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Truckee Airport is the gateway to Lake Tahoe.  The spectacular views of Lake Tahoe are a short flight away, but pilots need to be aware of the challenges associated with these flights.  Truckee is settled well above sea level, located between mountainous terrain and gorgeous vistas.  This location brings variable weather conditions which can pose tricky to manage for new pilots.  While it can be an excellent place to visit, pilots need to be thoroughly familiar with airport procedures and to know what to expect upon their arrival in Truckee.

San Carlos Flight Center invites David Van Quest, the Pilot Outreach Coordinator at the Truckee Airport to talk with pilots about terrain, best routes of travel, tower operations, and recently installed ADSB ground stations and their impact on flight operations. Truckee is a dynamic airport with noise abatement procedures, curfews, seasonal flight considerations such as density altitude, mountain wave, icing, wildlife and much more. David will also briefly touch on some of the things one might want to do in Truckee, along with the services the airport provides to visiting pilots.

If you are looking to plan a trip to Truckee sometime this summer, join us to feel more safe, confident, and knowledgeable on your upcoming trip to Truckee.

David Van Quest was originally from Southern California, David moved to the Truckee/ Tahoe area in 2013 to enjoy a life in the mountains. David began his career in aviation in 2018 when he was hired by the Truckee Tahoe Airport as their Noise Associate. In 2021 he earned his private pilot’s certificate and shortly after was promoted to KTRK’s Aviation & Community Coordinator where he interacts with community members and teaches pilots the best ways to come and go from Truckee.

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.

As part of our commitment to sharing the air safely with our neighbors, SCFC has invited in Laura Velasco Mayock, a speaker from the Seabird Protection Network, which partners with pilots to protect seabird colonies along our coast.  We’ve asked her to help our pilots understand the wildlife in the SF Bay Area, particularly along the water’s edges.  She will share incredible stories about the local wildlife, and info about NOAA overflight areas and the special species they are designed to protect.

There will be chances to win fun, unique prizes – so don’t miss it!

Laura Velasco Mayock is the Seabird Protection Network Outreach Coordinator, building partnerships with pilots to help wildlife thrive on our coasts. Laura was born and raised in the Bay Area and after spending years living abroad and on the East Coast, she is thrilled to be back home and making a meaningful impact on coastal resilience.

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.

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

The Cessna 206 is a six seat, high-performance airplane. It is known as the Stationair and has a variety of mission profiles. With more payload, seating capacity and speed than a Cessna 182, the Stationair provides the capabilities for pilots that have outgrown the 182. In addition to the constant speed propeller the 206 also comes equipped with a turbocharged engine which is an additional complexity for the pilot stepping up from a Cessna 182.

San Carlos Flight Center is pleased to introduce a Cessna 206 to the fleet. This seminar provides the foundational knowledge necessary to understand the engine components, oxygen system, instrumentation, and operating procedures. San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI Herb Patten as he reviews the systems of this aircraft and why it has earned its reputation as the airborne family hauler. This seminar is a fundamental part of the ground training required of pilots planning to get checked out and fly this aircraft at the San Carlos Flight Center.

Pilots transitioning to new aircraft must be familiar with its operating characteristics and limitations. Join us to develop a routine of how to analyze new aircraft and fly with confidence.

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.

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 third year in a row.

SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive of over 500 recorded safety seminars.

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. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive of over 400 recorded safety seminars.

Flying through in the many airspaces of California requires a high degree of situational awareness and sophisticated radio skills.  And yet, radio communication is rarely taught as a specific subject during private pilot training.  Usually, new pilots just absorb what they hear on the frequency around them, both good and bad.  Although some radio techniques are covered in ground school, rarely do student pilots get the time devoted to demystifying this often-confusing subject.

San Carlos Flight Center invites senior instructors Herb Patten and Dan Dyer to show how to perfect your communication and phraseology.  They will cover radio phraseology from the basics through advanced ATC services with emphasis on flight following and flight service stations.  This seminar will include many examples on how to recognize bad radio calls, and how to fix them. Learn how to make radio communication easier and safer for all pilots.

If you are interested in becoming better at your radio, you don’t want to miss this seminar.

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. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive of over 400 recorded safety seminars.

Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California, offers stunning Pacific island vistas, miles of hiking trails, and a tiny runway perched precariously on the top of a dynamited mountaintop.  With the beautiful surroundings and scenery, pilots can easily get distracted from what’s below.

To better understand the flight challenges associated with this airport, San Carlos Flight Center asked Senior Instructor Herb Patten to discuss what pilots need to know when flying into Catalina. In this seminar, he will cover what unique flight planning considerations are needed when venturing to Catalina, including local arrival and departure procedures, open water flying considerations, route selection for IFR and VFR pilots, and transiting the LA Special Flight Rules area.  He will review weight and balance, fuel planning, and discuss the  facilities, services, and associated fees at the Airport in the Sky (KAVX) atop the island.  There are lots of things to do once you are there, and he will share some of those highlights.

Catalina can serve as a perfect day trip for most pilots, but for those willing to do the advance planning and safety management. Join us for this unique opportunity to understand Catalina Airport operations, and how you can fly there safely.

This is a great seminar for FlyOutGroup pilots planning to do the Catalina FlyOut coming up May 30-31.

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.

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 through SF Bay Area airspace requires a high degree of situational awareness and sophisticated radio skills. And yet, radio communication is rarely taught as a specific subject during private pilot training. Usually, new pilots just absorb what they hear on the frequency around them, both good and bad. Although some radio techniques are covered in ground school, rarely do student pilots get the time devoted to demystifying this often-confusing subject.

San Carlos Flight Center invites senior instructors Herb Patten and Dan Dyer to bridge the communication gap, help newer pilots understand the structure of radio and how to improve their own.  The presentation will begin with a review of radio communication phraseology and use.  What part is structured?  What part is unstructured?  What words are good official phraseology, and what words are considered jargon, slang, or poor grammar?

If you are new to radio communication or just want a great review to fill gaps in your pilot education, please join us for this unique opportunity.

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. Livestream access is free for everyone, but recorded seminars are available solely to members at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access to our web archive of over 400 recorded safety seminars.