In This Issue
SCFC News
Safety
Community
Adventure
|
Welcome New Members
Nicholas Bayless
Steven Bookbinder
Thomas Gunter
Syed Kamran
Scott Moon
An Nguyen
Brendan Quinn
Richard Roberts
Edmund Tong
Member Achievements
Matt MacInnis
First Solo
CFI Patti Andrews
Marco Leogrande Instrument Rating
CFI Patti Andrews
Raymond Shiau Private Pilot
CFI Lukasz Zoromski
Chris Rimer
Commercial Pilot
CFI Russell Bowerman
Russell Vallecillo Instrument Rating
CFI Russell Bowerman
Ritwik Ummalaneni Private Pilot
CFI Daniel Stellini
Leonid Igolnik
Private Pilot
CFI Stephen Heesacker
Tony Cano
Private Pilot
CFI Herb Patten
John Hendricks
First Solo
CFI Sid Basu
Rajesh Raman
First Solo
CFI Stephen Heesacker
|
A fun monthly
knowledge test.
Editor: Dan Dyer
1. TFRs for a major sporting event typically restrict flight within?
a) 5NM and 5,000 feet
AGL
b) 3NM and 3,000 feet
AGL
c) 10NM and 10,000
feet AGL
2. TFRs may be issued for which of the following?
a) SCFC BBQs
b) VIP Movements
c) Wildfire suppression
d) Bowling World
Championship
3. TFRs are published as what NOTAM type?
a) FDC NOTAMs
b) NOTAM (D)
c) Pointer
(answers are at the bottom)
|
Upcoming SCFC Events and Safety Seminars |
Apr 3 (Sat) 12pm
Apr 7 (Wed) 7pm
Apr 10 (Sat) 12pm
Apr 14 (Wed) 7pm
Apr 17 (Sat) 12pm
Apr 21 (Wed) 7pm
Apr 24 (Sat) 12pm
Apr 28 (Wed) 7pm
|
Upcoming
Events & Trips
April FOG Challenge
Mar 11-16 (Thu-Tue)
our copy should
|
The Fleet
C182 - TAA
N1483L - $238/hr
N123TZ - $228/hr
N182EE - $234/hr
C182 - Analog
N9894E - $195/hr
C172S - G1000
N63251 - $180/hr
N6198N - $180/hr
N646DW - $172/hr
C172S
N106RA - $165/hr
N236SP - $165/hr
N410BS - $165/hr
N458SP - $165/hr
N21591 - $165/hr
C172R
N996RA - $154/hr
N2370F - $154/hr
C152
N111RK - $125/hr
N530CA - $125/hr
N5369H - $121/hr
C210
N210VV - $350/hr
Piper Archer
N6848J - $163/hr
Piper Saratoga
N349MA - $345/hr
Baron
N169SP - $350/hr
Simulators
IFR G1000 - $75/hr
BATD GNS-430W - $40/hr
(member prices shown)
|
Contact Us
Front Desk
(650) 946-1700
Email Us
795 Skyway Rd, Suite A
San Carlos, CA 94070
|
Pop Quiz Answers
1. b
2. b & c
3. a & c
|
|
Bid and Win! Upwind's Online Auction |
The Upwind Foundation's annual Silent Auction and fundraiser is one of the exciting events of spring. Each year, local pilots donate a number of amazing items and experiences to raise money for the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. Bidding on items is a great way to promote aviation for young pilots and have fun in the process. |
The SCFC flight line spends time keeping our fleet clean. You can often see them in the mornings cleaning the wings, checking the interior and making sure the airplane is in clean condition. Members also have a role in keeping the fleet clean.
One important thing is to make sure that the clothes used for preflight aren't mixed. We use separate cloths/rags for windshield vs. checking oil. Make sure you don't mix the clean windshield clothes with the dirty rags. Always put the rags back in their respective containers.
|
COVID Vaccine 48-hour No Fly Rule |
This month appears to be the turning point against COVID-19, as vaccines are beginning to get put into people’s arms in increasing numbers. However, due to the possible mild side effects the vaccine has, the FAA is enforcing a 48-hour no-fly period after each of your COVID-19 vaccine shots. As some people experience mild cold symptoms after their vaccine, the FAA wants to ensure you are fit to fly, so the 48-hour buffer is provided to allow you to rest. Students may continue to do ground lessons, but please do not fly until the 48-hour period is up. As always, if your symptoms are present beyond 48 hours, please follow the IMSAFE checklist and continue to rest before scheduling lessons or flights. The COVID-19 vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, but it is our responsibility to ground ourselves in order to allow the vaccine to get into our system. |
Spring is Here and So are SQL Crosswinds |
As spring and summer approaches, the winds at San Carlos pick up and we can get some strong crosswinds. SCFC's syllabus makes sure that all of our student pilots understand the importance of using proper crosswind taxi technique to protect the aircraft during movement on the surface.
It is easy for strong winds to catch ailerons and elevators, creating a real hazard to taxiing aircraft. Bank fully into a quartering headwind, and dive fully away from a quartering tailwind. These maneuvers should help with directional control and prevent against flipping. It's good practice to use full crosswind taxi technique at all times, so that your hands instinctively know where to go when you need it. It also sets you on the path toward better landings.
If you haven't been in crosswinds recently, book a session with an SCFC instructor to brush up on crosswind taxi techniques. Our crosswind simulator is an excellent learning tool.
|
Play Ball! Don’t Strike Out! |
Opening day for baseball is like a national holiday for some. For pilots, it means that we need to pay attention to NOTAM FDC 0/0367. What is this cryptic NOTAM? Referred to as the sporting events TFR, it prohibits flight within 3,000 AGL in a 3 NM radius over a “qualifying stadium” during a “qualifying event”. It is effective one hour before the scheduled start to one hour after the end of the qualifying event. What is “qualifying stadium”? These are now depicted on our charts with a magenta diamond.
A qualifying event is an MLB, NFL, NCAA Division I Football game or NASCAR Cup, Indy Cup, or Champ Series race. This is the challenging part as keeping track of this is not always easy. These events aren’t included in an FAA briefing but thankfully products such as ForeFlight and SkyVector graphically depict these. Remember that the TFR extends until 1 hour after the event actually ends and with the average length of a baseball game increasing to over 3 hours you can expect many games to last longer than that. If you want to transition via Oakland during an Oakland A’s game you might be better off transitioning overhead Hayward to avoid the TFR.
|
Meet the Upwind Class of 2021 |
The Upwind Foundation (Upwind) is pleased to announce the Upwind Summer Scholarship Class of 2021. The following San Francisco Bay Area high school juniors have been awarded the flight scholarship: Alex Fester of Palo Alto, Isabela Sugden of San Carlos, Mikey O’Sullivan of San Francisco and Teddy Seligman of San Mateo. In this accelerated flight training program, these four aspiring young aviators will aim to earn their private pilot’s certificate after nine weeks of intensive instruction.
|
SCFC Member Profile: Chris Rimer |
SCFC: What made you work for a Commercial certificate?
CR: I wanted to keep progress toward my CFI moving, and getting my Commercial rating was the next logical step. Last year, as COVID set in worldwide, I realized it would be the perfect opportunity to pursue my next aviation rating. I could study at home on my own, and once things opened up, I could begin flight training. That's exactly how it worked out. I began studying in March, and started flying at the Flight Center once instructors were allowed to return to the skies in late April/early May.
SCFC: What was the most challenging of the Commercial maneuvers you had to learn for the checkride?
CR: At first, they were all hard for me! Even approaching 1,000 hours of flying, I realized that I needed to develop a higher level of precision. Ultimately, I found steep turns to Commercial tolerances the one that required the most focus, but was also satisfying once mastered. Landings were not a problem for me, and got more fun with time.
SCFC: What’s your favorite flying memory of the last few years?
CR: I take my family to Truckee regularly, and it remains my favorite reason to fly. It's both amazing as well as practical. And with the Commercial rating under my belt, I'm more safety-conscious than ever, and glad to have the extra training .
SCFC: What is a lesson you learned from flying on your own?
CR: I have learned not to trade off safety, even when flying alone. It is so easy to say "It's only me, so I don't need to ____" (sump the fuel drains, check the oil, whatever it may be). I now realize that there should be no distinction between flying solo or flying with passengers. Bad habits can form quickly if you let down your guard while alone.
|
SCFC: How does being a pilot and now a Commercial Pilot influence other parts of your life?
CR: The confidence of knowing I could handle the additional precision required to earn the Commercial rating has given me a shot of confidence in the workplace. It puts "hard projects" in perspective, and is a reminder that achievements can be made with ongoing focus and practice. And I do feel a little more proud about my flying experience, with the option to fly for hire. Someday...
|
Scholarship Available for Women Pilots |
Bay Cities Chapter is once again giving away money for a woman pilot on her journey through aviation. This year's big news is that we are offering money towards advance rating in addition to our usual primary training offering. Please share share share and encourage your women to apply. Deadline is April 11th. More information about the scholarships is available at www.baycities99s.org/scholarship. |
Airport of the Month: Kern Valley (L05) |
This month, venture into the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas to Kern Valley Airport (L05), which resides near Lake Isabella, 2600 feet above the city of Bakersfield. Kern Valley is surrounded by mountain peaks on all sides, so make sure you examine the surrounding terrain before departure and plan a safe descent from cruising altitude to the pattern. Flying in the spring allows us to view Lake Isabella at its fullest capacity, and the mountain peaks may still be covered in snow. Combined with the green grass from winter storms, this airport is a spectacular place for a cross-country flight.
The field also has a restaurant on-site next to the tie-down area, but there’s no fuel. Pilots who need fuel should plan accordingly and refuel at one of the many airports in the Central Valley either en route to or coming back from Kern Valley. While not an easy airport to fly into, Kern Valley promises to be an airport that will leave you breathless as you descend through the foothills with the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas as your backdrop.
|
Overfly Yosemite National Park |
Yosemite National Park is one of America’s greatest treasures, with stunning glacier-carved cliffs, giant trees, and towering mountain peaks. Many of us have experienced this majestic place from the ground, but not many people have seen the park from the air. While one cannot land in Yosemite Valley (the closest airport is Mariposa on the western side and Lee Vining on the eastern side), pilots are allowed to overfly the park and soak in the views from above.
This month’s challenge is to capture the best photo of the grandeur of Yosemite from the sky. Please note that flying in Yosemite Valley is prohibited, as is flying below 2000’ AGL, as the park is protected by a wilderness area. Per our member regulation, SCFC pilots may need a mountain checkout to cover much of Yosemite’s area, although the Valley and western part of the park can be viewed from over the foothills near Mariposa and Pine Mountain Lake.
This is a great opportunity to bring family or friends who enjoy photography, as the views will be incredible. If you take photos from above, please submit them to FOG, and we’ll share them with the greater flying community!
|
New FOG Coordinator - Travis Bender |
Last month, Travis Bender has taken the role of FOG coordinator! Travis is an instrument-rated private pilot who learned to fly at San Carlos Flight Center through the Upwind Summer Scholarship program and enjoys venturing around the West in search of beautiful scenery and good food.
Travis is currently a college senior at the University of Puget Sound in Washington, where he puts his instrument rating to good use.
|
|
