New Club Orientation Videos for 2023

Over the last couple of months, the SCFC Media Team has been hard at work refreshing and updating many of our club orientation videos. We've updated them to be relevant to our current location and included all the latest club procedures, some of which have changed over the years.

These videos are a fantastic resource for pilots who are new to SCFC, as well as SCFC members that want to refresh their knowledge of club policies and procedures. You can view the videos at: https://sancarlosflight.com/videos. The Media Team is hard at work adding new videos and even more updates, so be looking for the latest videos out soon.

Flight Instructor Team Expanding

Rain hasn't been the only thing stopping new student pilots from beginning their flight training. There has been a shortage of SCFC-caliber flight instructors in the industry. We are always on the lookout for highly effective flight instructors who can work with our structured syllabus, and who are passionate about bringing the best in flight training to the San Carlos community.

We are happy to announce several advances in CFI hiring. First, SCFC has formalized CFI hiring and training into three hiring periods - February, May, and October. CFI applicants from around the country now know exactly when our hiring rounds will be, and how many open spots there are to vie for. This month, we hope to have 4 new instructors join the team after completing our rigorous interview and screening process and 4-week indoctrination and training program. We hope you'll welcome them to the club.

Finally, we've extended our CFI training program by creating a CFI Finishing School, open to flight instructors from around the country. In this way, we continue to invest in structured CFI training and have begun to share the depth and commitment to effectiveness, which is so important to SCFC, with instructors from other states and other airports. This national presence increases SCFC's ability to bring in talented instructors from around the country.

Aviation Pilot Guides Online

Each aircraft in the SCFC fleet is equipped with avionics that may be specific to that airplane. Different planes may have different avionics. If you're unsure how to connect your EFB to the ADS-B in traffic or are confused about a function of the GPS or other avionics, SCFC has Pilot Guides for each aircraft online for members.

These are viewable in the Members Only section of our website. In the Members Only section, you can also view lockbox access information, emergency contacts, POHs, and the aircraft weight and balance sheets. You will need to be logged in with your SCFC member account to view these.

IFR Ground School Starts Feb 27

Considering getting your instrument rating? February 27^th 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 six weeks.

Getting your instrument rating is challenging 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.

Don't Let Skills Fade: Keeping Current

Piloting is a skill that deteriorates without use which is one of the reasons the FAA has currency requirements. Many pilots establish personal minimums that are more stringent than the legal FAA currency requirements, but SCFC also has currency minimums. 

Let's review what they are. Student pilots must have flown with their CFI in the last 30 days. Private pilots or higher must have flown within the last 90 days to be eligible to fly SCFC airplanes without an instructor. For high performance airplanes (182, turbo and twin engine) the currency requirement is every 60 days.

What if you are out of currency? No problem, review the recurrency training guide here, and schedule a flight with one of our instructors. While you're at it, choose to work on improving a specific skill, such as fundamentals, rudder coordination, or inflight maneuvers.

The currency requirements are detailed in the club video, “Flight Currency”, which can be viewed here.

Hazards of Flying in Poor Visibility

Over the last few weeks, the Bay Area has experienced calm winds and smooth air due to an inversion layer above the region. Inversions are a phenomena of weather where temperatures increase as you climb in altitude. However, one notable side effect of this inversion was that it caused pollution and haze to be trapped in the area. This effectively reduced visibility to less than 10 statute miles. So, can one still fly in this weather? Let's look at some factors that could affect your decision.

Personal Minimums:

The first thing you should examine are your own personal minimums. How comfortable do you feel about flying with regards to diminished visibility? While instrument pilots may feel comfortable, private pilots should refer back to their past experience and evaluate what conditions they feel safe in.

Type of Operation:

Haze can impact certain flight operations. Flying in the pattern may be safe and do-able in restricted visibility, as you are within view of the airport at all times. On the other hand, cross-country flights or scenic trips may need to be postponed, as you might not feel comfortable flying to a new airport in low visibility.

Consult the Regulations: One line that's easy to distinguish is the FAA regulations. In much of the airspace near us, VFR pilots require a minimum of three statute miles of visibility. Any lower than that, and you'll need to fly under instrument flight rules. An example of where this is common is the Central Valley. Pilots this winter may encounter severely marginal visibility in areas around the Central Valley due to haze and radiation fog. Consider flying IFR if you're planning on flying in this area.

Talk to an instructor if you'd like more practice or want to discuss personal minimums. With a bit of preflight preparation and consideration, you may be able to fly safely and legally in skies with reduced visibility. 

VFR into IMC: How Pilots Get Themselves into Trouble

To non-pilots, it may seem like a simple, binary decision – is the weather okay to fly today? Pilots know that “weather” is really a combination of many issues, winds, moisture, stability, visibility, cloud cover, temperature, etc. Many of these factors are complex and can change rapidly throughout the day.

For pilots on a defined mission, facing a complex, marginal weather situation, there may be a temptation to “squeeze the gap” between closing ceilings and visibility ahead. As with most decisions a pilot must make, this decision has real life and death consequences.

On Wed, Feb 22, SCFC has invited Dale Willson, Professor Emeritus, ASA Author, and CFI, to discuss the human-factor elements responsible for VFR flight into IMC. VFR into IMC is still the number one cause of fatal general aviation weather-related accidents. In this seminar, Dale will share his insights and will also explain mitigation strategies to help you avoid getting trapped by this deadly threat.

We invite all pilots to tune in for this presentation. For more information on how to view Dale's presentation online, click here.

Dale Wilson is the author of popular ASA books, Managing Risk: Best Practices for Pilots, and more recently, Human Factors: Enhancing Pilot Performance. Since 1996, he has taught courses dealing with the physiological and psychological aspects of pilot performance, safety management, threat and error management, and aviation weather. He is exactly the type of educator that SCFC is committed to bringing to our members and our community.

A Look at Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)

Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, TAFs, are a great source of information about weather for the airport for which it was issued. While you may be a wizard at reading TAFs or maybe you just let ForeFlight decode it for you, a common misconception that comes up with student pilots is how to read them. 

The majority of TAFs provide a 24-hour forecast, while TAFs for some major airports provide a 30-hour forecast. A typical TAF display is shown below:



KGEG 011139Z 0112/0212 08005KT P6SM BKN060 OVC080

   TEMPO 0112/0116 6SM -SN OVC050

   FM012100 08005KT P6SM OVC120

   FM020100 04003KT P6SM BKN140

The first line can be confusing to some new and student pilots. The first line contain four relevant details. First, the airport, in this case KGEG. Second the time that TAF was published, 011139Z, in this case on the 1^st of the month at 1139Z. The third is the valid period, 0112/0212, which is 1200z on the 1^st of the month to 1200z on the 2^nd of the month. This is a 24-hour forecast. Lastly, the details that follow, 08005KT P6SM BKN060 OVC080, is the forecast beginning at the start of the valid period, in this case 1200Z on the 1^st of the moth. Some pilots mistakenly interpret this information as the current observations of weather at the time the TAF was published.

The second point of confusion comes when a TEMPO is included in the TAF. TEMPO is used to indicate temporary fluctuations in the weather conditions. In this case, one of the fluctuations is light snow -SN. The TEMPO is sandwiched between the beginning of the forecast at 1200z and 2100z (indicated by the FM012100 line). This would indicate during the period of 1200z to 1600z to expect light snow but that it should last for one hour or less in each instance and not occur in more than half of the period between 1200Z to 1600Z. After the TEMPO period, in this case 0112/0116, the weather forecast would revert back to the prior line; that would be 08005KT P6SM BKN060 OVC080.

The FAA has published a new handbook, “Aviation Weather Handbook”, which will eventually replaces some of the previous handbooks on weather. It can be found online at the FAA here and is a useful reference for understanding the details of aviation weather.

SCFC Member Profile: Jerry Birn

SCFC: When did you first become a pilot? What certificates and ratings do you have?

JB: My first flight was in March 1975, a few weeks after my 16th birthday, flying out of Danbury, Connecticut. I got my private license in June 1976 flying out of Chicagoland Airport (3CG), a funky old airport north of Chicago that is now a business park. I went on to get an instrument rating, a commercial license, and then CFI-A and CFI-I. I built up time doing instrument instruction over the summers during college in the late 1970s and early 1980s, flying out of Chicago Midway and Long Island MacArthur.

SCFC: What aviation memories stand out the most from your flying?

JB: My first solo. We taxied back after some pattern work and suddenly I heard the door of that old Cessna 150 open and my instructor stepped out. “You are going to go solo. Three times around the pattern. Full stop.” No prior discussion or warning at all. That 150 cockpit felt awfully spacious on the first upwind leg. My instructor didn’t even look at me each time I taxied back. But he had a great French accent. 

My commercial cross-country, three 200-mile legs across the Midwest in a 172 on a hot summer day with lots of turbulence, no autopilot, no GPS (of course), no weather radar, no flight following—just an old FSS weather briefing, dead reckoning, paper maps, and my trusty mechanical E6-B. Crossing both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers that day was a kick.

The parting words of the Examiner who gave me my Private Pilot checkride. He was a senior guy and saw that I was an overly excited 17-year-old. He gave me just one piece of advice, “If in doubt, don’t go.” I’ve always remembered that.

My first ILS approach to near minimums. Seeing the lights appear out of the murk was a magical experience.

SCFC: You’ve recently gotten back into flying after some time away. What prompted the return?

JB: I wish I knew what kept me away for 40 years. I got busy with law school, work, raising kids, and family obligations. I always wanted to get back into flying but never carved out the time to do it with the discipline I wanted to bring to it. I recently retired from law and decided it’s now or never. Fortunately, I’m still in the prime of my life.

SCFC: What parts of the country have your flown out of? How does San Carlos Airport compare to the other places you’ve flown?

JB: I learned to fly on the East Coast in Connecticut. After my family moved to Chicago, I flew all around the Midwest, from Wisconsin to Iowa to Kentucky. I instructed for a summer at Midway and the next year on Long Island at MacArthur, flying across New England and out to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. 

KSQL is a great GA airport. There is not much corporate traffic, it isn’t overly crowded, and airport services are responsive. Bay Area airspace is complex, but I learned to fly in congested airspace and this environment makes you stay on top of where you are and where you’re going. And it’s so beautiful flying out here! Compared to the rest of the country, the only “weather” we have to contend with (most of the time) is a crosswind.

SCFC: What are the key factors that draw you to join a flying club like SCFC?

GP: I’ve always had great respect for a methodical, disciplined approach to general aviation. I did a lot of research into flight schools and clubs, and I was very impressed by the overall professionalism of SCFC, the quality of the training materials, upkeep of the fleet, and flight instruction that has consistently earned awards. Equally important, SCFC has a friendly, encouraging atmosphere.

Upwind Applications Due February 17

Help us get the message out to high school juniors in the SF Bay Area. Friday February 17 at 5pm is the last time to turn in the Upwind Summer Scholarship application.

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 2019.

Visit the Upwind website for all the details.

Flying Solo for Fun? Try a Cessna 152!

Up for a fun flight sightseeing around the bay, but no friends available to join you? No problem, grab a Cessna 152 and see how much fun solo flight can be. It's the closest thing you can get to flying a motorcycle, and delivers all the same great views at a fraction of the cost of larger 4-seat aircraft.

Although smaller piston airplanes sometimes get amused looks from pilots of larger airplanes, they actually can be more challenging to fly. Maneuvering a light-weight kite in light or moderate winds can take better pilot skills than heavier aircraft that naturally have more inertia.

After your C152 training and checkout, you'll be able to fly solo and take advantage of reduced cost and greater availability. Also, SCFC currency means your C172 flights will count toward maintaining your C152 currency.

Full-Moon Flyers Monterey - Feb 5 (Sun)

With the full-moon happening on Sunday, February 5th, come with FOG to Monterey (MRY) for a dinner at Woody’s at the Airport! Enjoy dinner in the venue that overlooks the airline ramp, allowing you to view take-offs and landings with your meal.

The flight down is an easy one from the Bay Area, and an excellent choice to take passengers on a short flight if they have never been on a general aviation plane before. With views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Silicon Valley, and Monterey Bay, the flight down is one they won’t forget. Instrument pilots or students can practice their skills with a variety of approaches into the airport, as well. Afterwards, you can refresh your night currency at Monterey or any of the other local airports on the way back to the Bay Area. 

After landing, park at Del Monte Aviation, as Monterey does not have any transient parking near the terminal. From there, it’s a short walk to the terminal. Woody’s is located upstairs from the entrance, before the TSA checkpoints. Please plan to be at the restaurant around 7 PM.

Like other FOG events, RSVP here, and please 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!

FOG Lunch: Stockton - Feb 12 (Sun)

For February, join FOG on a fly-out lunch to Stockton! Top Flight Grill is located in the airport terminal building and a quick walk from Transient Parking or the Atlantic Aviation FBO. The restaurant has typical American fare, as well as Mexican-inspired cuisine. 

Stockton Airport is a great cross-country destination for students, with ATC services and a long runway. Grab your CFI and gain experience flying into new airports and utilizing FBO services. Pilots can also test their instrument skills with a variety of instrument approaches into the airport, including an ILS and RNAV approach to Runway 29R.

Interested in going? Sign up here so we can get a headcount for food, and we’ll see you in Stockton at 12:00 PM on February 12th!