Catalina Island boasts 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.

San Carlos Flight Center invites Instrument Rated Pilot David Agranovich to discuss what pilots flying to Catalina Airport need to know.  Some of which include unique flight planning considerations for Catalina, including local arrival and departure procedures, considerations for open water flying safety, route selection for IFR and VFR pilots, transiting the LA SFRA, W&B and fuel planning, services/fees/facilities at the Airport in the Sky, and some things to plan to do once you get there.  Catalina can serve as a perfect day trip for most pilots, but that does not come without extensive planning and safety measures adhered to.

Join us for this unique opportunity to delve into Catalina Airport operations, and how you can fly there safely and efficiently.

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

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

SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Years ago, when GPS navigation systems first entered the cockpit, pilots were forced to interpret GPS signals through older VOR devices.  Now with color and moving map displays using GPS navigation is easier than ever.  But for new pilots some of the terms may be confusing.

San Carlos Flight Center invites chief pilot Dan Dyer for an introduction to basic GPS terms in use.  Learn the difference between TRK, DTK, and XTK.  This is your chance to ask a flight instructor all the questions about GPS that you’ve wanted to ask.  If you recently added a GPS unit to your aircraft or you are a new pilot starting out on cross-country navigation using GPS this is the presentation for you.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn how GPS can be a useful aid to many pilots, when used safely.

Dan Dyer is a flight instructor and Chief Pilot of San Carlos Flight Center.  He has been instructing for 16 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 2019 as a Distinguished Flight School.

SCFC is committed to promoting safety in general aviation through our regular safety seminars and guest speaker programs. Space is often limited so it is important to sign up early. SCFC members may choose to watch the seminar live over the web at home, or recorded at a later date. Click here or contact a SCFC member service rep at (650) 946-1700 for more information about online access.

Flying an airplane is fun, but building your own airplane will really teach you about airplane systems and airworthiness.  That lifelong childhood dream of building your own safe, FAA-approved airplane can come true.  The safety of an airplane is a pilot’s top priority, and so what do you need to know as a builder to be sure that your airplane will stay in the air?

San Carlos Flight Center invites Thomas Carlson, a Sport Pilot and ELSA (Experimental Light Sport Aircraft) Airplane Builder to speak with the pilot community on the ups and downs of his experience building his airplane.  The experimental build category provides seemingly limitless affordable choices and is where ASTM / LAMA standards are applied in a reasonable and safe way to build planes.  However, many people can be intimidated by the thought of building their own airplane.  Where do I start?  When can I start?  Why would I want to do this?  Will my airplane even stay in the air?  Airplane builders must take into account all the necessary measures.  In this seminar Thomas will answer all of those questions along with discussing his experiences with choosing, building, and soon to be flying a VAN’S RV-12iS.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from a fellow aviator how you can safely build the airplane of your dreams.  You don’t have to be an expert craftsman nor a rocket scientist to build, but there are definitely things to learn from someone who has been through this process before.

Thomas Carlson is a Sport Pilot and ELSA (Experimental Light Sport Aircraft) Airplane Builder that loves sharing his airplane building experiences with the pilot community.  He is an active member in EAA Chapter 20 and hopes to be flying his Vans RV-12iS soon.

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 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.

You’ve read about them and maybe had to answer a knowledge test question about them but do you really need to know the details of a DME arc on an instrument approach?  After all, you are flying with modern avionics with WAAS capability, VOR approaches are a thing of the past right?  Then it happens, you are IMC and your destination is below minimums even the LPC and know you need to divert.  You divert to an airport and pull up the approach chart and realize the approach has a DME Arc.  Do you remember how to do it?  What will you do if the GPS and autopilot won’t magically fly the arc for you?

Do not fear the arc.  In fact, they can be quite fun and rewarding and will keep you proficient with the basic navigation instruments.  In this seminar, Brian Eliot will demystify the the DME arc approaches found at Crescent City (KCEC), Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (KFCH), Tri-Cities Airport (KPSC), Yakima Air Terminal (KYKM), along with two right here in the Bay Area, Watsonville (KWVI) and Salinas (KSNS).

If you are an IFR or interested VFR pilot, take advantage of the expert insight offered by Brian Eliot, IFR resident expert at San Carlos Flight Center.

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 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.

Summer is here and all of us are itching to get back into flying.  However, with the hot summer heat comes Thermal Turbulence.  Want to know how it will affect your next flight?

San Carlos Flight Center invites commercial pilot and weather enthusiast Dave Kramer to discuss Thermal Turbulence.  In this seminar, Dave will cover what to expect from Thermal Turbulence, where to fly to get a good ride, and how to identify it before you get hit.  Many pilots don’t know how to anticipate where and how Thermal Turbulence may impact your flight.  In some cases, that may be ok, but in other cases it is crucial to recognize the dangers that come with this Thermal Turbulence before you take your next summer flight.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about Thermal Turbulence to better prepare you and your passengers for your next flight this summer..

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

San Carlos Flight Center (SCFC) is the SF Bay Area’s most dynamic flying club, committed to building general aviation thought 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.

San Carlos Flight Center invites AGI and CFI Herb Pattern to explore the “Circle to Land” instrument approach.  In this seminar, Herb will review the design criteria that cause an approach to be titled for circling only, when circling minimums are excluded from a chart, when you can land straight in from a circling approach, and when you can circle from a straight-in approach.  It’s also crucial not to forget discussing chart notes, circling restrictions, and formulating a landing plan based on the approach path and runway layout.  Finally, we will examine the critical execution of the circling missed approach maneuver.

All instrument-rated pilots need to be familiar and confident with these procedures.  You will never know when you are faced with this situation.  Join us, and re-familiarize yourself with this unique procedure.

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 2,000 hours and flown 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 thought 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.

Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a hub of the aviation industry and innovation, and what better way to experience this cosmopolitan region than in the air?  However, with a major international airport, multiple military bases, and rapidly shifting weather patterns, flying in this airspace isn’t easy to navigate.

San Carlos Flight Center invites member pilots Travis Bender and Brandan Dadoun to delve into Seattle Airspace, the San Juan Islands, and different ways a Bay Area Pilot can reach Seattle.  This seminar will break up the complex Seattle Airspace into smaller areas so it can be interpreted and flown easily for any pilot hoping to fly in the region.  In addition, we will also discuss proper procedures for many airports, including SeaTac International, Boeing Field, and Renton, as well as how to handle some of the unique challenges of flying in the region, such as terrain and weather.  Finally, we will highlight how to fly from the Bay Area to Seattle VFR.

If you are hinting in flying to Seattle in the near future, this seminar will help you get there efficiently and safely.

Travis Bender is private pilot in airplanes, and an Upwind Scholarship alumni, who learned to fly at SCFC.  An avid adventurer, he loves flying to new areas and discovering fun places to fly.  Travis currently attends the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, when he is not in the air.

Brandan Dadoun is the SCFC’s Seminar Coordinator, and has completed the majority of his flight training at SCFC – over 75 flight hours.  He is an advocate for getting youth involved in aviation and is actively involved in many aviation programs.  He is an active volunteer at the Hiller Aviation Museum, and previously an active volunteer in the local EAA chapter.  Brandan loves teaching others when he is not flying himself.

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 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.