San Carlos Flight Center

Webinar
2021-05-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2021-04-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2021-03-02 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:

Destination Yellowstone
2021-05-01 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

A popular destination for pilots, Yellowstone National Park is easily accessible by air and is surrounded by exciting scenery, towering mountains, and a plethora of famous landmarks. The Yellowstone area and the Northwest United States are full of diverse terrain and weather conditions that are probably different than what pilots are used to in California. From jagged peaks, glacier-carved valleys, and remote islands, FlyOutGroup’s 2021 flagship trip will expose pilots to this new environment, while promising adventure and memories of a lifetime.
Join Chief Pilot Herb Patten and private pilot Travis Bender as they introduce the 2021 FOG Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest trip, and cover the planning procedures with making a flight within the region. They’ll preview the 2021 trip’s itinerary, route, and considerations, and provide insight from their experiences with flying in the region. Whether you are considering joining FOG on the Yellowstone trip or are just curious what it’s like to plan a major cross-country trip, you will enjoy this seminar.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFII and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 1,500 hours into at least 120 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2015, Herb was named a Master Instructor by the National Association of Flight Instructors.
Travis Bender is an instrument-rated private pilot and is currently the FOG Coordinator at SCFC. Travis has experience flying in the Pacific Northwest, including flights between Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. A 2016 Upwind Summer Scholarship recipient, Travis is currently a senior at the University of Puget Sound when he is not in the air.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

FOG Lunch: Auburn
2021-05-01 - 2021-05-31
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 between 8 AM and 2 PM Wednesdays through Sundays.
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. This is also a great opportunity to safely support a small business while taking your family and friends for a flight. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, please enjoy this event on your own or with members of your household. While FOG pilots can not gather in a large group setting just yet, we are bringing back FOG lunches for pilots to complete on their own.

Airport of the Month: Garberville
2021-05-01 - 2021-05-31
One of the more remote airports in the state, Garberville Airport (O16) is known for the steep terrain on all sides of the field, making it a challenge to plan a proper descent from pattern altitude to the runway. Pilots should plan on circling over Garberville as part of their descent, taking note of the terrain and wind conditions as they fly towards pattern altitude. Keeping the pattern tight is required due to the mountains to the east of the airport, and pilots should be mindful of the hill on the approach end of Runway 18, which obstructs a normal approach. While landing on Runway 36 looks easier, be on the lookout for the mountains to the south, which you need to avoid as you turn back towards the runway. Following the river is a good option, as it will keep you away from high terrain. Regardless of which runway you use, make sure you know how to fly a short approach and use your flaps effectively to get down safely.
Garberville has fuel at the airport, and it is a great place to practice clearing obstacles in the airport environment. The flight into the airport is beautiful, as the surrounding trees and coast help serve as an impressive backdrop to the region. Choose to fly up either via Highway 101, where you view wineries, forests, and valleys, or the coast, which features incredible cliffs and shoreline. No matter how you get to Garberville, spend some time practicing mountain approaches before having a picnic lunch on the grass near the airport while taking in the mountain air.

May The Fourth Be With You: Skywalker Ranch Fly By
2021-05-01 - 2021-05-31
Did you know Skywalker Ranch is located in Marin County at 5858 Lucas Valley Road? And, since we are pilots, we can fly over it. So if you want to have some fun and take a scenic flight up the coast, check out Skywalker Ranch in May.
The principal operation of the facility is as a motion picture sound mixing and recording facility, as well as serving as the corporate offices of Lucasfilm. Other Lucasfilm properties provide animation and visual effects; Skywalker handles sound, music, and allied services.
Assembled parcel by parcel since September 1978, Skywalker Ranch has cost Lucas up to US$100 million. Lucasfilm acquired 3,000 acres of adjoining land for a total of over 4,700 acres. Only 15 acres have been developed.
The Ranch contains a barn with animals, vineyards, a garden with fruits and vegetables used in the on-site restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and fitness center with racquetball courts, the man-made “Ewok Lake”, a hilltop observatory, a 300-seat theater called “The Stag” as well as theater screening rooms, and parking that is mostly concealed underground to preserve the natural landscape.
Have fun seeing the ranch from the air and may the force be with you.

Going Vertical with the G1000
2021-04-28 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

The G1000 was introduced in 2004 and was part of the age of the glass cockpit. It transformed the traditional 6-pack into a multi-screen display that presented a wealth of information to pilots. In addition to the graphical depiction of flight instruments, the G1000 also introduced a set of new functionality.
While the G1000 has been around for nearly two decades, many pilots have only scratched the surface of some of the capabilities that it provides. Do you know how many different ways the G1000 can be used to change altitudes? Are you familiar with how to program the G1000 to not only follow the lateral navigation of a flight plan but also vertical navigation?
In this seminar, CFI Herb Patten, will explore the many capabilities of the G1000 to perform vertical navigation. We will explore all aspects of vertical navigation starting with the basics of the altitude display information and ending with the rich feature set of vertical path tracking. Attend this seminar to take your G1000 IQ to the next level.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 1,500 hours into at least 120 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2015, Herb was named a Master Instructor by the National Association of Flight Instructors.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Flying in the Midwest
2021-04-24 12:00 - 13:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

The United States has a wide variety of natural beauty. Pilots in different parts of the country experience very different weather, terrain, and flight processes. For example, pilots based in California often learn about coastal climates and weather, operating in or around busy Class B airspace. Only with long cross country trips can they find out how other parts of the country operate and what challenges they face.
San Carlos Flight Center often brings in instructors with experience flying in other parts of the country, and asks them to share what they know. For this presentation, we’ve asked CFI Sydney Rapp to give her pilot perspective on flying in the Midwest, specifically in the areas around Missouri where she flew for many years. The Midwest brings many challenges for pilots, such as constantly changing weather conditions, varying airspaces, and key airplane operational differences that vary throughout the year.
If you ever considered flying in the Midwest, or want to learn more about how airplanes handle differently throughout America – join us for this seminar.

Sydney Rapp is a flight instructor at San Carlos Flight Center, and started flying at age 18 in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. She attended Saint Louis University where she earned her B.S. in Aeronautics and became a CFI/CFII/MEI during her senior year of college. After over two years of teaching in the Saint Louis and DFW areas, Sydney has gained valuable experiences she shares with her students to promote safe and fun flying. She is excited to be living in the Bay Area and teaching at SCFC.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Unique IFR Approaches
2021-04-21 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

Instrument pilots develop familiarity with instrument approaches based on a review of the approaches they typically fly. There is a lot of similarity among the information contained in the majority of approach procedures. Every now and then, you come across an approach that may make you stop and wonder what the notation means. Can there be a glide slope on an LDA? What are some of the more challenging holds that you might find?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Herb Patten, CFII, to share a select set of approach plates for their unique procedures. He will cover how to identify unique approach procedure notations and sift through the clutter to identify the vital differences.
While you may not actually fly one of these approaches, getting a broader exposure to some of them will make you a more informed instrument pilot. We will use examples of approaches from around the country. Join us to be a more prepared, and knowledgeable instrument rated pilot.

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 1,500 hours into at least 120 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2015, Herb was named a Master Instructor by the National Association of Flight Instructors.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

Do you remember as a student pilot fearing crosswind landings? Perhaps at some level you still do. Did you find yourself avoiding great airport destinations because of hesitancy around even mild crosswinds? Were you taught to believe that landing in a crosswind is a different harder technique than a “normal” landing?
Dan Dyer and San Carlos Flight Center, the only flight school on the west coast with a crosswind simulator, is committed to training pilots competence in all landings. In this seminar, Dyer will take you step by step through all phases of landings with and without crosswinds, so that you approach every landing the same way. With a bit of practice you will land as easy as stopping your car at a stoplight. It’s part of the flight, no big deal, in fact it will become the best and most fun part of the flight.
Imagine approaching a landing with the same confidance you have with every landing. In fact you now even enjoy the challenge of a crosswind. Don’t miss out on this seminar to be a better pilot.

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Adventures in Crosswinds
2021-04-17 12:00 - 13:00
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An Insight into the Operations at Oakland Center
2021-04-14 19:00 - 20:30
Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, this seminar will only be available for online viewing. IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.**
Click here to learn more about online viewing.

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

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

David Agranovich is an instrument-rated commercial pilot working on his instructor certificates. He’s normally found taking 182 out for flights in the Sierras or running shelter dogs up the coast for Pilots and Paws. In his spare time, he works at Facebook leading their efforts to counter foreign interference in elections.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

Herb Patten is the Chief Pilot at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFI and an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor who teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, has flown over 1,500 hours into at least 120 different California airports. He is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2015, Herb was named a Master Instructor by the National Association of Flight Instructors.

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

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

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

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