Blades of Glory
2020-01-25 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Is this tiny nick on the propeller an airworthiness item? How perfect does the paint need to be to keep the propeller balanced? If my propeller isn’t completely broken, do I still need to send it to the shop? San Carlos Flight Center has invited Samantha Bloodhart of Sullivan Propellers for an enlightening and educational presentation to promote awareness of safety related propeller and propeller governor issues.
Sam will review basic knowledge such as the design differences between the major manufacturers, fixed pitch vs. constant speed operation, realistic evaluation of condition that anyone can accomplish, and the inherent dangers of deferring propeller (or any other aircraft) maintenance. She will discuss some of the common propeller Airworthiness Directives that are owner-operator responsibility (not just mechanics). Finally, she will explain the differences between overhaul, dynamic balancing, and other major types of propeller/governor service. This is all supported with numerous photos and years of anecdotes (some amusing and some amazing).
Propellers are an essential part of flight, and pilots should gain a better understanding about them. If you want to gain more knowledge about what keeps you flying, we encourage all pilots to attend.
Samantha Bloodhart moved to the Bay Area in 1994 from Ohio to open Sullivan Propeller Specialists with her partner Brian Sullivan. Sullivan Propeller has been in business in Hayward since we opened, now 23 years. She is a licensed FAA Repairman. Currently she is the voice of Sullivan Propeller – handling most of the administrative tasks as well as front-line on customer service. Samantha is also the primary administrator for our Repair Station and handles all the FAA requirements/compliance issues as such. Bloodhart founded Sullivan Propeller in 1994, along with Brian Sullivan.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

SpaceX Booster LA
2020-01-25 11:15 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Stand next to the SpaceX Booster and see just how large it is

If Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon can make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, then FOG can make the LA Run in 1 day. Fly to LA and cross LAX to land at Hawthorne Airport aka Jack Northrop Field where SpaceX and its subsidiary The Boring Company is headquartered at the southeast end of the airport. In between the field and SpaceX is TESLA studios.

Outside of SpaceX, about a block’s walk from the Jet Center, is a Falcon Booster Rocket. This is your unique opportunity to see it up close. Unfortunately SpaceX, The Boring Company and TESLA do not offer tours so this is a limited focus mission to see the booster, have lunch and experience LA air space. We will meet at the Jet Center at 11:15 am. After seeing the booster, we’ll have lunch at Eureka at the Jet Center before returning home.

This is an awesome flight which offers many options to transverse the LA Bravo, a few which will take you over the LAX Airport Complex itself. You will truly feel privileged being a pilot.

Please sign up below so we can get an accurate headcount and keep you in the loop with updates.
FOG is for EVERYONE. You do not have to be a San Carlos Flight Center member to attend.
Please note that you must be logged into the website in order to sign up

Do You Have What it Takes?
2020-01-22 19:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
What is the most intense job interview you have ever had? When you knew you really wanted the position but also knew that one wrong answer would get your resume deposited in the circular file. For Commercial Pilots trying to enter the world of charter aviation and/or corporate flying, that first job interview may seem daunting.
SCFC has invited Ben Taber a Training Captain for Dreamline Aviation, to reveals the top questions used by intake recruiters to test Commercial Pilot knowledge. Do you have what it takes? Are you willing to risk your aviation reputation? But seriously, some of you may be interested in a future career as a professional pilot. We have invited Ben Taber, noted aviation lecturer, to share with us the intake questionnaire used in screening pilot applicants at his charter organization. Passing this quiz is the first step in the hiring process. It lets them weed out the future captains from the sky jockeys.
If you are ever wondering what a professional flying interview feels like, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to experience it yourself.
Capt. Bennett Taber is a check airman and training captain with over 20 years and 16,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted in Alaska. Captain Taber manages flight operations and charter sales for Dreamline Aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a Dreamline Training Captain in Beech King Air aircraft.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

TBM Adventures Across Europe
2020-01-18 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Flying in a 182 to the mountains might seem like the adventure of a lifetime, but how about flying a TBM 930 throughout Europe? For one Bay Area pilot, this was one of the most challenging but yet rewarding experiences he’s ever had, and he is wanting to share it with all of you.
San Carlos Flight Center is pleased to invite ATP Tom McGraff to share his experience of flying across Europe. Tom had to undergo many tireless hours of planning, flying, and waiting for weather patterns to clear by. He was one of the very few pilots who dared to take their single engine across the Atlantic Ocean to get to Europe and back to mainland America. Tom will cover the many ways that one pilot could’ve gone about this trip, the challenges he faced and how he overcame them. With going to Europe across the Atlantic brings a whole new set of challenges; unpredictable winds, new ATC procedures, and limited options to land incase of an emergency. How did his training hold up?
You won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to gain an insight on how a fellow pilot chartered across the unknown in an astounding journey that all pilots can learn from.
Tom McGrath brings over 6,800 hours to the discussion with trips to Europe, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Trips to most of the destinations were in Bonanzas and recently in TBM’s. When not flying 350-400 hours a year, Tom is a consultant to the US Government on engineering risk.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

I Just Got ForeFlight, Now What?
2020-01-15 19:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Students and new pilots are increasingly flying with computer tablets, and using software that replaces paper charts and documents with the digital equivalents. These applications, such as ForeFlight, are extremely powerful and have a plethora of features. For a pilot just beginning to use ForeFlight, the choices and options seem overwhelming. Valuable features and capabilities can go undiscovered.
Join SCFC in inviting Alessandro and Brandan to highlight some of the important first steps to take after downloading ForeFlight, and how to get started. In this seminar, we will cover the most efficient ways to use this helpful software, along with many of the helpful tools to help with your flight planning. Some of these include how to set up performance profiles, weight and balance, how to use geo referenced charts, and set up your electronic logbook. Through this seminar you will be able to gain more confidence on how to use one of the most popular EFB.
If you are just beginning to explore the features of ForeFlight and want to deepen your understanding on how to effectively use these great tools, you will want to attend this seminar. Bring your tablet and show up to discover the best features for new pilots.
Alessandro Franco is a Private Pilot and Upwind Scholarship Recipient who completed all of his training at SCFC. He is currently working on his Instrument Rating and frequently utilizes ForeFlight, having learned many of the intricate tips and tricks of the application. His experience with these technological advancements in aviation will prove to be a vital asset in the discussion of this ForeFlight Seminar.
Brandan Dadoun is a Student Pilot and SCFC’s Seminar Coordinator, Brandan has completed the majority of his flight training at SCFC; with over 65 flying hours. He is an advocate for getting youth involved in aviation, and is actively involved in many aviation programs. He is excited to share his knowledge with people that are ready to learn.

Procedures and Zones: Two Very Different Workings of the Pilot Brain
2020-01-11 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
A pilot learns to fly using the whole brain. Ground knowledge has to be absorbed and understood, and complex muscle memory skills need to be acquired to the point of mastery. Flight Instructors sometimes note that in reality the student teaches themselves to fly, and the instructor is only responsible for creating a safe training environment and a structure to move things along. By the time a pilot passes the Private Pilot checkride, he or she has developed a rich knowledge base, and a number of fluid reflex control movements that safely move the aircraft from ground to flight and back to the ground.
CFI Dan Dyer thinks a lot about the human brain, and how student pilots acquire and retain knowledge and skills. He studied Cognitive Science at UCLA, and uses that background to develop effective structured training programs for San Carlos Flight Center. In this seminar, we will divide the world of piloting into two very different brain function tools – procedures and zones. Procedures are step-by-step tasks used to accomplish a specific goal. Zones are the mental steady states a pilot goes into while keeping the aircraft within a specific range of performances.
Join us for a brainy discussion that may give you a different way of thinking about the things you do while flying.
Dan Dyer is a flight instructor and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center. He has been instructing for 15 years, has 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 thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information.

Certification Limitations
2020-01-04 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Meeting the requirements for a new FAA pilot certificate is a huge accomplishment that gives the certificate holder an exciting set of privileges. However, terms and conditions apply: there are limitations to what a newly minted pilot can do with their certificate.
Join CFI Kyle Smathers as he presents an overview of the limitations of pilot certificates up to the commercial certificate. In addition to the regulations listed in CFR 14, there are also letters of interpretation that government legal teams have published to clarify the meaning of the regulations. Just because you think a regulation means something, doesn’t mean the government representatives think that it means the same thing.
Help yourself from inadvertently running afoul of government regulations by familiarizing yourself with what materials dictate the limitations on your certificate.
Kyle Smathers started flying in 2011 and is passionate about aviation. Kyle graduated from SJSU with an Aerospace Engineering degree, and now works as a CFI at San Carlos Flight Center. He is a Commercial: ASEL, Instrument Airplane Pilot. He offers training in Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, High performance transition, Complex transition and Flight review.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

NO SEMINARS
2019-12-25 - 2020-01-01 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
No seminar due to Christmas and New Years. Please Note SCFC office is also CLOSED on December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st. The office will be closing early December 24th @ 2PM and December 31st @ 2PM. Please come back and join us for the next seminar on January 4th.

Chief Pilot Tells All: Lessons Learned from My Worst Mistakes
2019-12-21 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
There is a great sharing of information and stories whenever two or more pilots come together. Hangar talk has a long history in passing down tips and advice from one generation to another. Everyone makes mistakes… even high-time pilots or the Chief Pilot of a flight school!
Dan Dyer is Owner and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center and has thousands of hours of flight experience. It’s fair to say that over a career that long, he’s made a few mistakes. Like everyone, we all learn from our mistakes; and in this seminar, we have invited Dan to recount some of his worst flying mistakes and walk participants through the lessons he learned from them. Learn about how to prevent them from happening to you, but also how to grow and become a better pilot as a result.
Learn from the best in this interactive way to learn how to prevent these mistakes to you, in turn making you a safer, more competent pilot. A good pilot is always learning, and it’s best if you can learn from the mistakes of others.
Dan Dyer is a flight instructor and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center. He has been instructing for 15 years, has 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

Low Enroute Charts
2019-12-18 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Winter is here with all its IMC. The game is real and this is what we train for. You probably have a general understanding of IFR charts including Victor airways and MEAs, but this is the last time to really looked closely at all the information available on a chart. Do you recall how to decipher MRAs? How about the different type of fixes found along an airway? We will take a close look at some hidden gems of details on the IFR enroute charts.
SCFC Flight Instructor Herb Patten will present a safety seminar that will help to end the confusion. He will demystify the numbers and markings on the FAA’s IFR Low Enroute Charts and help pilots develop a better understanding of the details on these charts. Herb will explain waypoint and navigational aid symbology, and describe the various altitudes shown on the charts. This is a valuable safety seminar for new IFR Students and a great refresher for pilots that are already instrument rated.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity for training IFR pilots or the seasoned pro’s to get a refresher on how to take advantage of these charts that will help them inflight.
Herb Patten is the Assistant Chief Pilot of 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 over 900 hours and flown into at least 111 different California airports. He is co-founder of the Bay Area Student and New Pilot Support Group, and a board member 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.

Whats new with Electric GA Aircraft
2019-12-14 12:00 - 13:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
With global pollution on the rise, airplanes are unfortunately one of the main contributors. Exhaust, noise, lead emissions, etc. What solutions are being done about this? Luckily solutions are on the rise, with electric airplanes becoming more prevalent within the GA community.
San Carlos Flight Center is pleased to invite Susan Ying from Ampaire Aviation to present the newest discoveries with electric GA aircraft. This presentation provides an overview and highlights Ampaire’s pragmatic approach of developing practical, compelling electric aircraft that makes flying clean, quiet, and more affordable and accessible to everyone than ever before. A video of our successful flight test of the first hybrid prototype will also be shown.
You surely won’t want to miss this seminar if you are interested in seeing the bright future of more environmentally friendly aircraft, and the latest technological advancements within aviation. See you in the unpolluted skies!
Dr. Ying is the Senior Vice President of Ampaire, responsible for the technology strategy and international relations. She has devoted over 38 years to the aerospace industry, with experience at NASA, Boeing, and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). Dr. Ying is recognized as a Fellow of the AIAA and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). With a deep passion for flight, Dr. Ying holds a Commercial Pilot License and is a FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). She received her PhD and MS degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University and BS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University

Radio Comm 4: Bravo and Charlie Airspace
2019-12-11 19:00 - 20:30 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Pilots new to the SF Bay area sometimes feel uncomfortable communicating with controllers in busier Class B and C airports. Let’s address that. Let’s talk about radio communications and help each other overcome fears, operate more safely, and smooth the work of Tower and Approach Controllers.
In this seminar, San Carlos Flight Center continues our radio communications series, this time focusing on general aviation operations at Class Bravo and Charlie airports. SFO, OAK, and SJC come with a whole new set of challenges for GA pilots; increased traffic loads operating in the airspace, more frequency congestion, different entrance requirements, and a whole lot more. This seminar can help you to become a more effective communicator within class B and C airspace, and prove to the controllers that you got it under control.
You surely won’t want to miss this seminar if you have ever felt uneasy operating within Class B or C airspace. This seminar is guaranteed to make sure that all pilots will feel safer on their next flight into these airports, don’t miss out.
Dan Dyer is a flight instructor and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center. He has been instructing for 15 years, has over 4,000 flight hours, and is the Bay Area’s local expert in crosswind landing instruction. He is known for finding simple and innovative ways to explain complex topics and regularly speaks on advanced ground school topics. Find out more about Dan at www.sancarlosflight.com or contact him at dan@sancarlosflight.com
Herb Patten is the Assistant 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 over 1,500 hours and flown into at least 120 different California airports. He is co-founder of the Bay Area Student and New Pilot Support Group, and a board member 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.

Mid-Air Collision Avoidance and NUQ Operations
2019-12-07 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
With airspace only getting busier, more aircraft are flying closer to each other every day. We as pilots need to be vigilant about other traffic around us at all times, as it’s crucial for our own safety.
San Carlos Flight Center is pleased to invite Lt. Col Chris Nance to speak with the pilot community about how all pilots can improve their alertness while flying. The Mid-Air Collision Avoidance Program is an outreach program to foster relationships with local aviators to educate and inform the local community about military operations and training to ensure a safe operating airspace. During this seminar, Lt. Chris will explain about the different military operations that operate around NUQ, where they operate, and how VFR pilots can remain safely away from military operations.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to improve the safety of you, and your passengers while flying on your next journey. There will also be a Q&A after the seminar regarding any military operations or collision avoidance.

Ground School Refresher: Airport Signs and Markings
2019-12-04 19:00 - 20:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Pop quiz: What is the new ICAO standard marking for a taxiway approaching a runway? What markings differ between a blast pad and a displaced threshold and what does that indicate to pilots
If it has been awhile since you sat through ground school, you may want to join us for a refresher on Airport Signs and Markings. In this safety seminar, we will review the various colors and markings and symbols used on taxiways, runways, parking areas, and areas off-limits to aircraft. Most pilots have at least an operational knowledge of their favorite airports, but travel to new airports can sometimes be jarring. Find out what has changed recently in ICAO standards so that you operate safely at your next new airport. Then look for the changes when they happen at your own airport. You will leave the seminar with a renewed understanding, and probably a few memory aids to take with your on your next flight.
This safety seminar is open to current and aspiring Private Pilots, and will be of particular interest to student pilots and those who are preparing for a flight review.

BAY FLIGHT 2019
2019-11-30 08:00 - 17:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
BAY FLIGHT 2019 is a one-day aviation conference for SF Bay Area pilots on Saturday, October 26, 2019. The event will bring together pilots, aircraft owners, air traffic controllers, and educators to discuss a variety of current topics in aviation. BAY FLIGHT 2019 is hosted by San Carlos Flight Center and will be held at the Seaport Conference Center in Redwood City.
The conference will kickoff with a keynote address by Jason Miller, host of The Finer Points, where he will speak on “Ten Things all Pilots Should Know.” Afterwards, participants will be able to attend a variety of breakout seminars, with presenations covering a diverse set of topics. Some of the breakout sessions include talks by AOPA’s Executive Director of Air Safety, Richard McSpadden, who will lecture on the topic of “Why Good Pilots Make Bad Decisions, and ForeFlight’s Ryan McBride will walk attendees through the newest updates of the popular software. On the instrument front, IMC Club founder Radek Wyrzykowski will lead an interactive seminar with the audience on situational awareness during an IFR flight, and ground instructor Ray Owen will share tips on how to survive if you find yourself suddenly inside a cloud. More topics will also be available. Finally, attendees will be able to get their questions answered by a panel of Air Traffic Controllers, who work at various airports and sectors around Northern California.
Also included in the event is breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon reception, where attendees and presenters can network and form lasting friendships with their fellow aviators. WINGS Credit will also be available, as well. To register for the conference, please visit BAY FLIGHT 2019’s website.

Vandenberg Air Force Base Space and Missile Heritage Center
2019-11-19 13:00 - 15:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Vandenberg Air Force Base is first and foremost an active-duty military installation, as well as the preeminent west-coast spaceport and test range. It provides indispensable launch, landing, and range capabilities to the nation.
30th Space Wing Public Affairs also provides a quarterly tour to the Space and Missile Heritage Center located at the historic Space Launch Complex-10. The center also serves as the base museum.
Tuesday, OCT 22, 2019, FOG has reserved a tour spot for 15 people first come first served so sign up now. Tours will depart at 1 p.m. promptly at the gate of the base on October 22, 2019. This is an awesome experience.
Participants 16 years and older will need to provide a driver’s license number or passport. For participants under 16 years of age, only name and date of birth are required. If you plan to attend please send the following information for each member of your party to info@sancarlosflight.comso that we can submit it to Vandenberg 60 days in advance.
Full name (for each party member)
Date of birth (for each party member)
Driver’s license number and state of issue (for each party member)
If you are a non-U.S. citizen please provide your passport ID number and nation of issue at least 60 days in advance.
Vandenberg Air Force Base tours can be canceled at any time due to mission requirements.

Charter Pilot
2019-11-06 19:00 - 20:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Ben Taber talks about being a charter pilot.

What I learned Building my Own Airplane
2019-11-04 12:00 - 14:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Flying an airplane can be fun in itself, but what about building your own? That lifelong childhood dream of building you own real airplane might be coming true; but what does it take to get there?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Reinhardt Quelle, an experienced Private Pilot and Airplane Builder to speak with the pilot community on the ups and downs of his experiences. The experimental/amateur built category provides seemingly limitless choices not only in what you can build, but also in *how* you build it, from scratch-building to builder-assist programs. There are some incredible advantages to the EAB route… and some downsides. Reinhardt will discuss his experiences with choosing, building, and now flying and maintaining his Sportsman. As a bonus, Reindhart will even bring his homebuilt airplane for a real tour after the seminar.
Don’t miss out on this one opportunity to learn from a fellow aviator how you can successfully build the airplane of your dreams. You don’t have to be an expert craftsman nor a physicist to build!

Radio Communications 3 - Non-towered Airports
2019-10-12 12:00 - 13:30 | 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.
Herb Patten, Assistant Chief Pilot, AGI and CFI and Dan Dyer, Chief Pilot and CFI will walk participants through a foundation of non-towered radio communication phraseology and use, from the basics through advanced. 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 the Assistant 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 over 1,500 hours and flown into at least 120 different California airports. He is co-founder of the Bay Area Student and New Pilot Support Group, and a board member 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.
Dan Dyer is a flight instructor and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center. He has been instructing for 15 years, has 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 thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminar 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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Storm Area 51 - They Can't Stop All of the Bay Flight Fleet
2019-09-20 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Make sure you’re current to take passengers because we’re flying all the aliens back the Bay Area

A Day in the Life of a Charter Pilot
2019-09-18 19:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
It’s impossible to learn the answer to every situation while you are a student pilot. Most of a pilot’s learning happens after becoming a private pilot, and continues with every flight. Even after flying for so many years, pilot’s will encounter some interesting and unexpected situations that they never experienced before.
With over 20 years of flying as a charter pilot, Capt. Ben Taber has had numerous unforgettable moments in the cockpit. In this seminar, he will discuss his memorable times as a charter pilot, often when something did not go as planned and he was forced to adapt to a situation.
If you have ever wondered about the daily experiences professional pilots face, this is ought to seek your interest.
Capt. Bennett Taber is a check airman and training captain with over 20 years and 16,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted in Alaska. Captain Taber manages flight operations and charter sales for Dreamline Aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a Dreamline Training Captain in Beech King Air aircraft.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminar 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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Ground School Refresher: Reading Performance Charts
2019-08-17 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Aircraft manufacturers present performance data in tabular or graphical form, and attempt to indicate how the aircraft will perform in a variety of different atmospheric conditions and power settings. Usually found in Section 5 of the Pilot’s Operating Manual, these charts can be used to help pilots determine takeoff and landing distance, fuel burn, and rate of climb depending on factors like temperature, pressure altitude, and whether or not there is an obstacle.
In this safety seminar, San Carlos Flight Center’s Assistant Chief Pilot Brian Eliot will present a ground school refresher, reviewing the information you need to know during a cross-country flight and before you land or takeoff from an airport. He will actively involve the audience in this fun review of performance charts and point out interesting facts that you may not know.
If you want to improve your ability to read performance charts, or just want to test yourself, don’t miss this ground school refresher.
Brian Eliot is San Carlos Flight Center’s resident expert for IFR training and 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 thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminar 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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

FOG Yellowstone
2019-08-01 - 2019-08-05
HOTEL INFORMATION
Wednesday 6/26, Thursday 6/27 nights
Staying in West Yellowstone
Suggested hotel:
Stage Coach Inn
209 Madison Avenue
406-646-7381 or 800-842-2882
Booking web site

Friday Night 6/28

Suggested Hotel:
SpringHill Suites Kalispell
250 Old Reserve Drive Kalispell Montana
Booking web site: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/fcash-springhill-suites-kalispell/
888 236 2427 or 406-314-6600

Saturday Night, 6/29
Staying in Portland, OR
Suggested hotel: Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station
9920 NE Cascades Parkway
503-200-5678 or 888-627-7139
Booking web site

FOG is for EVERYONE. You do not have to be a San Carlos Flight Center member to attend.
Please note that you must be logged into the web site in order to sign up.

Changes to the Noise Abatement Procedures at KSQL
2019-07-27 12:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
San Carlos Airport has very specific departure procedures to limit the noise of airplanes above residential areas. Right now, KSQL has the Bay Meadows, Woodside, and Belmont Slough departures, but at the end of the month, new noise abatement procedures will be released. Every pilot will need to immediately adopt these new guidelines.
In this seminar, we have KSQL Airport Communications Specialist Davi Howard explaining the new departure names and procedures, something every pilot flying to and from KSQL needs to know. Come join us before San Carlos Flight Center’s July BBQ for this seminar.
Davi Howard is a dynamic speaker and being a controller and a pilot, he will bring some great perspectives to this seminar.
Davi Howard currently works with San Mateo County Airports as the Airport Communications Specialist. He spent 36 years as an Air Traffic Controller (10 years in the U.S. Air Force and 26 years working for the FAA: 6 years here at SQL, 3 years at SJC and 17 years at SFO). Davi holds a single engine land Private Pilot’s Certificate.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminar 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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

FOG Seattle
2019-07-05 - 2019-07-08
Let’s visit Seattle and the Museum of Flight

FOG Brunch at KCVH
2019-06-29 11:30 - 13:00 | KCVH
Join FOG at 11:30 at KCVH

SCFC June BBQ
2019-06-29 08:00 - 17:00
Come to the SCFC BBQ for some fun snacks and cool planes.

Private Pilot Jeopardy
2019-06-22 12:00 - 13:30
Do you remember everything from your private pilot checkride? Being safe means keeping all that knowledge current and finding a fun way to test yourself. The San Carlos Flight Center has just the answer for you!
Calling all pilots to play Private Pilot Jeopardy! Put yourself to the test against other pilots to win the title of Private Pilot Jeopardy Champion.
In this game show styled safety seminar, you will be quizzed on Federal Aviation Regulations, cockpit resource management, weather safety, aeronautical principles, situational awareness, and much more. Come to this seminar prepared with all the knowledge you brought to your private pilot checkride. All information that a VFR private pilot should know is fair game. May the best pilot win!
Private Pilot Aditya Munshi will be hosting Jeopardy. He is from the Upwind Class of 2018 and is going to UCLA to study aerospace engineering in the fall.
San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in its Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminar 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. Contact an SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

NOTAMS
2019-05-25 12:00 - 13:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
NOTAMs carry information of an immediate or transitory nature that has not yet made it into an aeronautical chart. This includes airspace and controlling regulations; you are now bound to comply with the new rules, without any textual or graphical description yet appearing in a printed chart or other document. It’s critical that pilots know where to obtain this time-sensitive information and check it before every flight.
In this presentation, SCFC Flight Instructor Brian Eliot will overview and describe recent changes to the NOTAM system. He’ll discuss various official sources for pilots to find current regulatory and advisory changes to the airspace system and the navigational aids available to pilots.
It’s important for pilots to understand: failure to know about a NOTAM does not mean that you can’t have your certificate revoked for busting one. Ignorance is no protection. All pilots should attend this very special discussion.
Brian Eliot is San Carlos Flight Center’s 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 thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminar 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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Challenge Yourself: Mastering A/C Systems and Avionics
2019-05-22 19:00 - 20:00 | San Carlos Flight Center, Select a Country:
Are you master of your aircraft? Do you understand the full power and capability of the systems and avionics on your aircraft? Or have you just met the minimum capability to be a Private Pilot. Challenge yourself! The Private Pilot certificate is a license to learn. Start on the path to add enough knowledge and skill to truly master the sky!
Last year, San Carlos Flight Center launched a Mastery Badge program for pilots who want to be the best pilot they can be. Although the FAA defines only the minimum standards for airman certification, and 70% is considered a passing grade on the Knowledge Test, SCFC thinks we should all aim a little higher. The Mastery Badge program defines the knowledge, risk awareness, and skills required to demonstrate that a pilot has reached the top of each of twelve mastery areas.
In this seminar, CFI Dan Dyer will describe the standards that SCFC has set for two of the pilot Mastery Badges – Mastery of Aircraft Systems, and Mastery of Avionics. We’ll review the mastery targets that pilots will aim for during mastery training. Systems topics include the electrical system, environmental control systems, and emergency systems. Avionics topics include GPS units, traffic and weather displays, and autopilots.
Basic competency in these areas can often come quickly, even though mastery may take years and a different approach. We encourage you to invest in your knowledge and abilities, and refocus your attention on powerplant operations as you become your own master of the sky. Join us to better understand the training challenge before you.
Dan Dyer is a flight instructor and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center. He has been instructing for 14 years, has 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 thought safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2018 as the best flight school in the West.
SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminar 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. Contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.
