In This Issue
SCFC News
Safety
Community
Adventure
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Welcome New Members
Tylar Banta
Gavin Bauer
Alex Bustin
Cameron Cetani
Reagan Collier
Darius Emrani
Frank Farrell
Garrett Held
Mark Kubera
Oscar Martinez
Micah Mison
Len Nordeman
Jesus Otero
Ross Poms
Roman Sochan
Michael Torres
Member Achievements
Zev Solomon
First Solo
CFI Derek Vejby
Leonid Igolnik
Instrument Rating
CFI Russell Bowerman
Kyle Smathers
Comm Multi
CFI Brian Eliot
Jason Zhou
Instrument Rating
CFI Russell Bowerman
Brendan Quinn
First Solo
CFI Sydney Rapp
Kathryn Bonham
First Solo
CFI Lukasz Zoromski
Sean Li
First Solo
CFI David Agranovich
Kai Chen
Private Pilot
CFI Herb Patten
Michael Dutton
Instrument Rating
CFI Sydney Rapp
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A fun monthly
knowledge test.
Editor: Herb Patten
1. True or false: A student pilot can fly with another student pilot if they're both solo-endorsed?
a) True
b) False
2. Can a student pilot fly solo into Class B airspace?
a) Yes, as long as they have received training in that airspace and they are properly endorsed
b) No, student solo flight is prohibited in Class B airspace
c) Yes, as long as they hear their call sign followed by "cleared into Class B airspace"
3. When is a current medical certificate required for student pilots?
a) After their first flight
b) Only when passengers are onboard
c) Only for solo flight
(answers at the bottom)
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Upcoming SCFC Events and Safety Seminars |
Dec 1 (Wed) 7pm
Dec 4 (Sat) 12pm
Dec 8 (Wed) 7pm
Dec 11 (Sat) 12pm
Dec 15 (Wed) 7pm
Dec 18 (Sat) 12pm
Dec 22 (Wed) 7pm
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Upcoming
Events & Trips
Airport of the Month
FOG Lunch at Half Moon Bay
FMF: Livermore
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Member Rates
C182 - TAA
N1483L - $238/hr
N182EE - $234/hr
C182 - Analog
N9894E - $195/hr
C172S - G1000
N63251 - $180/hr
N6198N - $180/hr
N646DW - $172/hr
C172S
N106RA - $165/hr
N137ME - $165/hr
N21591 - $165/hr
N236SP - $165/hr
N410BS - $165/hr
N458SP - $165/hr
C172R
N2370F - $154/hr
C152
N111RK - $125/hr
N530CA - $129/hr
N5369H - $121/hr
C210
N210VV - $350/hr
Piper Archer
N6848J - $163/hr
Baron
N169SP - $350/hr
Simulators
AATD G1000 - $75/hr
BATD GNS-430W - $40/hr
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Contact Us
Front Desk
(650) 946-1700
SCFC Maintenance
(650) 946-1701
Email Us
Club Address
795 Skyway Rd, Suite A
San Carlos, CA 94070
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Pop Quiz Answers
1. b (False)
2. a
3. c
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In-person IFR Ground School Begins January 10 |
Considering getting your instrument rating? January 10 is the kick-off for SCFC’s in-person Instrument Ground School. Tired of watching videos online? Wish you could have someone explain a difficult topic? Our six-week, in-person IFR Ground School is your answer. The condensed programs consists of classes twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday nights at 6:30pm, which allows you to complete the course in as little as six-weeks.
The instrument rating is a challenging one but also very rewarding. Having the flexibility to be able to fly on non-VFR days can make the difference in whether you are able to depart on your planned cross country trip. Get a solid foundation for your instrument rating with our IFR Ground School. The class covers the aeronautical subjects included in the FAA Instrument Airplane knowledge test as well as the knowledge areas in the ACS for the Instrument Airplane Rating.
Upon completion of the course, you will receive an endorsement to take the FAA Knowledge Test. Register online here.
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Time for an Overnight? Click to Request! |
Are you ready to put your pilot certificate to good use and make that long awaited multi-day or out-of-state trip? Many of our members often make multi-day trips in our airplanes. This requires that the member get approval from the Chief Pilot prior to the flight so that the member can be briefed on the procedures for the multi-day or out-of-state flight. |
What to include in that request can sometimes be a source of confusion or end-up with a series of back-and-forth emails that request specific details that were not provided in the original request. To help streamline that interaction, you can now make the request from the Members Only section of the website. Just find the “Submit Request for Overnight Flight” link and fill in the requested details. Please do this a minimum of 48-hours prior to your trip so there is no hold-for-release that delays your launch. |
Shorter days and holiday preparations mark the month of December. Please take note of the days the office and maintenance department will be closed for the remainder of the year.
SCFC Office and SCFC Maintenance will be closed:
Friday, December 24
Saturday, December 25
Sunday, December 26
Friday, December 31
Saturday, January 1
Even though the club office is closed, pilots with reservations may access the aircraft keys through our lockbox. Fuel and oil services will still be available from Rabbit. Please make your aircraft reservations no later than 4:00 PM on the day before the closures to ensure your keys will be placed in the lockbox.
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Flight Center Holiday Gift Ideas |
Couldn’t find the perfect gift on Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Don’t worry, SCFC has great gift ideas for all kinds of pilots. |
A Demo Flight makes a great, unique gift for someone who is or may be interested in aviation. If you’ve had a friend or family member who’s been curious about your flying experience, the one-hour flight could be what jumpstarts their drive to become a pilot. By giving them the gift of flight, you’ll help inspire them to take up a new hobby or realize a new goal.
For those who already are a pilot, we offer gift certificates in the form of Account Credit. You can use these to do almost anything at SCFC, such as complete instrument ground school, work on a new aircraft checkout, mountain flying training, crosswind simulator session, or even just flight time. These are great gifts to help the pilot in your life advance their skills and further their passion.
To order a gift certificate for any of these, please contact the SCFC Front Desk. They will provide you with a copy of the certificate via email that you can print out and give to someone special!
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T's at the End of a Taxilane |
You may have noticed a new addition to the taxilane in our ramp area. It looks like a “T”. This is where you should stop when taxing back into the ramp area.
It mainly impacts those members that fly N646DW, which is parked right outside of the office. To ensure safety and to comply with airport taxiway markings, we ask our members to not taxi past this point. This provides a buffer between members walking out toward the ramp and the planes coming back.
Knowing what the signs and markings mean at an airport is an important part of safety. If you ever see something that you aren't 100% sure you know, look it up.
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Prepping for Your Flight Review |
While your pilot certificate never expires, your pilot skills deteriorate over time and your aeronautical knowledge may not have kept up with changes. The “Flight Review” is the regulatory method that the FAA uses to keep pilot’s skills and knowledge reasonably sharp. It is required every 24 calendar months unless you have earned a new rating or certificate. The completion of the Flight Review is noted when you receive a signed endorsement from a CFI.
If you don’t recall the last time you completed a Flight Review, you are probably due for one. At the Flight Center, it is a straightforward process. We outline the process in the Flight Review training guide that is in the “Members Only” section of the web site. Review that document, then book a ground session with a CFI. You will get a good refresher on FAA regulations and procedures. Your CFI will then outline the tasks that will be conducted during the flight portion of the training. In short order, you will not only be legal, but you will likely learn a few things and be a better pilot.
Whether you complete your Flight Review with an SCFC CFI or elsewhere, remember to show the Front Desk your Flight Review endorsement. We keep a copy of that for our files as well as enter it into Flight Schedule Pro.
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Challenges Facing Coast Guard Pilots |
On Wednesday, December 8 at 7 PM join Coast Guard Lieutenant and MH-65 helicopter pilot Jacob Marks as he shares the operations they encounter on a daily basis. Water rescues, stranded boaters, and capsized boats, bring the need for an immediate response from the Coast Guard. With an extensive flight department, and experienced flight crew - the Coast Guard practices every day for these scenarios and are ready for the unexpected. In this seminar learn from the eyes of the Coast Guard on how they operate to become a safer, more knowledgeable pilot.
Tune into this livestreamed FAA Safety Seminar here, you do not want to miss out.
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SCFC Member Profile: Kai Chen
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SCFC: Congrats on passing your FAA checkride. What motivated you to start on the path to becoming a pilot?
KC: Thanks. I love to fly as it gives me the bird's-eye perspective to observe the ground.
SCFC: You took your time through flight training and got there through steady progress. How did you decide what was the right pace of training for you?
KC: It took a long time for me to achieve the goal, but I did enjoy the training process. Safety is important, and I wanted to make sure I was fully trained and safe to fly with my loved ones when I got my license. So I slowed down the whole process. Especially after soloing, I spent lots of time practicing in the pattern for my landings. I believe that paid off because my passengers told me they felt very comfortable with my landings.
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SCFC: Your training was interrupted by COVID. How did restart after the forced break in training?
KC: It was hard during the interruption of COVID. Luckily, my family and I are all safe and healthy. My job was not impacted, so I could keep saving for my flight training.
I was very close to solo before the COVID shut down. I watched a lot of San Carlos Flight Center seminar recordings and YouTube videos to keep myself in a 'flying' mood, restarted my training right after the COVID restrictions were lifted. I got my solo endorsement and went on smoothly for cross-country and night flight training. The staff at the Flight Center did a great job keeping the airplanes clean and safe during the pandemic, which made me comfortable to continue my training.
SCFC: What moments of your training will you always remember in a good way?
KC: Though I believe I have the best instructor, Herb Patten, the experiences of flying with other instructors and even the checkride with the examiner were very instructive and helpful, as I was able to get feedback from other perspectives. Another moment I will remember is when I took off from KLVK, there were other pilots flying formation in the same area. There were 12 airplanes in 3 rows flying off my right side. There was a moment that I felt I was part of the team and it is pretty cool to see a formation flight in such close view. Though I watched Blue Angels at Fleet Week almost every year, this close view is totally a different experience.
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SCFC: Now that you have your license to learn, where will your flying take you next?
KC: I will start with some close destinations, such as Napa, Monterey, etc. And I hope to join the big trip to Yellowstone or Grand Canyon and Colorado next year.
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Volunteers Needed for the Upwind Foundation |
The Upwind Foundation and its annual summer flight training scholarship for high school students is entering its tenth year. Their work has made significant impacts on the lives of many young people, many of whom have gone on to pursue careers in aviation.
Upwind is run by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, supported by many volunteers that staff the working committees. The huge success of the 2020-2021 Upwind year was the direct result of the committees that ran fund-raising efforts, increased outreach and communication to high school students, and coordinated the selection process. Great people came together with the right kind of energy and made a difference for young pilots in our area.
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Upwind needs you! Anyone can help with the Upwind program. If you have always wanted to step into a different role and make an impact on the lives of young people and in general aviation, your talent and time would be greatly appreciated. We encourage you to volunteer in any capacity. We need volunteers to help with fundraising, communication and scholarship selection.
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One Aircraft Owner's Journey |
On Wednesday, December 15 at 7 PM join pilot and aircraft owner Nico Ghilardi to discuss the processes around aircraft ownership. Many pilots at some point have considered owning their own plane; have you? The purchase of an airplane can be a daunting task, not only because of the significant cost, but also because of the complexity of the purchasing process. Join us as Nico shares his journey as he went through the process himself, starting from the motivation, leading to aircraft selection, pre-buy inspections, flight training, the ferry flight, aircraft storage, maintenance and more.
Tune into this livestreamed FAA Safety Seminar here. If you are considering purchasing your own airplane, now is the time. Join us to learn first hand about the process.
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Airport of the Month - Monterey (KMRY) |
This month’s airport is a bit closer to home, but it offers many amenities and sights! Monterey (MRY) is a common cross-country airport for students, but have you ever landed and explored the area?
With a variety of restaurants, natural features, and indoor attractions, this is a great getaway from the holiday hustle and bustle you may find in the Bay Area.
Monterey has a restaurant on the field – Woody’s at the Airport, which can be located in the terminal building. The best way to reach it is to park at Del Monte Aviation and walk down the quiet road to the airline check-in area. Go up the stairs to access the restaurant.
If you’d like to get off the airport and into town, park at Monterey Jet Center, which offers crew cars that are leased out for a couple of hours. Ten minutes away is Carmel, which has dozens of nice restaurants and shops and is much quieter in the winter than in the warmer months. A variety of hotels and lodging can be found here, as well, making this a great place to fly in for a nice getaway. Monterey also has numerous attractions, from Cannery Row to the Aquarium, which both warrant a few hours to each.
A rental car also allows you to explore the Pacific Coast Highway or Carmel Valley. Contact either FBO to secure a car before your trip.
On the departure, take some time to fly south along the coast to the famous Bixby Bridge. The mountains in the area seem to drop into the water, leading to some amazing views from your aircraft. It’s about 13 NM south of the airport.
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FOG Lunch Lampson - Dec 12 (Sun) |
Located in the North Bay, Clear Lake is one of the biggest lakes in the area, although it is hidden by the mountains between Santa Rosa and the Central Valley. Nearby airport, Lampson Field (1O2), has an airport diner on the field. So what better way to spend a Sunday than by grabbing lunch at a new restaurant?
Enjoy lunch or dinner with fresh, local ingredients from Red’s at the Skyroom. This new restaurant features West Coast-fare with a variety of entrees and drinks for you and your passengers. With patio seating, this is a great place to replenish after a training flight or as a break on a long cross-country trip to the north. After your meal, venture around the ramp area to see a collection of vintage aircraft from a variety of eras.
The airport also has an RNAV approach if you want to practice your instrument skills, and features 100LL fuel at a self-serve pump. Like other FOG events, RSVP here, and indicate if you are able to take passengers, so we can allow student pilots and other aviation community members to participate. We’re looking forward to the event, and hope you are, too!
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Full-Moon Flyers Livermore - Dec 29 (Wed) |
Wx stopped us last month, so we will again try out the new restaurant at Livermore Airport (LVK)! Close out the year of a fun night of flying, food, and familiar faces.
" Elevation LVK" is located in the airport building next to transient parking. After parking on the ramp under the tower, walk the short distance to the airport building, where you will find the restaurant. Please plan to be seated by 7:00 PM. With options like fresh fish, steak, pasta, and salads, there are plenty of choices for everyone.
Due to the time change, it will likely be dark by 5pm. The views during the cooler November evenings will be spectacular, and nothing beats the gorgeous fall sunsets. After dinner, you can refresh your night landings at many of the nearby airports, such as Livermore, Hayward, or Oakland on your way home.
Like other FOG events, RSVP, and please indicate if you are able to take passengers, so we can allow student pilots and other aviation community members to participate. As this is a new restaurant, it may be a popular event, so please book your plane early. Hope to see you there!
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