete your night requirements there. With big runways, it’s easy to make the landings to a stop-and-go, and you’ll enjoy the challenge of flying alongside jet traffic.
Everyone is welcome to join us, so please RSVP below and we’ll see you at the event.

An Insight on California Weather From NWS Specialists
2022-11-09 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 get a glimpse of weather theory during their training but struggle to understand localized weather patterns. Wouldn’t it be great to have the knowledge equivalent to a real meteorologist? Or wouldn’t it be valuable to hear directly from a weather specialist that creates aviation forecasts? Over many years, pilots may develop a general notion of what to expect during certain seasons but still may be not able to understand nuanced weather conditions. With the help and knowledge from an NWS Weather Specialist, pilots can better understand the weather we fly in.
Now is your opportunity to improve your weather IQ! San Carlos Flight Center invites National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather specialists Rick Canepa and Sean Miller to discuss how they create aviation weather forecasts. Learn about atmospheric soundings common to clouds and fog formation that impact aviation. Listen in as they explain the role of the aviation weather specialist and how they compose TAFs, analyze local weather patterns, and provide crucial weather information for pilots.
If you have always been intrigued about weather, don’t miss this seminar. Rick and Sean will be ready to answer your weather questions. Don’t be left in the fog – put this seminar on your schedule.

Rick Canepa grew up in Massachusetts with an early interest in science, in particular meteorology. After graduating from high school he went to Vermont and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology at Lyndon State College in 1993. Rick began his NWS career in Helena, MT in 1995, then after the office closed 10 months later he transferred to NWS San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, CA in late 1995. Rick returned to work in Montana at the NWS Billings office from 1999 to 2001. Rick then made his way back to the NWS San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, CA office and has been working there since late 2001. Rick has almost 28 years experience in aviation, marine, public and fire weather forecasting as a NWS meteorologist.

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.

California Weather
2022-11-09 19:00 - 21:00
weather

CA weather by NWS specialist
2022-11-09 19:00 - 21:00

A Perspective on Night Flying from a Human Factors Specialist
2022-11-12 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

On November 6th, Daylight Savings Time will be ending, and will bring early nightfall. For those of us who work a regular 9-5 schedule, early nightfall means an increase in night flying. Less ambient light means increased aeromedical challenges throughout all phases of flight.
San Carlos Flight Center invites ATP, flight crew safety author, and flight instructor Dale Wilson to discuss some of the physiological and psychological limitations pilots exhibit when flying at night. In this seminar, he will touch on potential dangers associated with relying on outside references during VFR flight and the effects of flight conditions present on VMC segments of IFR flight at night. As our eyesight diminishes at night, our thought processes can too. While night flight brings reduced ATC workloads, often calmer winds, and cooler temperatures that help performance it is important to recognize the human factors’ limitations during this time.
Your decision whether or not to fly at night is based on a culmination of the knowledge retained within this seminar, and your re-evaluation of your night personal minimums.

Dale Wilson, M.S. ATP, CFI, MCFI/MGI, is Professor Emeritus at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, and is the author of popular ASA books, Managing Risk: Best Practices for Pilots, and more recently, Human Factors: Enhancing Pilot Performance. Since 1996, he has taught courses dealing with the physiological and psychological aspects of pilot performance, safety management, threat and error management, and aviation weather. He continues his passion by writing numerous articles in aviation journals and magazines. To find out more about our speaker and his work visit his web page at the Aviation Department’s website click here.

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.

Extreme Cold, Hypoxia, and Other Challenges of Flight at High Altitudes
2022-11-16 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

Most GA pilots fly piston airplanes that cruise at lower altitudes, but what is different about flying higher, at 15,000’ or 20,000’ or higher? What should be known about human bodies and aircraft at these higher altitudes?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Alan Marcum, an instrument-rated pilot to discuss flying in the flight levels. In this seminar, we will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of flying high and the associated impacts on physiology, air pressure and density, weather, emergency planning, oxygen equipment, flight planning, and more. Many think of the flight levels as an escape from the weather below, but often that is not the case. Some challenges that come from extreme altitudes are ones you have never had to consider at low altitude.
This is a great opportunity to expand your current knowledge to greater heights. Join us to learn more.

Alan Marcum, an instrument-rated private pilot, has been flying for over forty years with 2,500 flight hours with hundreds of them flown above 20,000’ in unpressurized singles. Alan has delivered numerous FAA Safety Seminars on topics such as flying across the US, flying at higher altitudes, in-flight weather-based decision-making, and PIREPs. He has flown in places ranging from Cambridge, U.K. to Lihue, Hawai’i, and in airplanes from a Tiger Moth and a Waco to a Malibu and a Mooney. He bases his Mooney at Palo Alto, where he learned to fly. Alan is a computer scientist by profession.

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.

Self-Managing Your Airplane
2022-11-19 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 an airplane is fun, but what about managing it? Some aircraft owners choose to have professional managers for their aircraft, but what does that really mean? Managing your aircraft requires an entirely unique skill set, many of which pilots may not realize actually improve their flying abilities.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Commercial Pilot Nick Williams to investigate aircraft management. In this seminar, Nick will share how working with several large aircraft management firms has given him the knowledge to better operate and manage the aircraft he flies. For those who have never managed an aircraft before, it could be surprising how many intricacies and nuances have gone unnoticed over the years. This seminar will detail some concepts and strategies across ownership structure, financial accounting, maintaining, operating, and, of course, piloting your own aircraft. To conclude, he will share how his experience of operating and managing larger aircraft has helped him become a better pilot both inside and outside the flight deck.
Even if you are not an owner, this seminar will equip you with the knowledge needed to better understand the aircraft you operate. If you are an owner, join us to learn industry best practices and apply them to your everyday flying.

Nick Williams is an SCFC member and commercial pilot. He manages and flies an Embraer Phenom 100 on a part-time basis, and spends the rest of his professional time working or investing in small real estate and hospitality businesses. He lives in Noe Valley with his wife and dogs and loves having his Cessna 152 on the flight line.

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 of over 400 recorded safety seminars.

FOG Lunch: Stockton
2022-11-20 12:00 - 14:00
For November, join FOG on a fly-out lunch to Stockton! Top Flight Grill is located in the airport terminal building and a quick walk from Transient Parking or the Atlantic Aviation FBO. The restaurant has typical American fare, as well as Mexican-inspired cuisine.
Stockton Airport is a great cross-country destination for students, with ATC services and a long runway. Grab your CFI and gain experience flying into new airports and utilizing FBO services. Pilots can also test their instrument skills with a variety of instrument approaches into the airport, including an ILS and RNAV approach to Runway 29R.
Interested in going? Sign up below so we can get a headcount for food, and we’ll see you in Stockton at 12:00 PM on November 20!

NO SAFETY SEMINAR on November 23
2022-11-23
There will be no safety seminar on Wednesday, November 23 at 7 PM because of Thanksgiving. Please join us for our next seminar on Saturday, November 26 at 12 PM.
We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
-SCFC Seminar Team

Ground School Refresher: Pressure and Density Altitude
2022-11-26 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

Pressure what? Density what?
As pilots, we love altitude. So much that we’ve created a bunch of different kinds of altitude: true altitude, absolute altitude, indicated altitude, assigned altitude, and two kinds of confusing ones – pressure altitude and density altitude. For many pilots, this can lead to a mental overload. Many pilots don’t have a working understanding of pressure and density altitude. Are they even real altitudes at all?
In this seminar, join SCFC CFI Shelby Rebholtz as he introduces and explains the terms “pressure altitude” and “density altitude” and demystifies their meaning. Although the word “altitude” is used, these are clearly not measures of altitude. In fact, they are measures of atmospheric pressure and density just converted into units that pilots can understand. Confusing at first, yes, but once understood they serve a valuable purpose in determining aircraft performance.
Although few things are as important to a pilot as knowing the performance capability of the aircraft before taking to the skies, measuring the critical factor – atmospheric density – is not something that pilots can do directly. Instead we use rules of thumb, conversion factors, and our best understanding of how elevation, pressure, temperature, and humidity are interrelated. If you’ve ever opened your aircraft POH to the performance section and felt humbled, this seminar is for you.

Shelby Rebholtz is a CFI at San Carlos Flight Center. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and his passion for aviation started young when his father took him flying. While attending California State University, Chico in 2019 he attained a degree in geography and his private pilots license. Soon after he continued his aviation journey down south to San Diego where he navigated the complex airspace of Southern California and attained his Commercial and CFI ratings. When Shelby is not flying or breaking his neck staring at aircraft he can be found mountain biking around the bay area or snowboarding, fishing and hiking in the Sierras.

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 of nearly 500 recorded Safety Seminars.

Beyond the POH, Cessna 172 Systems Revealed
2022-11-30 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

An aircraft’s Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) contains all the required information for pilots to operate an aircraft safely. Here you will find the operating limitations, aircraft information, and an overview of the systems. Having an understanding of how your aircraft operates is critical. The POH offers a wealth of data that pilots can use to fully understand their aircraft, yet, they often do not take advantage of it.
To develop this understanding we will further investigate the systems in a Cessna 172. San Carlos Flight Center invites Herb Patten, Chief Pilot to go beyond the information in the POH. In this seminar, he will highlight details of the inner workings of the induction, oil, electrical, and fuel system as applied in the real world. For example, have you ever wondered how the alternate air works in the Cessna 172? Or what triggers the “OIL PRESS” annunciator? Through a combination of diagrams, pictures, and videos, Herb will demystify how the various systems are implemented.
If you ever wanted the answer to the question of “How does that work?”, this seminar will provide answers to many of those questions and provide a framework to fully understand any airplane you fly.

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 of over 400 recorded safety seminars.

Student Challenges for Instructors
2022-12-03 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

Instructors provide training to pilots to take them from zero time to ready for the practical test. One thing instructors realize after teaching for a few years is that every student is different. As a brand new instructor, how do you recognize student challenges? If you identify them, how should you deal with them? For a new instructor, this isn’t something you learn in CFI school, this is something that comes with experience.
In this safety seminar, Dan Dyer presents a methodology for handling student challenges. This methodology is based on human cognitive behavior to consider how humans learn. Dan will present an eye-opening basis for how CFIs teach knowledge vs risk management vs. flight skills. If you think these are approached in the same manner, you will want to tune into this seminar to learn a more effective method for teaching.
Regardless if you are a brand new CFI just cutting your teeth on a new student pilot, or a CFI with several years of teaching, this seminar will provide you with some key insights that you may not have considered before. Don’t miss learning about strategies for dealing with student challenges. After this seminar, you will no doubt approach a future student challenge in a more effective way.

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 of nearly 500 recorded safety seminars.

Skills Involved in Crosswind Landings
2022-12-07 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Crosswind landings represent the height of a pilot’s ability to manage four controls at the same time, often in challenging weather conditions. At San Carlos Airport, the prevailing winds often include a crosswind component, so pilots learning takeoffs and landings here must learn crosswind takeoff and landing technique from the very beginning. If your early training was at an airport with a runway closely aligned with the prevailing wind, you may have approached crosswind landings as if they were strange or unusual.
SCFC often invites Dan Dyer to speak about his experiences teaching crosswind technique in high-wing aircraft, and in the Xwind 200 crosswind landing simulator that the Flight Center owns. His ability to simplify the technique for safe crosswind operations has helped many pilots improve their mastery of light to moderate crosswinds. In this presentation, we’ve asked Dan to approach crosswind landing from a different angle, by breaking down the list of fundamental pilot skills that are needed before the complex simultaneous mastery of the skills are used in crosswind takeoffs and landing.
You may be confident in your crosswind takeoff or landing capability, but this presentation may give you a different perspective on component skills that need a refresher or additional practice. If you’re a new student pilot trying to master crosswinds, or a high-time pilot looking for a different way to think about the skills you’re naturally using in the aircraft, this presentation is for you.

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.

Full Moon Flyers: Willows
2022-12-07 19:00 - 21:00
Want delicious food and some cross-country time? Join FOG on December 7th as we head north to Willows (WLW), where we’ll break for dinner 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 winter 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.

Interpreting NOTAMs
2022-12-10 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

Notice To Air Missions (NOTAMs) are extremely important to the safety of flight. NOTAMs carry information of an immediate or transitory nature that has not yet made it into an aeronautical chart. The FAA has made multiple substantial overhauls to the US NOTAM system over the past four years, and more are still coming. Have you kept up with these?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Assistant Chief Pilot Brian Eliot to review the current NOTAM system with special emphasis on how to classify, filter, and interpret NOTAMs. NOTAMs include airspace and controlling regulations in which all pilots are bound to comply with. It is imperative that pilots know where to obtain this time-sensitive information and check it before every flight. He’ll discuss various official sources for pilots to find current regulatory and advisory changes to the airspace system and point out major changes in NOTAM content. It’s important for all pilots to understand as failure to know about a NOTAM does not mean that you can’t have your certificate revoked for busting one.
Ignorance is not a protection. All pilots should attend this very special discussion and always operate with NOTAMs in mind. Join us as we look at the current NOTAM format and the upcoming ICAO NOTAM format, which the FAA plans to supplant in the future.

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 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 of over 400 recorded safety seminars.

Electricity for Pilots
2022-12-14 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

As pilots, we study electrical systems in depth during primary flight training and each time we transition into flying a new aircraft. How much of that do you remember? Would you know what to do in the event of an unusual situation, malfunction or failure? Do you know the difference between volts and amps? Do you know what a circuit breaker is actually doing? Many pilots do not understand the electrical systems of their aircraft.
San Carlos Flight Center welcomes back experienced check airman and training Captain Ben Taber, who has pulled together some of the most challenging electrical issues. Capt. Taber will introduce us to “Electricity for Pilots” and review electrical use in everyday flight, static electricity buildup and discharge, and discuss possible failure scenarios and resolutions for each. With the introduction of Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) outfitted with sleek Garmin’ G1000TM, Avidyne’, and other assorted glass cockpit panels and FAA/Industry Training Standards (FITS) scenario-based training techniques to help pilots fly more safely, the training industry has finally recognized that pilots must be trained to a higher level of understanding of the electrical systems that supports all that equipment. The level of sophistication of the electrical system in singles tells you just how important electricity is for safe flight. Pilots who are willing to fly in the clouds with only one engine demand backups and redundancy for the critical avionics and other systems powered by electricity.
Join us as Ben Taber dives deeper into your pilot knowledge bank of electricity in this informative and challenging seminar.

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 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 of over 400 recorded safety seminars.

Candid Radio, San Carlos Edition
2022-12-17 12:00 - 13:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

When you least expect it, you’re elected. You’re the star today. Smile you’re on Candid Radio, San Carlos Flight Center’s celebration of the best and the worst in local radio calls. When you press that button, we’re listening and as a group we want to begin a discussion to improve the level of SF Bay Area radio calls.
SCFC Chief Pilot Herb Patten and CFI Dan Dyer are both very passionate about professional radio communication. The Flight Center offers many classes and safety seminars to help new pilots understand the structure and demands of radio communication, to better share the limited resource that air time represents. In this episode of Candid Radio, the spotlight is on the pilot, control tower, and ground controller communications at San Carlos Airport. This Class D airport is located just 7 miles from the busy Class B San Francisco Airport, and is also the home to many flight schools and student training. This makes for great listening, as we hear pilots ask for pattern work, request departures, and respond to the sometimes unusual directions from the control tower. We’ve pulled together the best and worst of SQL radio communications over the last few weeks, and turned them into an informative presentation for all pilots.
If you’ve flown in the SQL area any time in the last few weeks, tune in to see if you’ve been highlighted, either as a radio star or a radio roadblock. Everyone should be able to improve their skills just a bit after joining us for this presentation.

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.

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 of over 400 recorded safety seminars.

FOG Lunch: Concord
2022-12-18 12:00 - 14:00
This month, let’s explore our own backyard and head over to the nearby Concord Buchanan Field (CCR) for lunch. Across the street lies The Habit, a great burger restaurant with some unique spins on classic lunch options.
This is an excellent flight if you are a student pilot doing training and want a simple flight to break for lunch with your instructor. Similarly, if you are planning on taking passengers on this trip, don’t pass up on the opportunity to fly a Bay Tour before or after lunch. The cool December days often have excellent visibility, and many pilots report being able to get a great vista of the entire Bay with the lush green hills in the background.
For parking at Concord, please park in the transient parking ramp located just south of Runway 1R. (Don’t be afraid to ask for “Progressive Taxi” while navigating the taxiways, as Concord Airport is a complex airport). Then, walk through the gate and across the way to the restaurant around 12 PM.
As always, please make sure to RSVP, and we look forward to seeing you at Concord!

The Leidos Flight Service Approach to Aviation Weather
2022-12-21 19:00 - 20:30
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing

“Thanks for calling Leidos Flight Service. Stand by as we connect you to a Weather Briefer”. If this sounds familiar to you, it’s because Leidos Flight Service is the leading source of weather briefing tools helping pilots prepare for flights across the nation. These tools and available technologies have changed significantly over the last few years, but have GA pilots evolved with them?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Jeff Arnold, CFI and Director of Outreach and Innovation at Leidos Flight Service to demonstrate the services, briefing tools and features that www.1800wxbrief.com has to offer; along with helpful tips on the best ways to interact with Flight Service. In this seminar, Jeff will analyze accident trends and describe how these accidents are a result of both bad weather and poor interpretation that has plagued GA pilots for years. We will also discuss what pilots can do collectively to reverse the trend, through low-effort or easy-to-implement strategies within their day to day routines.
Having a thorough understanding of aviation weather is crucial to safe flight operation. Join us as this guest speaker gives us a new way to approach weather briefing through the eyes of experienced professionals at Leidos.

Jeff Arnold is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, has held flight instructor certificates (CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI, IGI) for 15 years, previously served as Program Manager for two large Flight Academies, taught Aviation Meteorology & Ground School(s) at a Community College in Fort Worth, TX, and is a former Flight Service Weather Briefer & Air Operations Manager. Jeff currently serves as the Director of Innovation & Outreach for Leidos Flight Service between chasing 3 kids, a wife & a useless 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 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 of nearly 500 recorded safety seminars.

No Safety Seminars on December 24, 28, 31
2022-12-24 - 2022-12-31
The SCFC Safety Seminar program will be taking a break from normal programming on December 24, 28, and 31st for the holiday season. We hope you enjoyed watching our seminars throughout 2022, and we are looking forward to welcoming you back in 2023.
The seminar team is working diligently to bring in new speakers, expand our topic areas, and continue to deliver the highest quality of education to pilots.
Happy Holidays from the SCFC Seminar Team.
