San Carlos Flight Center invites Orlando Felix, Air Traffic Manager for San Carlos Airport, as he shares the relationship between controllers and pilots with the pilot community. In this seminar, he will describe some of the unique challenges that exist at SQL and how pilots and controllers can more effectively work together to improve safety and efficient operations.

If you operate at SQL you will want to tune in to learn about operations at SQL. Ever wonder why the ground controllers instruct pilots to taxi to the runup area? Or why the ATIS mentions that IFR departure should contact ground 10 minutes prior to taxi? These and many of your questions will be answered during this presentation. Don’t miss out on this unique oppurtunity.

Orlando Felix is the current San Carlos Airport Tower Manager. He has been pushing tin at San Carlos for more than 15 years. Prior to that he was a controller with the Air Force.

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.

San Carlos Flight Center invites commercial pilot and weather specialist Dave Kramer to investigate the classification and anatomy of thunderstorms, the conditions for their formation, and why they are so hazardous to aircraft. In addition to thunderstorms, Dave will also analyze why tornadoes may spawn and how their conditions are conducive for lightning.

Keep your weather hazard theoretical knowledge up-to-date with this presentation, either as preparation for a Flight Review or to enhance your safety as a pilot.

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.

San Carlos Flight Center has invited Commercial Pilot Cherrie Williams to share her journey in becoming a commercial pilot. She will share the unique things she did that better prepared her for the practical test. In addition Cherie will also talk about things she worried about but really wasn’t a big deal.

Learn about some key resources that Cherie relied on that were invaluable. Cherie will also identify some of the pitfalls to avoid, like how to make sure that the required aeronautical experience fully meets the regulations. Included will be a key set of DO’s and DON’Ts. Learn from Cherie’s experience to help you map out the path to becoming a Commercial pilot.

Whether you are about to take your Commercial checkride or just thinking about it, you will want to join this seminar to hear Cherie’s recent, first person insight into the effective steps in preparing for the Commercial checkride.

Cherie Williams is a Commercial Pilot who started flight training in 2006 out of KEDU, a small non-towered airport on the UC Davis campus. She’s flown all over California in Cessna 152/172/182s in search of $100 pies, Chinese food, milkshakes, and pancakes, but finds that the Cessna 152 is her spirit animal. When she’s not flying, she’s working on shipping hardware consumer electronics and juggling an increasingly unsustainable set of interests and spoken languages.

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. 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.

San Carlos Flight Center invites A&P Charles Rudolf to give an overview of what problems are typically found during the 100 hour and how to spread more awareness to pilots. In this seminar he will detail the tasks that are performed in a typical 100-hour inspection, provide an overview of how to handle discrepancies, and highlight the common issues that are associated with 100hr inspections. Charles will also relay how pilots can commonly cause wear and tear risking the potential for even further damage on the aircraft.

By using real-life examples and pictures, pilots can be more aware of the most frequent issues present during inspections.

Charles Rudolf is an A&P Mechanic at SCFC. Charles has been an active A&P for over 2 years and enjoys working on general aviation aircraft. He enjoys teaching others and is looking forward to speaking with the greater pilot community.

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. 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.

San Carlos Flight Center invites CFI Derek Vejby to talk about aircraft engines and some of the other systems used on most small general aviation aircraft. The material will be presented at the level of student pilots training for a private certificate.  If you’re not a natural mechanic, these aircraft systems can seem daunting, but Derek will give you a good foundation on which to learn.

We encourage all of you to invest in your knowledge and abilities, and refocus your attention to become the best pilot you can be. Join us for this seminar, and we bet you won’t be disappointed.

Derek Vejby is a full time CFI at San Carlos Flight Center, lifelong San Francisco bay area native and aviation enthusiast. He continues to strive to be a rich source of knowledge and mentorship for his students, contributing his expertise and experience in addition to his passion for the learning and teaching process.

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. 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.

Join Herb Patten, Chief Pilot at San Carlos Flight Center for this “Devils in the Details” seminar on IFR currency. In this seminar we will take an in-depth look at the regulations instrument rated pilots must follow to maintain their IFR currency. Pilots sometimes remember this as six approaches within the last six calendar months. What counts as an approach? Oh, and there is something about tracking and holding. What is meant by holding? Can I do these in a simulator instead?

Don’t let the fog of the regulations put you in a hold. This seminar will clear you for the approach as we descend via the FAA regulations and legal interpretation to clarify some of the ambiguity in the regulations.

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation through safety, community, and adventure. AOPA has consistently recognized SCFC in their Best Flight School survey, most recently in 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.

SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. 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.

Thankfully, you attended a ground school refresher seminar on NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) accident and incident reporting requirements and are able to determine if this occurrence requires immediate notification to the NTSB. Join CFI Kyle Smathers to discuss NTSB reporting requirements so that you are the pilot that complies with applicable reporting requirements and not the one who draws the ire of the NTSB. You walk away from the plane knowing that you’ll walk away with only a bruised ego and no issues from the NTSB due to regulatory noncompliance.

Navigating NTSB part 830 can sometimes be daunting, but join us to be sure you are confident in your ability to handle the unexpected.

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.

San Carlos Flight Center invites United Airlines 777 Pilot and CFI, Daniel Stellini for a discussion on the importance of consistent checklist usage. This airline-born concept can relate to operating general aviation aircraft, by knowing specific “triggers” and implementing certain “flows” for a smoother operation. In this seminar, Daniel will provide different scenarios of when these techniques apply by using real, in-cockpit recordings, drawings, and voiceovers to better communicate the importance of checklist discipline. Regardless of aircraft size, or operation, it’s critical that checklists are followed to ensure the safety of the flight.

Whether you are a pilot of a Piper Cub or a 777, checklists follow us everywhere. Join us to get an initial dose or a booster shot of checklist discipline (back) into your habit patterns!

Daniel Stellini is a CFII and a United Airlines pilot with extensive experience from Cessnas to Boeing 777’s. He is committed to developing safe and competent pilots, and is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor. In his freetime, he likes playing music, and teaching others how to become better pilots.

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. 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.

San Carlos Flight Center invites Werner von Stein, owner of the San Francisco Drone school to discuss drone operations. Many aren’t familiar with the differences between consumer and commercial operations, and how drone regulations have changed over the years. In this seminar, Werner will discuss these topics along with the different types of drones available to fly, what you need to know before you fly one, and how to operate them safely.  In the fast changing world of FAA oversight, it is important that all drone pilots be educated to cut down on reckless and dangerous operations.

Whether you are an aspiring drone pilot, already one, or a pilot curious of how drones are supposed to mesh within the national airspace system, this seminar is for you.

Werner von Stein is a professional drone pilot and owner of the SF Drone School. He initially worked as a professional in the film industry for more than 30 years before realizing the fascinating world of drones. Ever since then, Werner has made it his mission to actively educate and inspire people of all ages to fly their drones safely. As the lead FAA DronePro within the SF Bay Area he helps ensure, through education, that all drones are operating safely and appropriately within the airspace.

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. 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.