Join the EAA and SCFC Pilots in Helping Young Eagles Take Flight

Have you ever taken a kid on their first flight? As a pilot, having the opportunity to ignite the passion for aviation in a young person's soul means the world, but you need to keep in mind that safety always comes first. With new passengers, a pilot needs to take many safety precautions. 

San Carlos Flight Center will be the base of operations for the February Young Eagles event, in partnership with EAA local chapter 20. Grab a plane and help us give these young people the experience of a lifetime.

For more information about what it takes to participate in EAA's Young Eagles flights, check out their website here. Flight Center members can review our recorded safety seminar "Keeping Young People Safe on a Young Eagles Flight" in our Recorded Seminar Library.

Keeping Safe When the Runway is Closed

Recently, a disabled airplane at Palo Alto closed the airport for several hours. In this recent case, it was an airplane that landed gear up which is one of the more challenging situations to deal with. Let's review what to consider if the airport you are approaching is closed due to a disabled airplane on the runway.

There are many events that can cause the runway to be closed at an airport ranging from a simple flat tire to more extensive airplane damage. Airport operations at the airports have staff and resources to handle many of these situations and they also leverage local resources as well. Here at San Carlos airport, the Flight Center is often a resource that is used to help move a disabled airplane off the runway. With the right resources and the right team, a disabled aircraft can be removed from the runway in less than an hour. After the disabled aircraft is removed, a runway inspection is often performed to confirm the runway doesn’t have damage or debris from the disabled airplane. This inspection is pretty quick.

Not all situations are resolved in a short period. In some cases, the disabled aircraft may take significantly longer to be removed. Larger and heavier planes may require specialized equipment to move off the runway. If the NTSB must be involved, the wreckage may remain in place for even longer. A year ago, the San Carlos runway was closed overnight due to a disabled Pilatus that couldn’t be easily moved because of the damage.

What should pilots do when an unplanned runway closure impacts their flight? First off, remember to “Aviate”. A runway closure may be inconvenient, but it shouldn’t distract us from our main task of flying the airplane. A common reaction is to ask the controller the question that everyone wants to know, which is how long will the runway be closed? That seems like a simple question but realize that oftentimes the answer is not known, or the tower controllers may have higher priorities. If you are inbound to an airport that is closed, the tower controllers will ask you to “say intentions”. Well, your original intention was to land at the airport so now you must come up with another plan. A good response to that question is “standby” i.e., I am thinking about what I want to do. Or simply saying, “I’ll advise you when I know”.

Without a known time for when the airport will open back up, it is now time to come up with an alternate plan. Technically, 91.103 does require that the PIC become familiar with all available information as well as “alternatives available if the planned flight cannot be completed”. One option is to just exit the airspace and go enjoy flying a bit longer. As we mentioned earlier, often the runway can be reopened expeditiously. This option, however, is very optimistic.

The major thing to consider is fuel and specifically how much fuel you have in the tanks. Knowing the remaining fuel is important. Knowing the quantity of fuel remaining combined with the fuel burn rate will allow you to determine the amount of time you have to continue to fly. This will be an important factor that will help inform you of whether to divert to another airport. We are very fortunate in the Bay Area that we have so many airports in a small radius. So a diversion doesn’t require much time and fuel. This may not always be the case. Imagine a scenario where the nearest airport is 30-45 minutes away.

Probably a more conservative option is to divert to another airport, land and just park the plane. There are many benefits to this choice including 1) you won’t be distracted with constant checking on the status of the runway at your destination, 2) it will often allow you to find a free spot in transient parking before they are all filled up with other diverting airplanes, and 3) it allows you to go on with the rest of your day.

If you do divert to another airport in a Flight Center plane, check in with the Front Desk to let them know of where the plane is and your plans. The Front Desk may provide you with some instructions on what to do with the keys or work with you to make plans to return the plane back to San Carlos.

On your next flight while returning back to San Carlos, take a minute to ask yourself, what would I do if I found out the runway was closed. What airport would you divert to? Do you know where you would park the airplane? Taking a few minutes to think about this may make it a non-issue if it does happen to you in the future.

The Oakland Transition

SCFC pilots learn early on how to transition Oakland Metro Airport to points north and northeast. Besides the fundamentals of frequencies, altitudes, and instructions from Oakland Tower which you will learn during your orientation flight, here are a few additional tips.

Be careful when naming Oakland in your request to San Carlos Ground to distinguish between landing Oakland and transitioning Oakland. Confusion on this point often results in incorrect handling by Oakland Tower. If naming Oakland as your destination, state "landing Oakland" and prepare to get the Oakland ATIS while executing the Oracle Departure. Generally, you will be kept at a lower altitude and directed to the San Leandro Marina for left base entry to 28L or 28R.

When transitioning overhead Oakland, know that the Oakland Coliseum is not a VFR waypoint although it is marked with a magenta diamond on the charts. Learn to identify it visually: it is immediately adjacent to I-880 and surrounded by a huge parking lot. Oakland Tower sometimes directs that you may "proceed on course" after passing over the runway 30 numbers; in this case, you need not overfly the Coliseum. Oakland Tower assigns an altitude of 2000 until clearing the Class C surface area. Remember that Class B airspace remains at 2100 until you cross north of the Oakland 28L/R runway complex, so watch altitude closely.

Northbound, Oakland Tower will terminate services at the northern boundary of Class C airspace if they believe you are landing at Concord. If you want to do approaches at Concord or otherwise want eventually to talk to Travis Approach, inform Oakland Tower of your intentions and request a handoff to NorCal Approach well in advance of this boundary.

For more information, join us for the safety seminar on Feb 28 "What You Need to Know About Oakland Operations."

SCFC Member Profile: Jordan Moncharmont

SCFC: You’re finishing up your third year flying at the Flight Center? What brought you to the club?

JM: I came to SCFC after finishing my primary training (elsewhere, during COVID), because it was clear to me that they truly cared about lifelong learning for pilots and was a center of excellence. In particular, since I fly with my family, safety is even more of a top priority and I love feeling confident in the maintenance of the planes at SCFC each time I get into one.

SCFC: How many flight hours are you up to? What types of planes have you flown?

JM: I did my private and instrument training in Cessna 172s which constituted my first ~120 or so hours of flying. When arriving at SCFC I immediately got checked out in the Cessna 182s to gain experience flying higher performance aircraft, and to give me the ability to carry my family on trips and to get us there faster! My ~340 total hours are now roughly split between 172s and 182s. Getting checked out in the Diamond DA40NG at SCFC has been an awesome experience; it's an amazing plane to fly and the view from the bubble canopy is unmatched! I can't wait to take it on some adventures.

SCFC: People become pilots for many reason: the challenge, the speed, the view, the aircraft. What was your initial motivation to become a pilot?

JM: I am a dual citizen of Italy and the US, and spent my childhood years flying back and forth often between the Bay Area and Naples, Italy (incidentally, the address on the Tecnam aircraft company's type certificates is a few blocks from my home there). Airplanes were always the things that brought me to the people I loved, and as such became a topic of passion & interest at an early age. I have always wanted to become a pilot myself and was grateful to reach a point in my late 30s when timeline, finances, and opportunity aligned to make it possible.

SCFC: In the last three years, what are your most memorable aviation adventure?

JM: While I love flying to look out the window and enjoy the views, the best parts for me are the kinds of trips that only can be done in a GA plane. From day hiking trips to Tahoe (KTRK), spectacular oceanside landings at Shelter Cove (0Q5), and a weeklong hiking trip that included stops in Kanab (KKNB), Monument Valley (UT25), and Page (KPGA), I've had a lot of fun showing family & friends what you can do in a GA plane. I find that some of the most out-of-the way airports (like Boonville, D83) provide great ways to relax and explore away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay.

SCFC: Has your experience as a pilot changed how you approach other challenges?

JM: I often tell friends that earning my ratings was one of the most rewarding experiences of my 30s. Building up proficiency in skills unrelated to my professional endeavours provided a unique sense of progress and ability to excel. Aside from building self-confidence, it has helped me realize that many diverse skills can be acquired with a little help training and dedicated time and effort.

Upwind Applications Due February 16

Help us get the message out to high school juniors in the SF Bay Area. Friday February 16th is the last time to turn in the Upwind Summer Scholarship application.

Completed applications and all associated materials (transcripts, letter of recommendation, video, etc.) must be received by the Upwind Foundation by 5pm. Incomplete applications or materials arriving late may not be fully evaluated.

This great scholarship has been changing lives for young people in the SF Bay Area for over six years, and we hope to find the right young people to represent the program in 2024.

Visit the Upwind website for all the details.

FOG Lunch - Monterey - Feb 17 (Sa)

This month, join us on February 17 for lunch at Monterey!

Whether you take the coastal route or over Highway 17, the flight down is an easy one from the Bay Area. Monterey Airport doesn’t have a transient parking ramp, but we will park at the Del Monte Aviation FBO. After parking, its a short walk to Woody’s at the Airport located inside the airport terminal building.

Are you a student pilot looking for more flight time?

Monterey lies just outside the 50 NM requirement and counts towards your cross country time! Looking for some practice flying IFR? Monterey is equipped with an ILS, RNAV, and LOC along with other nearby airports with a variety of instrument approaches. Reward your perfect approaches with some great food!

We will be meeting at Del Monte FBO, please make sure to arrive and secure your aircraft by 12 noon. Make sure to RSVP here so we have an accurate headcount!

Full-Moon Flyers - Nut Tree - Feb 24 (Sa)

This month, join us on our flight to Nut Tree for dinner in Vacaville on February 24!

Nut Tree airport (KVCB) is conveniently located next to a major shopping center with plenty of dining options. With several cuisines including Asian, American, and Mexican, there is sure to be something for everyone. After dinner be sure to grab a treat at Fenton’s Creamery, known for their unique selection of flavors at fair prices.

Although Nut Tree Airport is uncontrolled, the airport is still lit at night and radar services are available from Travis Approach. You can even throw in a night Bay Tour on the way back! We will meet at Nut Tree Airport transient parking near the south hangars at 7PM and walk to the dining area.

Be sure to RSVP here so we have an accurate headcount!