SCFC Holiday Party - Dec 18 (Wed) 6:30pm

The SCFC pilot community, a tight-knit group of adventurers and achievers, will gather annually to celebrate our shared experiences and accomplishments. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 18th at 6:30 PM, as we host our annual Holiday Party and Member Appreciation Night!

This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet and greet fellow members, staff, and instructors. Whether you’re a seasoned pilot who’s been with the Flight Center for years or a newcomer, this event is for everyone. It’s a fantastic way to kick off the new year and strengthen the bonds within our community.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of whether you train at the Flight Center or fly your own plane. We’re thrilled to have you join us and learn more about how the Flight Center can be an integral part of your flying journey.

Food and drinks will be provided, and you’re more than welcome to bring guests along. Embrace the festive spirit by donning your favorite holiday attire. Let’s raise a toast to the incredible flying we accomplished in 2024 and eagerly anticipate the exciting adventures that await us in 2025!

To ensure there’s enough food and drinks for everyone, please RSVP here. Your presence will make this event even more special and memorable.

Gift Certificates Make Pilot Holidays Bright

Every year, the holiday season may bring out the same question from the people in your life "What is on you wishlist?" Your family and friends want to find a way to bring you a gift you'll cherish more than the "Ask me. I'm a pilot!" shirt they gave you last year. Sometimes the best gift is the simplest gift - the gift of flight time.

Now your great Aunt Sharon can now go online to our website and send you holiday love in the form of a SCFC Gift Certificate, which can be used for aircraft rental time, CFI instruction time, simulators, books, shirts, or a new SCFC mousepad. The certificate can be in any amount, perfect for your 6-year old nephew's gift of $5, or your sister the Googler's gift of $1000.

Point your loved ones to sancarlosflight.com/gift-certificate and don't forget to invite them to our next Right Seat Workshop, so they can better enjoy the time in plane they've gifted you.

SCFC Office Closure Dates for December

December begins the year-end holiday season, which means occasional office closures. Please take note the days the office and maintenance department will be closed or closing early for the remainder of the year.

If you are planning to fly on a day we are closed, please make your reservation ahead of time so we can put the keys into the overnight lockbox for your flight. And a reminder to email info@sancarlosflight.com with photos of the hobbs and tach time before and after your flight. Thank you and happy holidays.

Upwind Foundation Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for 2025

The country's best flight training scholarship program for young pilots is beginning its 13th year of operation and applications are now available.

Each year, the pilots of San Carlos Airport come together in support of the Upwind Foundation, and their mission of providing 9-week summer flight training programs to local area high school students. Applicants are typically in their junior year of school when they apply to the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. All interested students are encouraged to submit an application online here.

Applicants must obtain a medical certificate, complete essays and a video that conveys their interest in aviation, their ability to succeed in the program, and discuss the difference the scholarship program will make in their journey to become a pilot. For more information, go to the Upwind website, or plan to attend the Upwind Scholarship Information Session to be held on Saturday, January 18th at 3:00 PM.

Scholarship applications must be submitted by February 14, 2025.

Safety

Update on Our Diamond DA40NG

If you are thinking of your next aviation experience, look no further than flying the newest plane in the San Carlos Flight Center fleet, Bay Flight Seven, the Diamond DA40 NG. The DA40 NG is equipped with the latest Garmin avionics, the G1000 NXi. This makes it great for instrument training.

There are many other features that make it a joy to fly. One nice feature is the reliable and simple start procedure, just turn the key and it starts as easily as a new car. Power management is simplified with a single power lever that the pilot sets for the percent of power while the redundant Electronic Engine Control Unit (EECU) manages both the propeller speed and mixture. Flying in the DA40 is like riding in a luxury automobile.

Now it is even better. The current rate for the Diamond is now at $299 per hour. In addition, the Flight Center’s PFC GTX aviation training device has been enhanced to include the DA40 as a supported airplane type. Take the next step and call the Front Desk to schedule flight time in the DA40.

SCFC Member Profile: Lyz Lewis

SCFC: Pilots fly for many reasons. What was it that attracted you to flight training?

LL: Growing up I had a few friends and family members who were pilots. I loved flying with them any time I got the chance and I was always fascinated by the process, but I never thought it would be attainable for me. As I learned more about general aviation and what it takes to become a pilot, I got more and more excited about the prospect of flying myself. I finally made the decision to start training earlier this year - that's what brought me to SCFC!

SCFC: How does flight training fit into your busy life? What is the right balance of homework, ground training, and flight training in your life? 

LL: It's definitely a lot to juggle! Luckily my decision to start flight school came right as I was finishing grad school. I had already built up the habit of homework and studying, so the transition from case studies to ground school was relatively smooth.

SCFC: One of SCFC’s philosophies is that student pilots teach themselves, while instructors provide targeted exercises and a safe place to practice. What flight skills came easiest to you? What skills took more trial and error to perfect?

LL: One skill that I didn't feel too much anxiety over was radio communications. Early on in my training it sounded like a whole other language, but once I got an understanding and situational awareness of traffic and ATC instructions I felt that I picked up the language pretty quickly. Crosswind landings on the other hand I thought I would be doing forever!

SCFC: What are some of your favorite flight memories so far?

LL: Anytime I got a "hell yeah" out of instructor Dave. 😂 Alternate answer: On my flight to Concord, I passed over a Southwest jet as I was transitioning through Oakland airspace which was a really cool thing to realize. Other than that, I always love maneuvering around the occasional scattered clouds and getting to see something at eye level which most people only see from the ground - it will never get old!

SCFC: What advice would you give to others who are considering flight training?

LL: Book a discovery flight and try it out! The experience in a small general aviation airplane is very different from any commercial flight and the feel, noise, environment can take you by surprise. It might not be for everyone, but for me it was just what I had dreamed it would be and I can't wait to keep learning and taking in new experiences as a pilot. 

Give Back this Season with the Upwind Foundation

Every year, the Upwind Foundation organizes a silent auction to raise funds for the Upwind Summer Scholarship. As we prepare for the 2025 campaign, the Foundation is seeking donations of items or experiences to kickstart the event.

In previous years, we’ve received a variety of donations, including aviation supplies, gift cards, bottles of wine, and memorabilia. Experiences are also highly valued, with donations ranging from flights in unique aircraft to VIP tours of exclusive aviation facilities, ski passes, and even weekend trips.

If you have an idea for an item or experience you’d like to donate to the Upwind auction, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please reach out to Travis Bender via email (travis@sancarlosflight.com) to initiate the conversation. We welcome donations of any size or scope, and we are always grateful for your support. 

Young Aviators Workshop - Jan 4 (Sat)

On Saturday January 4th, SCFC is hosting a one-day aviation event for high school students who are interested in finding out more about aviation. The Young Aviators Workshop (YAW) builds on a program established years ago at San Carlos Flight Center to give young people a way to get involved in aviation before they are old enough to begin flight training.

The workshop is a great way to participate in some fun and educational activities while socializing with their peers. The activities include a briefing on navigation charts used by pilots, discussions about the steps of becoming a pilot and career options, as well as a look under the cowling of an airplane to learn about aircraft engines and systems.

This is a great first step for high school students that someday plan to apply for the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program. If you are interested, sign up online here. The program begins at 9:00 am and goes until 1:00 pm. Lunch is provided.

FlyOutGroup 2025 Planning

The pilots and instructors who run the Bay Area FlyOutGroup are already at work planning the FOG trips for 2025. In addition to our regular monthly FOG lunches and Full-Moon Flyers dinner flights, we are planning a number of multiday and weekend adventure trips.

We plan to starting the year off right, with a 4-day trip through the Southwest, overflying the Grand Canyon and making stops at Sedona and military aviation museums and boneyards in Arizona.

Spring will bring a return of FOG Santa Maria Wine Tasting weekend, where we park our airplanes at the onfield hotel in Santa Maria and take group vans to the wineries in the region. April starts off the air show season with a group visit to the massive March Air Reserve Base airshow. Then summer launches the big summer trips, this year to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest in July.

Finally, expect a host of weekend getaway flights to great California airports like Avalon Airport on Catalina and Shelter Cover on the Northern Coast, as well as some mountain trips to Tahoe and the Sierras.

If you want to help organize a FlyOutGroup trip to somewhere amazing, contact the team at flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com.

Full-Moon Flyers Lampson - Dec 15 (Sun)

This month, join us as we head into Lampson Field (1O2)! Lampson is located just south of Lakeport, right next to Clear Lake. The airport is relatively quiet, and is a great place to practice landings after a cross-country flight.

At the airport, we will enjoy a dinner at Red’s at the Skyroom. This 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.

After landing and securing your aircraft in transient parking, Red’s is just a quick walk outside of the gate. If you are interested, make sure to sign up here so we save space for you! We’ll see you at 7PM on December 15!

FOG Lunch Salinas - Dec 20 (Fri)

Join FOG for this month’s lunch adventure in Salinas!

Located just outside the Monterey Airport Class C, Salinas (SNS) is an easy 45 minute cross country flight. Salinas and nearby airports are equipped with a variety of approaches that can create a great instrument training flight!

We will be dining at the Flying Artichoke Restaurant located right at the airport terminal building. Once you land, taxi over the transient and walk toward the terminal after securing your aircraft. At the restaurant, the menu includes a wide variety of brunch options, sandwiches, and burgers.

Please plan to arrive by 12 noon at the Flying Artichoke on Friday, December 20. If you are interested in attending, don’t forget to RSVP so we have your headcount! See you there!