Arcana from the AIM
This seminar will be held in person, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Interested in learning more from Captain Bennett Taber? Check out his growing series of Safety Seminars on a wide array of topics and professional flying tips. His seminars are available in the Members Only Seminar Library available to view by clicking here.
| Think you know the insides and outs of the FAR and the AIM? Many pilots are familiar with the basic guidance provided in these sources, however there are many intricacies detailed in the seldom read pages of the AIM. There are numerous procedures, and techniques covered within the depths of the AIM that might be useful someday.
Have you ever heard of a cruise clearance? How about a through clearance? Vibal? If you have never heard of them to begin with, or if your palms sweat if someone presses you about this, then it’s time for you to expand your piloting knowledge and discover the full extent of the AIM. San Carlos Flight Center invites Ben Taber ATP and Check Airman of Dreamline Aviation to share with pilots how they can become safer, more efficient, and uncover some of the mysteries within the AIM. Attend this seminar to raise your AIM IQ by 20 points as you broaden your knowledge on the AIM and understand how to utilize some of these arcane procedures.
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| Capt. Bennett Taber is a check airman and training captain with over 35 years and 19,000 hours of air charter experience throughout the western United States. His first 500 hours of flying were conducted in Alaska and has over 14,000 hours of King Air time. 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.
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| 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 2023 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. 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. |
Planning the FOG Multi-Day Southwest Trip
This seminar will be held in-person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Interested in more seminars like this? Check out our Members Only Semianr Library with access to a growing library of over 500 recorded safety seminars. If you can think of a topic, we likely have it! Click the link here to view.
| Southern California and the Southwest are popular destinations due the appeal of the scenery along the way as well as the attractions and dining once you reach the destination. A number of pilot bucket list destinations can be found in this part of the country including Catalina, San Diego, Sedona, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas among others. Every summer, the San Carlos Flight Center plans a multi-day journey to seek out new destinations, spectacular scenery and challenging airports that represent unique aeronautical challenges.
Join SCFC Chief Pilot Herb Patten as he introduce these challenges present within the region, and provide an overview to the flight planning process. All long cross-country trips involve lots of thorough and thoughtful planning; so in this seminar, Herb will preview potential trip routes, considerations while mountain flying, and provide previous insight to pilots from his experience within the region. Whether you are considering flying to the Southwest or are just curious about what it is like to plan a sophisticated long-cross-country trip, you will enjoy this seminar.
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| 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 2,500 hours in more than 130 different California airports. He 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.
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| 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 2023 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. 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. |
I Just Got ForeFlight, Now What? A Beginners Guide to ForeFlight
| This seminar will be held in-person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Interested in learning more about ForeFlight? Check out our growing ForeFlight Series of Safety Seminars available for viewing on our Members Only Seminar Library. Click here to watch how to plan a flight with ForeFlight.
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 commercial pilot Brandan Dadoun to highlight some of the important first steps to take after downloading ForeFlight, and how to get started. In this seminar, he will cover a basic introduction to the application including the most efficient ways to use the software. With so many different customizations, subscription plans, and ways to do the same thing, it can be overwhelming for many. 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. After this seminar you will feel confident in your basic abilities to navigate the application and have the resources to continue to learn from. ForeFlight can be quite overwhelming with features, however, due to time constraints we are unable to provide technical support to individual audience members. 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. Have your tablet handy and discover this powerful tool available for pilots.
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| Brandan Dadoun is a commercial multi-engine pilot and SCFC’s Seminar Coordinator. He has over 700 flight hours with extensive flying experience throughout the Western US in both piston and turbine-powered aircraft. In 2021, Brandan was awarded by the FAA for his achievements in promoting aviation safety. Outside of flying and presenting, he enjoys playing the saxophone and staying active.
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| 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 2023 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. 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 the Bay Tour
This seminar will be held in person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Want to learn more about operations at local Bay Area Airports? Click here to watch a similar seminar available for Members on the Members Only Seminar Library.
| Flying in the San Francisco Bay area is spectacular, a real privilege for local pilots. The Pacific Ocean, a dramatic coastline, beautiful hills, and many famous landmarks. As pilots, we are afforded a rare bird’s eye view that we long to share with our friends and family.
So what exactly is a “Bay Tour”? What airspace is present along the Bay Tour, and what new implementations will require pilots to take into account? Join SCFC Founder Dan Dyer to examine the airspace, explain the “Bay Tour” and how a pilot can accomplish one in the safest, simplest, most enjoyable manner. In this seminar, he’ll review the various overlapping airspaces in the area, the territories for each local ATC facility, and the routings most commonly used by Flight Center pilots and suggested by ATC. You’ll learn what options are available to you even if SQL ATIS has the phrase “San Francisco is not taking surface area transitions.” This is a thorough discussion of the regulations and procedures used in flying a San Francisco Bay Tour through Class B and C airspace. If you are new to the Bay area, want to imagine the different sights you’ll see, or just want to improve your understanding of local airspace customs and procedures, please join us for this popular seminar.
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| Dan Dyer is the founder of the San Carlos Flight Center, and has built the motto of Safety, Community, and Adventure for over 8 years. 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. Find out more about Dan at www.sancarlosflight.com or contact him at dan@sancarlosflight.com
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| 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 2023 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. 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. |
Hazards of Landing at Unimproved Airports
This seminar will be held in person, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Operating at new airports poses new challenges with exciting awards. Check out our “Destination” seminar series which is available in our Members Only Seminar Library. Available to view by clicking here.
| Not all airports are well maintained, and as pilots, we need to know how to operate there safely. These airports pose new challenges and different operational considerations; however, these challenges present extraordinary access to outdoor recreation and the wilderness.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Terry Cross, a Private Pilot and Ambassador for the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) to highlight the hazards of operating at backcountry recreational airports. In this seminar, Terry will share what it takes to operate out of these airports safely. All pilots should be aware of the differences in operational technique when flying into or out of unimproved surfaces, in addition to differences present with limited communication receptivity and limited services. In addition to these safety considerations, he will also share how the RAF constantly works to preserve access to recreational airports, and improve the sustainability of unimproved airports, ensuring their accessibility for future pilots. You never know when you might have to land at an unimproved airport, so all pilots should have the knowledge of what it takes to operate safely. Join us to learn more on this unique subject.
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| Terry Cross is an Ambassador for the Recreational Aviation Foundation in California. He is an outdoorsman and has been a private pilot since 1989. He has flown his Cessna 182 and 206 throughout the western United States, with forays into Canada and Mexico. He learned to fly out of the OAK north field and has been based at San Carlos since 1998.
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| 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 2023 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. 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. |
Challenges Flying to Oshkosh
This seminar will be held in-person at SCFC, attendance is free and open to all. Web Members will still be able to access our seminars online, both live and recorded. Click here to learn more about the transition.
Interested in more seminars related to long cross-country trips and flight planning? Check out our series of flight planning presentations available in our Members Only Seminar Library. Click here for an example.
| Each year, EAA holds the world’s most renowned airshow in Oshkosh. This event boasts thousands of unique aircraft, presenters, and new learning experiences. Ambitious pilots may consider flying themselves to the show. If it’s your first time, you may wonder what it takes to create a flight plan across the country, to fly one of the most challenging arrival procedures, and most importantly to land safely?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Oliver Coolidge, an experienced Oshkosh Pilot and CFI, and Private Pilot Obed Han to talk about how to fly safely and efficiently into the “world’s busiest airport”. For one week each summer, EAA members and aviation enthusiasts totaling more than 500,000 from more than 60 countries attend EAA AirVenture at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they rekindle friendships and celebrate the past, present and future in the world of flight. “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration ” has it all when it comes to aircraft, you certainly won’t want to miss out. For many, arriving at Oshkosh is a rite of passage that can only be satisfied by being one of the more than 10,000 aircraft flying in, landing at what becomes the busiest airport in the world. It can be a challenging experience, but after attending this seminar, we are sure that you will feel more confident in your flying abilities. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or an aviation novice, AirVenture has something for you. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn more about this event, and more importantly learn how you can safely and efficiently plan flight across the country, and arrive at Oshkosh. Experience AirVenture with us. Your spot along the flightline is waiting for you.
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| Oliver Coolidge started flying in 1969 and is a retired FedEx captain with over 14,000 hours of flying. He owns a vintage 1954 Cessna 195 and has a new project with a 1971 Beechcraft Bonanza G33 “straight tail”. He also is involved with the Flying 12 Club which has built their own RV-12. Chapter 20 was recently the recipient of an EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship which has awarded a $10,000 flying scholarship to a local young aviator.
Obed Han is a Private Pilot. He is an EAA James Ray Scholarship recipient and continues to advance in his training because of it. He is also involved within numerous aviation programs, including co-founding the local EAA Chapter’s Young Aviators program, participating in the RV-12 build, and volunteering as a mentor for VATSIM, virtually controlling airplanes across the Bay Area and training other ATC candidates.
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 2023 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. 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. |
Ground School Refresher Flight Instruments
This seminar will be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing
Are you interested in learning more about ground school-related topics? Check out our entire series of ground school refresher seminars available in our Members Only Seminar Library. Click here to view.
| When pilots first start flying, they learn enough of the basic flight instruments to read and interpret them in flight. You have learned a bit more, but it may have been a while. In this Ground School Refresher, we’ll take a new and fresh look at the fundamental flight instruments, pushing maybe a little deeper than you did as a student. Join us for a review and maybe even to learn something new.
When pilots first start flying, they learn enough of the basic flight instruments to read and interpret them in flight. You have learned a bit more, but it may have been a while. In this Ground School Refresher, we’ll review the fundamental flight instruments, pushing maybe a little deeper than you did as a student. Join us to learn, review, or polish your knowledge on this important topic. It is important for every pilot to have an understanding of their flight instruments, as many pilots rely on them throughout their flights. Join us to learn, review, or polish your knowledge on this important topic.
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| Sid Basu is a CFII, and MEI with his Commercial ASEL, AMEL and instrument rating with over 2000 hours total time and over 1500 hours of dual given. He has been flying since 2008 and has been instructing at San Carlos Flight Center since 2017.
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| 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 2023 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars. |
Reflections on the Pilot in Command Role in General Aviation
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing
Interested in learning more about regulations surroundings pilots? Check out similar seminars available to view in our Members Only Seminar Library by clicking here.
| Most pilots first hear the term “Pilot in Command” (PIC) during flight training. You may have learned the textbook definition, but do you really understand how to act as PIC? It comes with a great deal of responsibility. Do you know how to handle difficult situations where it requires you to assert your authority as PIC?
San Carlos Flight Center invites Captain Brian Schiff, an experienced ATP and CFI to provide valuable insights into the responsibilities of being a PIC. With years of experience flying as a Captain in professional flying environments, he’s developed a better understanding of what a true PIC should embody. In this seminar he will discuss the regulations that govern PIC authority, the importance of aeronautical decision making, and setting a good example for others. Being a PIC is a significant responsibility that requires both technical knowledge and good judgment. Brian’s experiences will shed light on the many aspects of this role and help pilots better understand their responsibilities when flying general aviation aircraft. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn more about the responsibilities of a PIC and incorporate these practices into your daily flying.
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| Captain Brian Schiff is an ATP and CFI. Schiff is a highly-experienced pilot who is type-rated on a variety of aircraft, including Airbus A320, Boeing 727, 757, 767, DC-9 (MD-80), CL-65, LR-JET, and G-V. He has a strong background in general aviation and holds several flight instructor ratings, as well as being a former FAA Pilot Examiner. Schiff is an accomplished educator, known for simplifying complex procedures and concepts for his students. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Masters of Science Degree in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri. Schiff is a regular presenter, an FAASTeam Representative, NAFI Board Member, has been published in many aviation publications.
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| 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 2023 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars. |
In-Person Workshop – Under the Cowling: A Look at a Cessna 172 Engine
| This is a non-live-streamed, in-person workshop at San Carlos Flight Center. Registration is required. To register, create a free flight center account by clicking here, return back to this page, scroll down and click “sign up”. We welcome anyone to attend this unique look into an aircraft.
As a pilot you learn about airplane engines and systems from the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. That information is supplemented by details from your specific Airplane Flight Manual. So what more do you need to know? You crank the starter and everything works. But how does it work and how do the various systems such as the fuel, induction, and ignition work together to keep the engine flying? Ever wonder how the fuel flows from the tank to the cylinders? Or what happens when the air intake filter becomes blocked? Or what are the purposes of those tubes coming out of the bottom of the engine? Are you ready to take your airplane systems knowledge to the next step? San Carlos Flight Center invites A&P Charles Rudolf for a unique perspective on airplane engines and systems. In this in-person seminar, you will learn the details of the fuel, ignition, induction and more. This in-person seminar will be conducted using a Cessna 172 with the engine cowling removed so you can get an up-close appreciation of the components of a typical, small single engine airplane. Space is limited so don’t delay in signing up for this unique experience. You will walk away with a new depth of knowledge that most pilots don’t have. |
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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 2023 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars. |
IFR and G1000
This seminar will only be available for online viewing.
Click here to learn more about online viewing
Interested in learning more about instrument flight? Check out our Members Only Seminar Library for many IFR-related seminars such as instrument currency, approach plates, departure procedures, and other complex IFR subjects. Click here to watch.
| The G1000 offers a plethora of features that are used by both VFR and IFR pilots. All pilots should have a basic level of competence in operation of their G1000 equipped airplane, but it is even more relevant for IFR pilots because of the intricacies of the G1000 and the impacts of failures under IFR.
San Carlos Flight Center invites Brian Eliot, Assistant Chief Pilot, to discuss the most efficient use of the interface. This will improve pilot awareness of the various G1000 modes and understanding of incipient system failures. During this seminar Brian will cover the fundamentals of IFR flight using the G1000 interface, explain how to efficiently use the G1000 for instrument flight, and how to handle failures. Join us if you are an aspiring IFR pilot and want to know how the G1000 will be a useful aid in your training, or if you are a seasoned IFR pilot looking for a refresher on the G1000 interface.
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| Brian Eliot is San Carlos Flight Center’s Assistant Chief Pilot and 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.
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| 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 2023 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 library of over 500 recorded safety seminars. |