Tips for When the SCFC Office Closed

Have you ever been to the airport when the Flight Center office is closed? Maybe arrived early to preflight for a long trip, or arrived back late at night from a FlyOutGroup dinner. Here are some things to know for off-hours airport access.

Keys in the lockbox. When the SCFC office is closed, either for holidays or outside of our normal hours, aircraft keys are found in the lockbox inside the secure ramp area.

Ramp access is by the gates on either side of the Flight Center building, or by the drive-through vehicle gates. If you need a reminder of the pedestrian gate codes, or vehicle gate codes plan ahead and contact the front desk during office hours.

Email start and end times to info@sancarlosflight.com before and after each flight. Photos of Hobbs and tach work.

For fuel and oil, contact Rabbit Aviation, keeping in mind their normal operating hours. Advance planning is needed to get a really early start on a long cross-country flight, and may involve checking fuel and oil the day before.

Restrooms for pilots and passengers are located just south of the Flight Center office, at the end of hangar row 14, facing the street and parking lot. The door code is the same as the pedestrian access gates.

Airport Operations staff is on field daily (including holidays) and can be reached for emergencies at (650) 573-3700.

SQL Tower Staffing Update

Last month, we shared that SQL Tower would be closing early twice a week due to their ongoing staffing issues. Fortunately, Serco (the company that staffs SQL Tower) was able to have one of the controllers from MOD Tower come over twice a week and cover those shifts that would be otherwise unstaffed. They are actively searching for full-time controllers at SQL. Services may be affected until they reach full staffing levels again.

Please be patient with our controllers. They are working long weeks to provide as much service as possible.

For more details and information on what you can do to help the situation, click here: https://sancarlosflight.com/tower-staffing/

Year-End Holiday Office Hours

December brings another round of holiday office closures. Please remember to plan ahead for flights when the office is closed so that we can put keys and equipment in the overnight lockbox.

Please note that Rabbit Aviation, the KSQL airport fuel provider, also has reduced hours of 8am to 5pm on December 25, and January 1. Additionally, services hours may be further reduced on days of inclement weather. Plan ahead to avoid fueling issues.

Preflight Safety After Sunset

With shorter days, and crisp cool nights, winter brings some great night flying to the SF Bay Area. Make sure that you are equipped to safely preflight the aircraft, even in restricted lighting situations.

Your flight bag should include one or more flashlights and backup batteries for use on the ground and during flight. Many pilots find that the easiest preflight flashlight solution is a headlamp style light often sold at camping supply stores. These attach to headbands and free your hands for use during preflight. They also are less likely to be dropped or to scratch the aircraft.

Remember to adjust brightness and color so as to protect your night vision during the flight. Many headlamps come with varying brightness settings and light colors. If you don't already have one of these useful tools, add it to your holiday wish list.

Need a refresher on night flight? Listen to the safety seminar A Perspective on Night Flying from a Human Factors Specialist.

Too Much is Bad – Tips on Priming

Has your engine start procedure become too rote? Procedures we do repeatedly become automatic, and stepping through them starts to become ritual with little or no thought. What is the harm of this? What could go wrong on start?

The major risk of overpriming is fire, which can occur when fuel burns outside of the cylinders. If there is excess fuel due to overpriming, the ignition in the cylinder doesn’t burn all the fuel and the fuel continues to burn as the cylinder enters the exhaust stroke causing flames to move through the exhaust system. This could mushroom into a bigger fire. If you haven’t reviewed the emergency procedure for engine fire on start, open your POH to section three and re-read those steps. 

How to avoid? Pay attention. In particular, follow the pre-start procedure listed in the SCFC checklist. Carefully set both the throttle and mixture to the proper position. When the fuel pump is on, your eyes should be on the fuel flow watching to confirm that fuel has been primed. When the fuel flow stabilizes, the prime is complete. As soon as this occurs, mixture should be brought promptly to idle/cutoff and the fuel pump turned off. If there is no fuel flow after 3-5 seconds – stop. Assess the situation to determine why. Is the mixture not set properly? Is the throttle set properly? Is the fuel cutoff valve full in?

Another thing to avoid the situation is don’t move the mixture until after the engine “catches”. Prematurely moving the mixture control to rich or pumping the mixture control will exacerbate the problem.

The next time you are doing the engine start procedure, take a second to concentrate and check that you are following the correct procedure. For further assistance, reach out to the Chief Pilot Office and we would be happy to review the proper start and emergency procedures with you.

Skills Used in Crosswind Landings

Crosswind operations continue to be part of everyday flight at San Carlos Airport, and SCFC is always working to improve pilot safety. For years, we have devoted have many FAA Safety Seminars to the topic to help improve basic flight skills and decision-making surrounding crosswinds.

On Wednesday, December 7, Dan Dyer will approach crosswind competency from yet another direction, by breaking down the component skills that a pilot must have to operated safely in crosswinds.

This skill-based approach will help pilots see how crosswind capability is built up by earlier component skill competency. The approach also can guide pilots to work to improve a component skill in a way that they might have realized improves their crosswind operations.

If you’re a new student pilot trying to master crosswinds, or a high-time pilot looking for a different way to think about the skills you’re naturally using in the aircraft, tune in on December 7th to the livestreamed FAA Safety Seminar here.

Runway 12 Operations

With winter weather comes frequent operation on SQL Runway 12. If it has been a while since you used 12, here are some things to look for.

The Runway 12 runup area is not marked and effectively is bordered by blue taxiway lights and a wooden fence. Taxiway J’s centerline ends short of the runup area. Position your airplane to give room to pass on Taxiway K.

Winter winds are often from the south, usually giving a right crosswind and sometimes with an extreme crosswind angle.

The sight picture approaching the Runway 12 threshold on landing is different. Remember to choose an aim point and keep it stationary in the windshield.

Traffic patterns to 12 are usually left base entry or full left traffic from overhead the cement plant. Turning base leg over Redwood Shores Lagoon (diamond shape waterway) both gives you obstacle clearance from surrounding buildings and minimizes noise footprint.

SCFC Member Profile: Cameron Cetani

SCFC: What are you current working on and how long have you been training for it??

CC: I am currently working on my instrument rating. I started instrument training right after I passed my Private Pilot checkride, so training for about a month and a half.

SCFC: Where did you begin your flight training adventure? What got you started?

CC: I began my flight training adventure with you guys on October 13, 2021 when I took my demo flight with Terry, who would eventually become my CFI. I always dreamed of a career in aviation as a pilot and decided that it was time to begin training for my ratings/certificates.

SCFC: What surprised you most about instrument training? What comes easy and what is a challenge

CC:  I think instrument training is where you learn the skills that make you a “real pilot.” I am only in the first months of my instrument training so I do not know what will be the true hardest part of it all. However I think that flying the approaches is easier than I imagined it would be. I think the hardest part is managing everything (radios, navigation, etc.) that is going on and making sure that you stay ahead of the aircraft. 

SCFC: How has flight training prepared you for other aspects of your life?

CC: Flight training has sparked a new level of motivation within me - motivation to learn and overcome challenges I never thought I would. It has motivated me to be more on top of all my college coursework, along with the coursework at SCFC. Most importantly, it is making me believe that my dreams are not as big as I once thought they were and I feel that as long as I keep pushing I will make it to my goals. 

SCFC: What big trips have you gone on, and what adventures are you planning?

CC: The biggest trip I have gone on in relation to flying is only a trip up to Willows/Glenn County Airport with a hop over to Lampson Field then back home to San Carlos. I eventually want to plan a trip and fly to Tahoe or Reno perhaps in the future.

Share Aviation with Visiting Family

The holidays are here before we know it, and like many of us, you may find yourself hosting visiting family and friends from afar. If you would like to give them an unforgettable San Francisco experience they'll never forget, consider taking them on a Bay Tour!

When flying, please remember to always check weight and balance before departure, and make sure to brief your family members on safe practices in the airplane and on the ramp. The Flight Center has headsets we can rent out if you need extras, as well as booster seats and cushions for younger aviators. Encourage your passengers to bring cameras to take pictures of the experience, as they'll get insta-worthy photos to make those back home jealous!

Ski Season is Here! Are You Ready to Fly to the Slopes?

It's a common ritual this winter - people all around the Bay Area hop in their cars on Friday afternoons and head up to the mountains for a weekend of winter sports. However, many pilots elect to fly if the weather cooperates - and you can be one of them!

At the Flight Center, pilots wishing to fly to the mountains require a Mountain Checkout, which covers the ground and flight training necessary to be competent to fly in mountainous environments. You'll learn the nuances of flight planning over rough terrain, mountain weather, and experience the effects of density altitude first-hand. The course typically requires a ground session as well as a day-long flight to the Sierra Nevada mountains, and can be conducted by many of our flight instructors. 

Pilots who often fly to Tahoe for winter activities typically take high-performance aircraft like our Cessna 182s, but our new Cessna 206 is also a great option. While a 172 can make the trip, the extra useful load in the high-performance aircraft is handy for carrying skis, snowshoes, and other gear. Pilots who aren't checked out in either airplane can often combine the mountain checkout as part of the aircraft checkout. 

Interested in being one of the few who can fly to the slopes? Reach out to our Front Desk team to find an available CFI to complete your mountain checkout this season!

Full-Moon Flyers Willows - Dec 7 (Wed)

Want delicious food and some cross-country time? Join FOG on December 7th as we head north to Willows (WLW), where we’ll break for dinner at Nancy’s Airport Cafe.

Willows can be found in the northwest side of the Central Valley, and is located between Nut Tree and Redding. Flying in the winter time will hopefully present a green and colorful landscape, as many of the surrounding hills will be various shades of green from the winter rains. On a clear day, you may even be able to get a glimpse of the towering Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen on the descent!

Nancy’s Airport Cafe is a small airport diner, but is known for its all-day breakfast, American fare, and best of all, their pies! Make sure to grab a slice before heading home, as they’re known for keeping pilots coming back for more.

To access the restaurant, please park on the ramp alongside the hangers and self-serve fuel depot, and walk through the gate.

As always, if you’re interested in attending, please let us know by signing up here.

FOG Lunch: Concord - Dec 18 (Sun)

This month, let’s explore our own backyard and head over to the nearby Concord Buchanan Field (CCR) for lunch. Across the street lies The Habit, a great burger restaurant with some unique spins on classic lunch options.

This is an excellent flight if you are a student pilot doing training and want a simple flight to break for lunch with your instructor. Similarly, if you are planning on taking passengers on this trip, don’t pass up on the opportunity to fly a Bay Tour before or after lunch. The cool December days often have excellent visibility, and many pilots report being able to get a great vista of the entire Bay with the lush green hills in the background.

For parking at Concord, please park in the transient parking ramp located just south of Runway 1R. (Don’t be afraid to ask for “Progressive Taxi” while navigating the taxiways, as Concord Airport is a complex airport). Then, walk through the gate and across the way to the restaurant around 12 PM.

As always, please make sure to RSVP, and we look forward to seeing you at Concord!

Escape to Warm Weather this Winter

While the Bay Area isn't known for its winter weather, the next few months are often very chilly and wet. If you're interested in planning a warm-weather getaway, check out a few of the options below.

Los Angeles and San Diego: These destinations are an easy trip from the Bay Area, and while the weather there won't be hot, it will be much warmer than the Bay Area. You'll get a great view of the snow covered mountains north of Los Angeles, but will be able to enjoy outdoor activities in mild weather. This is a great time to visit theme park attractions like Disneyland, as the weather is not stiflingly hot. 

Palm Springs: Palm Springs is great in the winter! It's not too hot, but still warm enough to go swimming or head out for a relaxing hike in nearby Joshua Tree National Park. The reduced temperature makes the density altitude easier to manage in the high desert, too.

Arizona: Here, you have various options. Cities like Phoenix will be warm, but a short flight to the Grand Canyon area will leave you in a winter wonderland. Bucket-list pilot destination, Sedona, will be temperate and cool, excellent for taking long hikes without having the hot sun beating down on you.

If you're interested in planning a trip to any of these areas, please check the Seminar Archives on our website, where you can learn how to fly to them.