San Carlos Flight Center

2-Day Mountain Flying Training Trip
2025-06-07 - 2025-06-08 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
This two-day training trip is designed to help California pilots gain experience with popular routes and airports in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While the primary goal is education, many participants use the flight time to work toward high-performance endorsements, C182 checkouts, mountain checkouts, or G1000 avionics checkouts.
Trip Highlights
– Learn to fly safely over mountainous terrain
– Learn about high-elevation airport operations
– Experience some of California’s highest and trickiest airports safely
– See the beauty of the Sierras and stay overnight in Reno

There is a $300 per person deposit to ensure interest. This deposit will be applied towards aircraft and instructor time. All pilots will be paired with an SCFC CFI in an SCFC Aircraft. Deposit is refundable if you withdraw from the trip with less than 4 days notice.
Suggested Hotels at Reno:
Whitney Peak Hotel Reno, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Courtyard Reno Downtown/Riverfront
Aircraft rental and instructor time will be billed upon completion of the trip. The above is simply a breakdown of expected costs.

Contact the SCFC Front Desk at (650) 946-1700 to sign up for the trip.

Airplane Care Tips for Pilots and Owners
2025-06-07 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
A safe flying adventure, requires a safe pilot and a safe airplane. As pilots, we do what we can to inspect the plane before flight and to return it to the flight line in the same condition in which we found it. Mechanics who service and maintain aircraft we fly often have a deeper perspective. What can an experienced mechanic tell pilots and airplane owners that can improve our care and handling of the aircraft?
Tim Davis, a mechanic member of the SCFC Maintenance Team certified with Inspection Authority has offered to share with us some insights from the past few months of servicing SCFC fleet and outside aircraft. Some of the airplane care tips are for pilots, and some are for airplane owners who do preventative maintenance on their own planes. Do you know what adjustable item in the cockpit is the one mostly easily damaged inadvertently by pilots? Is there really a right way to clean the windshield? Is there a pilot role in propeller care?
Pilots of all levels can learn from hearing stories from mechanics, especially those who are able to communicate important topics to pilots who want a deeper understanding of how to protect and care for our aircraft. We hope you’ll join us.
Tim Davis has been an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic at San Carlos Flight Center since 2020. A Bay Area native, he worked as a Quality Analyst for Electronic Arts and Blizzard Entertainment before completing aircraft maintenance training at City College of San Francisco and earning his A&P certificate. In 2024, Tim earned his IA and is now a senior member of the SCFC Maintenance Team.
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 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

SQL Pilot/Controller Meeting
2025-06-11 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-08-27 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
San Carlos Flight Center is excited to welcome in the new Tower Manager from KSQL Control Tower. The new team has been fantastic through the recent company transition and we’ve been grateful to have positive control on the field again. We hope you can join us to meet part of the team in person.
Class D airports sometimes get underestimated as the smallest of the tower-controller airports. But pilots and controller here know that we are a very busy training airport with thousands of operations. Please join us for the open conversation about the safety of flight operations at KSQL. What can pilots better understand about controller workload and traffic flow. What can controllers understand about how procedures affect flight operations. Please bring questions that relate to operations at San Carlos Airport to pass to our panel host, or email us your questions in advance at seminars@sancarlosflight.com.
Please note: because of the expected size of the audience, we will be using our full classroom configuration. This will necessarily limit attendance only to those who have pre-registered here on our website.

San Carlos Flight Center is on the southwest side of the airport and there are no transient aircraft parking spots on this side of the field. All Transient Parking is on the other side, adjacent to the SQL Terminal Building. If you plan to fly in for the event, please be aware that we have no parking spots and that you’ll need to walk 0.7 miles around the airport from airport Transient Parking to our offices.

What's Next? Training for Commercial Pilot or Flight Instructor
2025-06-14 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
For many pilots, the adventure stops at Private Pilot, which allows them the freedom of taking family and friends on flights to any airport of their choice. Some may add on an instrument rating, to protect the ability to depart and arrive on days with clouds that would stop a VFR-only pilot.
Some pilots want more. For pilots who want to make a career change into aviation, the next steps are often through the Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor certificates. Before taking the leap to start advanced training, you may want to find out more about what the timeframe and workload is required to complete those certificates.
San Carlos Flight Center has asked Senior Instructor Derek Vejby to discuss the process of training for his commercial and flight instructor certificates. In this seminar, Derek will highlight the steps he took to train and prepare for those two checkrides, and will review the prerequisites for the ratings, the maneuvers you must master, and the relevant knowledge that must be acquired. A Commercial Pilot certificate calls for extensive familiarity with all things related to flying, and a Flight Instructor certificate requires pilot mastery of flight skills and all knowledge areas. Many pilots will be surprised to find that thorough, complete Private Pilot training like what is done at the Flight Center sets about 70% of foundation required on which Commercial and CFI are built.
For anyone looking to train towards a career in aviation, join us for this seminar to hear what is in store for you.
Derek Vejby is an SF Bay Area local and Senior CFI with the San Carlos Flight Center. In almost 2,000 hours of instruction given in both the VFR and IFR worlds, he continues to be an ambassador for aviation safety and airmanship excellence. He considers it a privilege to be able to cultivate and share his experiences through which others may learn and connect.
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 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Autopilot Basics
2025-06-18 19:00 - 20:30
The auto pilot can be a great aid to pilots during flights. When configured properly it can handle many of routine Aviate and Navigate tasks: climb, hold altitude, intercept and track a course. As with any advanced tool, knowing how to use it is critical in using it safely and effectively.
How well do you understand the capabilities of the autopilot? What are the various modes? What exactly is the proper preflight test procedure? How does the autopilot work? What happens when certain instrument fail – does the autopilot work?
Join us as Sid Basu, CFI, explains the functions of various autopilots as well as the mechanisms that make them work. If you have always wondered about the details of the autopilot, you will want to attend this seminar.
Sid Basu is a Senior Instructor at SCFC with Airplane Single Engine, Multiengine and Instrument ratings, over 3300 hours total time, and 2600 hours dual given. He has been flying since 2008 and has been instructing at San Carlos Flight Center since 2017.

EAA Chapter 20 Young Eagles @ SCFC
2025-06-21 09:00 - 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center
SCFC is hosting EAA Chapter 20 for their Young Eagles event, with volunteer pilots sharing flights for young people.
Learn more about Young Eagles from the EAA’s website.

Planning and Dispatching a Part 135 Charter Flight
2025-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
GA pilots know something about flight planning, but Part 135 charter pilots have to do much more to plan and dispatch a flight.
San Carlos Flight Center invites long-time charter captain Bennett Taber to introduce us to the ways that professional charter companies reduce risks to the flying public and comply with a number of FAA regulations. In this seminar, Ben will explain how the rules imposed on charter operations were created to reduce risk to life and property, along with explaining why you are forbidden to offer your flying services to the general public.
Capt. Bennett Taber was a check airman and training captain with over 35 years, 30,000 landings, and well over 19,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted in Alaska. Captain Taber managed flight operations and charter sales for Dreamline Aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a company Training Captain in all models of 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 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Women in Aviation @ SCFC, June Meeting
2025-06-28 11:00 - 12:30 | San Carlos Flight Center
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the SCFC Women in Aviation meeting last month! We had a wonderful turnout despite the holiday weekend and enjoyed coffee and homemade pastries while diving into thoughtful community-building activities. We discussed chapter formation, celebrated recent wins, and shared scholarship resources.
Our June meeting will be on Saturday, June 28th at 11:00 AM at San Carlos Flight Center—join us for bagels & berries, vision boards, and intentional discussion. Save the date and help us continue growing our SCFC WAI community!

Radio Communications 3: Non-Towered Airports
2025-07-02 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Flying in and out of the many airports in California requires a high degree of situational awareness and sophisticated radio skills. And yet, radio communication is rarely taught as a specific subject during private pilot training. Usually, new pilots just absorb what they hear on the frequency around them, both good and bad. Although some radio techniques are covered in ground school, rarely do student pilots get the time devoted to demystifying this often-confusing subject.
This seminar is the third in a series of SCFC’s Radio Communication Safety Seminars and focuses on non-towered radio communications. Although Federal Aviation Regulations don’t require pilots to make radio calls at non-towered airports, it is strongly advised for safety. This seminar will help newer pilots understand the structure of radio calls for non-towered airports and how to improve their own radio skills.
SCFC Instructors Herb Patten and Dan Dyer will walk participants through a foundation of non-towered radio communication phraseology and use, from the basics through advanced. This is your chance to learn how to make radio communication easier and safer for all pilots.
This will be an important seminar for pilots struggling with radio communications. If this is you, plan to attend. Build your confidence, and be the pilot you want to be.
Herb Patten is a Senior Instructor at the San Carlos Flight Center, a CFII, an FAA certificated advanced and instrument ground instructor, and past SCFC Chief Pilot. He is a instrument-rated commercial pilot that has flown over 2,500 hours to more than 130 different California airports. He teaches private pilot ground school at San Carlos Flight Center, and is the current chairman of the Upwind Foundation, famous for its Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. In 2023, Herb was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by AOPA.
Dan Dyer is the founder of the San Carlos Flight Center, and continues to be involved in the Club as Director of Operations. 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. He currently oversees hiring and training of SCFC’s Flight Instructor team.
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 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

NO SAFETY SEMINAR on July 5th
2025-07-05 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
As a result of the 4th of July holiday weekend, there will be no SCFC seminar on Saturday, July 5th.
Please join us for our next seminar on Wednesday, July 9th at 7pm for “Who is Really in Control? You or Your Autopilot?”
We hope to see you there!

-SCFC Seminar Team

Who is Really in Control? You or Your Autopilot?
2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:30
Everything in our world is becoming more technologically advanced. From phones to computers, and of course, airplanes. The equipment that was once limited to airliners and large jets is now common on nearly all training aircraft. However, far too often, pilots utilize automation incorrectly, inefficiently, and at the wrong time.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Corporate Pilot Brandan Dadoun to discuss how to use automation safely and effectively. In this seminar, he will illustrate the importance of understanding aircraft automation through detailed case studies and his personal experience. We will discuss the various levels of automation, techniques to mitigate automation dependency, and the importance of single-pilot resource management.
If you have ever wondered, “Why is the autopilot doing that?”, “Should I engage it now?” or felt unsure about where to begin with aircraft automation, this seminar is for you.
Brandan Dadoun is a corporate pilot flying the Embraer Praetor 600. He has two type ratings and extensive flying experience throughout the country. Brandan completed all of his flight training at SCFC and has been involved in the community since 2015. He was formerly the Safety Seminar Program Director, where he served in his role for many years. The Federal Aviation Administration recognized his efforts for improving aviation safety with awards in 2022 and 2023.

Full Moon Flyers and Upwind Dinner
2025-07-11 18:30 - 22:00 | San Carlos Flight Center
FOG’s biggest event of the year is back!
On the evening of Friday July 11, join us at the Santa Rosa Airport (STS) to continue our yearly tradition of celebrating the Upwind Class of 2025 with a fly-out dinner event. We invite all pilots to showcase the fantastic General Aviation community to high-school students and their families. Please park around 6:30 PM at the Sonoma Jet Center FBO. If confused of its location, ask for progressive taxi or look for San Carlos Flight Center aircraft parked on the ramp. Exit through the pedestrian gate and plan to meet up no later than 7:00 PM at Sonoma Flying Ace restaurant inside the passenger terminal. Afterward, enjoy the twilight flight home. The restaurant has asked for each table to pay as a group instead of individual checks, please plan accordingly.
Upwind students will fly with their instructors, but FOG pilots who are able to will often allow the students’ families to ride along in their aircraft. This is a great way to introduce the families to the aviation community and the incredible people behind it.
This is FOG’s most popular event. Last year, we set the record for the largest FOG event ever. Can we top it this time?
Due to the popularity of this event and the coordination of rides, please make sure to RSVP and book your plane early! Also, when you register, please let us know where you are departing from and if you are able to accept passengers. For those that are willing to take parents and family members, FOG and Upwind will be in contact with you to coordinate the logistics.
We look forward to seeing you there!

An Insight on California Weather From NWS Specialists
2025-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
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 over 30 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.

Pacific Northwest Adventure: Puget Sound & Canada
2025-07-17 - 2025-07-20
Join FlyOutGroup on an incredible cross-border adventure to the Pacific Northwest! This is your chance to experience mountain flying, island-hopping, and international operations all in one trip.
The trip begins on Thursday, July 17, when we set off from San Carlos en route to Seattle’s downtown Boeing Field (BFI) airport. On the flight up, you’ll experience mountain flying as you cross the Siskiyou Range, overflying the beautiful Trinity Alps and navigating around Mt. Shasta. On arrival into Seattle, you’ll learn to navigate the complex Seattle airspace, which is shared by a major international airport, busy Class Delta airports, and multiple military bases. We’ll spend the afternoon enjoying the summer weather in downtown Seattle.
The following morning, we’ll depart for the San Juan Islands, landing at beautiful airports like Friday Harbor (FHR), Orcas Island (ORS), and Lopez Island (S31). Pilots will gain experience flying over water and learning to mitigate the risks of a water landing. After lunch, grab your passport for a quick flight across the United States/Canada border, where we’ll land at one of the busiest airports in Canada – Vancouver International Airport (CYVR)! Clear customs, and the evening is yours.
Saturday brings experience flying around British Columbia, where you have the chance to fly through the stunning Coast Mountains north of Vancouver, or venture up the fjords surrounding Victoria Island. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the US, where you’ll clear customs before setting off to Portland for the night (PDX). Don’t miss the chance to circle the 14000’ Mt. Rainier on the way south!
The final day of the trip allows you to depart at your leisure. You can visit the Evergreen Air and Space Museum in McMinnville (MMV) or spend time flying over Crater Lake. We’ll return to San Carlos by early evening, capping off an incredible four days of flying!
Itinerary:
Thursday, July 17:
Depart San Carlos in the AM
Lunch at your leisure
Arrive Boeing Field – Seattle (BFI) mid-afternoon
Friday, July 18:
San Juan Island Hopping (AM)
Lunch – Roche Harbor
Fly to Vancouver (CYVR) – arrive mid-afternoon
Saturday, July 19:
Depart Vancouver for Canada exploring – 9:00 AM
Lunch – Victoria Airport
Border crossing mid-afternoon
Arrive Portland International Airport (PDX) early evening
Sunday, July 20:
Depart at your leisure
Hotels:
The suggested hotels are as follows:

July 17-18: Courtyard Seattle Downtown/Lake Union or Silver Cloud Hotel – Lake Union
July 18-19: Lonsdale Quay Hotel or Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier
July 19-20: Aloft Portland Airport

Pilot Requirements:
All participants must have a valid, unexpired passport and FCC Radio Station License at the time of the trip. Pilots must be able to enter Canada.
Cost:
The trip is billed by SCFC at aircraft Hobbs time and the instructor’s daily rate. The rough estimated costs below are per person, and assume two people sharing the airplane and CFI costs.
CFI: 2 daily rates @ $800/day = $1,600
Airplane: 8 Hobbs hours @ $275/hr = $2,200
Lodging: 3 nights @ $200/night = $600
Estimated total cost: $4400 (excludes food, incidentals, ride-share at destinations without rental cars, etc.)
Deposit:
There is a $500 per person deposit to ensure interest. This deposit will be applied towards aircraft and instructor time. All pilots will be paired with an SCFC CFI in an SCFC Aircraft. The deposit is refundable if you withdraw from the trip with at least five days notice.
Aircraft rental and instructor time will be billed upon the completion of the trip.
Registration:
If you are interested in this trip, contact your CFI if you’re currently training. (Student pilots are welcome!) If you are not training, please send an email to flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com to express your interest. You may also sign up below.

Pilot Headsets and How to Buy One
2025-07-19 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Modern pilots use headsets to limit engine noise and improve our ability to hear Air Traffic Control and others on the plane. Most pilots buy an entry level headset to use for themselves during flight training, and then upgrade to something with more noise protection once they get their license. Many pilots also buy at least one extra headset to use with their friends and family. Nothing says “real pilot” like having your own personal headsets.
SCFC has invited Senior Instructor Michael Dutton to hold an information session about the variety of headsets types and capabilities available on the market. Michael first started flying as a helicopter pilot who often rely on fairly advanced noise cancellation technology to dampen out rotor noise. He’s since transitioned most of his flying to airplanes and has used a variety of headsets along the way, ultimately to work up to the type of headsets preferred by commercial pilots.
If you’ve been using loaner headsets and got tired of gambling on sound quality and comfort over the ears, it’s time to get yourself a headset that is perfect for you. Come and start the education process with us.
Note: If you are a pilot with headsets that you no longer use, and are looking to sell them to a new pilot starting out, please join us and bring your headset. That use headset can gain new life as a discounted offering to someone just starting out, or can serve as their backup headset for the first flight guest.

Michael Dutton is a CFI, and CFII in fixed wing, with private pilot privileges in helicopters. He’s been flying and working at San Carlos airport for over ten years, first working for the Flight Center before moving on to Airport Operations and now as Flight Instructor. His past work experience also includes time with NASA and San Carlos Airport administration.
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 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Flying for Good: Pilots Who Fly as a Gift to Others
2025-07-23 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Are you looking for another reason to fly? Most Private pilots fly for fun, taking friends and family on flying trips. Or sometimes they go on solo adventures to see scenic beauty and free themselves from the cares on life on the ground. For pilots who want another reason to get up in the air, may we suggest looking into Philanthropy flying. Volunteering to use your pilot certificate to help others.
SCFC promotes General Aviation as a way to build community, and offers discount to club members who rent planes for “Philanthropy” flights. These are flights in direct support of Angel Flight West, Pilots N Paws, CalDART, EAA Young Eagles, or any other non-profit charity. In this way, the club supports pilots, who support groups that make the world better.
On Wed, June 11th, SCFC has invited in a panel of member pilots who have flown volunteer missions for one or more of these organizations. We’ll hear their stories, and find new ways that we can use our pilot skills in a way that benefits our community. They’ll share with us the steps they take to make sure that these flights can be an enjoyable, and most importantly, a safe experience. The panel will be moderated by Nick Lusskin, SCFC’s volunteer Seminar Host. Audience discussion and questions are encouraged.
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 2024 as a Distinguished Flight School for the fourth year in a row.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Our seminars are free to watch when attended in person at our facility in San Carlos but live streaming and viewing recorded seminars are exclusively available to members. Click here or contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web library of over 500 recorded safety seminars and live-streamed content.

Under the Cowling Workshop
2025-07-26 09:00 - 10:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
CFI Herb Patten ground school student into the SCFC maintenance hangar for a closer look at airplane engines and systems, including details of the fuel, ignition, induction and more in this in-person workshop. This is your chance to look “under the cowling” in a way that goes deeper than your common preflight inspection.
As a pilot, you learn about airplane engines and systems from the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. That information is supplemented by details from your specific Airplane Flight Manual. So what more do you need to know? You crank the starter and everything works. But how does it work and how do the various systems such as the fuel, induction, and ignition work together to keep the engine flying? Ever wonder how the fuel flows from the tank to the cylinders? Or what happens when the air intake filter becomes blocked? Or what are the purposes of those tubes coming out of the bottom of the engine?
This in-person seminar will be conducted using a Cessna training plane with the engine cowling removed so you can get an up-close appreciation of the components of a typical, small single-engine airplane. Space is limited so don’t delay in signing up for this unique experience. You will walk away with a new depth of knowledge that most pilots don’t have.

SQL Tower Tour (1 of 3)
2025-08-09 09:30 - 10:00
Are you curious about what happens in the tower at an airport? Would you like to increase your knowledge of how air traffic is managed at the San Carlos airport?
The KSQL Air Traffic Manager has offered to host small groups of pilots to meet the tower controllers and take a tour of the San Carlos tower. During the tour you will get to see firsthand how the tower controllers update the ATIS, keep track of planes arriving and departing, as well as use radar to help manage the flow of traffic around San Carlos class Delta airspace.
The tours are approximately 20-25 minutes in length. Registration is required.

SQL Tower Tour (2 of 3)
2025-08-09 10:00 - 10:30

SQL Tower Tour (3 of 3)
2025-08-09 10:30 - 11:00

SCFC BBQ
2025-08-09 12:00 - 14:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
SCFC is hosting its second Summer BBQ of the season on Saturday, August 9th! Join us starting at 12pm for an afternoon filled with food, drinks, snacks, sweets, and fun activities for all ages.
Enjoy the sunshine with friends, family, and fellow aviators in the ramp area just outside our main office at 795 Skyway Road, Suite A, San Carlos, CA 94070.
Please RSVP by registering below so we can get an accurate headcount. We look forward to seeing you there!

Upwind End of Year Celebration
2025-08-29 18:30 - 20:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
You are invited to join the Upwind Celebration party on Friday, August 29th. Thanks to the generous support from SQL community, the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program completed its 11th year of providing ground and flight training to high-school pilots. Join us to celebrate the continuing accomplishment of the Upwind Program!
Join us to celebrate this year’s amazing recipients. Please RSVP below so we can get a headcount for food and drinks.

Adventures in Crosswinds
2025-08-30 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
This seminar will be held in person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Interested in watching more of our presentations? View our growing library of over 500 recorded safety seminars available to view in our Members Only Seminar Library, available by clicking here.

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 confidence 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 12 years. Dan was an instructor for 19 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.

Pacific Northwest Flying - Lessons Learned
2025-09-03 19:00 - 20:30
The Pacific Northwest is filled with countless picturesque sights and landmarks, and the Bay Area Fly Out Group (FOG) recently experienced that on an amazing flying trip through Orgegon, Washington and British Columbia. The trip included amazing destinations such as Boeing Field, San Juan Islands, Vancouver BC, Victoria, Portland International and Shelter Cove. During this seminar you’ll learn from our pilots first hand experience of how to navigate in this amazing part if the United States but also how to efficiently cross the border into Canada.
San Carlos Flight Center invites pilots Jerry Birn, Fei Fang, and Chris Haire along with CFI Travis Bender and Herb Patten to discuss some of the highlights from the trip which include traversing the Siskiyou Mountains, operating in busy airspace, flying safely with changing weather, crossing the border into Canada, landing at Vancouver, and the application of true cross-country flight planning. Any pilot can benefit learning from their experience.
Please join us for a recap of this trip with picture and video highlights, and insights from the pilots that attended.

Small Plane, Big Airport – Flying into Bravo Airports
2025-09-06 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
As a pilot, you probably learned at an airport centered around General Aviation, filled with small trainers and an occasional jet. Maybe you encountered a larger Class Charlie during your training, where you shared the taxiways with various business jets and airliners. However, many GA pilots shy away from Bravo and large international airports. At first glance, these airports may seem restricted to large multi-engine aircraft; however, you’re still able to land a Cessna at these airports!
SCFC invites Senior Flight Instructor, Travis Bender, to share what he has learned flying Cessna 172 and 182s into Bravo airports like San Francisco and Honolulu, as well as international hubs like Vancouver and Victoria. Travis will cover what it is like to plan a general aviation flight to a major hub, revealing the hurdles and operational hoops you might encounter. He’ll then walk through various arrival and departure procedures to expect, while also highlighting the unique features at large airports you might have only heard about in ground school.
You’ll walk away with the knowledge needed to feel confident operating at busy Bravo and Charlie fields. For those aspiring to fly jets for a career, this seminar is also a great primer for learning about airport operations.
Travis Bender is a Senior Flight Instructor at San Carlos Flight Center. He earned his primary certificates right here at SCFC and now conducts training for student pilots through Flight Instructors, as well as high-performance checkouts, instrument training, and mountain training. Prior to instructing, Travis worked in sustainable procurement for a large Silicon Valley company.

Full Moon Flyers - Harris Ranch
2025-09-06 19:00 - 21:00
A longtime favorite of pilots in California, Harris Ranch (3O8) is known for its award-winning steak and hamburgers. Located just outside Coalinga, the ranch features a hotel and multiple restaurants, as well as an excellent lighted runway for pilots to fly in. On Saturday, September 6th, let’s fly down to the Ranch to have dinner at their signature restaurant.
The flight down is varied as it takes you from the urban sprawl of the Bay Area, across the Diablo Range, and then a leisurely route following the I-5 corridor. You’ll get a view of the Ranch from the air before descending for the thin runway that sits just to the south of the restaurant. Upon landing, we’ll walk to the restaurant together at 7 PM, where we will enjoy a variety of freshly cut steaks and other dining options. Harris Ranch is regarded as one of the best restaurants for pilots to fly into in Northern California.
After dinner, depart for a moonlit flight back to the Bay Area. The route is easy, as you will follow the I-5 interstate until reaching Tracy, and then from there, it’s just a quick flight over the Altamont Pass into the Bay Area. If you need to reset your night currency or practice night landings for your next certificate, Los Banos, Tracy, and Byron airports are excellent places to do so.
Important: As Harris Ranch’s restaurant is very popular, please make sure you RSVP no later than September 1st. This will ensure we can accommodate seating for everyone.
Like other FOG events, please RSVP below, and indicate if you are able to take passengers, so we can allow student pilots and other aviation community members to participate.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Lessons Learned from a Career in the Sky
2025-09-10 19:00 - 20:30
Great aviators are shaped by the lessons they learn from others. Every flight brings new challenges, and the most experienced pilots have faced them time and again. By listening to their stories and insights, we can all grow into better, safer pilots.
San Carlos Flight Center is proud to welcome retired Captain Bennett Taber, who brings knowledge from more than 35 years of experience in the skies. In this seminar, Captain Taber will reflect on key learning moments from his professional career, share best practices, and discuss how every pilot can strive for excellence. He will highlight the importance of attention to detail, its impact on flight operations, and the value of mastering the basics.
There is only so much one can learn from the classroom and our routine flying. Join us to learn how to fly your best from a seasoned aviator.
Capt. Bennett Taber was a check airman and training captain with over 35 years, 30,000 landings, and well over 19,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted in Alaska. Captain Taber managed flight operations and charter sales for Dreamline Aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a company Training Captain in all models of Beech King Air aircraft.

EAA Chapter 20 Young Eagles @ SCFC
2025-09-20 09:00 - 11:45 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
SCFC is hosting EAA Chapter 20 for their Young Eagles event, with volunteer pilots offering flights for young people aged 8-17.
Learn more about Young Eagles from the EAA’s website.

Don’t Fear the Ramp Check
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30
A ramp inspection is defined as surveillance of an airman, operator, air agency, or aircraft, which may include conducting maintenance record inspections sufficient to show compliance with 14 CFR during actual operations at an airport or heliport. Ramp inspections may result when the inspector:

Observes an unsafe operation in the traffic pattern or on the ramp.
Receives notification from air traffic control (ATC) of an unsafe operation.
Observes obvious discrepancies that may affect the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Conducts routine surveillance activities.

San Carlos Flight Center invites Stephen D. Rowell, Safety Team Program Manager/Airworthiness from the San Jose FSDO to discuss of what items and documents will be inspected and reviewed during a Ramp Inspection on your aircraft.
If you’re properly prepared, an FAA ramp check should be a routine procedure. Knowing what to do, what not to do, and what is expected of you should help reduce your anxiety about them.
