July 4th SCFC Office Closure

The San Carlos Flight Center clubhouse will be closed for most operations on Thursday, July 4th in celebration of the national holiday. Of course, aircraft rental flights can still occur, as well as some pre-arranged training activities with you flight instructor (talk to your CFI).

If you reserve an aircraft for July 4th, be sure the reservation is in Flight Schedule Pro by 4pm on the day before, to ensure the keys are place outside in the night lockbox for you.

Private Pilot Ground School - Jul 7 (Sun)

Summer is here and there is no better time to begin your aviation training. Take your first step by signing up now for the Private Pilot Ground School starting Sunday, July 7th.

The classes are delivered in a highly interactive manner with content that is constantly being updated and is relevant to flying in the Bay Area. The training not only prepares you for the knowledge test but provides a solid foundation for the oral portion of the checkride. SCFC’s ground school class is famous in the SF Bay Area for being: flexible (sessions taught in-person on Sunday morning as well as Tuesday evening and also available online 24x7), fun (great to meet and interact with other student pilots), and a fantastic value (30+ hours of instruction for one low price). 

Beyond the classroom sessions, students also tour and visit with SQL tower controllers, get hands-on with the SCFC maintenance team to explore under the engine cowling, and take part in two optional workshops to refine cross-country planning skills and use weather briefing tools.

Check the SCFC website to confirm your seat in the class that will get your aviation dreams off the ground.

Welcome Our Newest Instructors

Summer weather means great flying! We are excited to announced that in June SCFC welcomed in the largest group of new flight training students we've ever experienced. Our reputation for a clean, structured syllabus and well-maintained aircraft prove to be the right combination for SF Bay Area pilots.

Our CFI Finishing School has also been running strong, recently graduating four certificated flight instructors into SCFC's training philosophy and methodology. These new CFIs are helping us create the safest and most competent pilots in the country.

Matthew Kopiko grew up in the Bay Area, originally born in Walnut Creek. His passion for aviation started at a young age, when he would travel with his mother to visit family in the Philippines. He started taking flight lessons in the Central Valley while in high school, and finished his private pilot training in eastern North Carolina on a United States Air Force flight training scholarship. Matthew later attended Purdue University, where he graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he earned the rest of his certificates and ratings, training at Purdue University Airport during the school year, and Buchanan Field Airport in Concord during summer break. He is happy to share aviation with others and help students reach their goals!

Brad Daughtry first became interested in aviation during a trip to Alaska when he saw all the bush planes flying around the state. From that point, he wanted to learn to fly. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in Finance, and moved back to the Bay Area to work in San Francisco.

After working in SF, he decided to pursue an aviation career and moved to Florida’s Space Coast to complete his flight training. Outside of flying, Brad enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and hiking. He is excited to help aspiring pilots learn to fly.

Noa Brown is originally from the Bay Area, and spent much of his childhood passionate about aviation. He was always looking for new ways to become involved. Though high school and college, Noa spent many hours volunteering and working summer camps at the Hiller Aviation Museum.

Noa has an aerospace engineering degree from Embry-Riddle and worked at a defense company before deciding to pursue flying professionally. He got all his ratings in Arizona before deciding to come back to California.

When not flying, Noa enjoys building model kits, outdoor running, music and dogs.

Safety

Flying Safely with Fireworks

Pilots have access to a rare view - fireworks as seen from the air. On clear, calm, 4th of July nights, some pilots take the opportunity to celebrate with a night flight. An airplane can truly provide the best seats in the house.

If you plan to fly on Wednesday, July 4th, take the necessary precautions. Be night current if you are taking passengers, and plan a route that keeps you safely above the action.  Large fireworks can go as high as 1,500 feet AGL but most are less than 1,000 feet AGL. Exercise caution and circle wide of the firing area. It will be safer and will give you a better view of the action.

It's Summer and the Pattern is Full

Summer is in full swing. School is out. The weather is great. All of this brings more pilots to the airport and more traffic. At San Carlos airport, it used to be rare if you were number 3 in the pattern. Now, being number 5 is not uncommon.

With the greater number of planes flying in the pattern, it is crucial to maintain situational awareness. Pay attention to the radio calls especially when the pattern is busy. While "Aviate" is our #1 priority, "Communicate" is important, so listening to and responding to instructions issued to you is going to help everyone out. Responding promptly and with the relevant information will ensure the best use of the frequency when things are busy.

Always include your sequence number when it is assigned and please remember to include your call sign at the end of your transmission. If the tower says number four, runway 30 cleared for the option, please include the sequence, the runway number and your call sign..

SCFC Member Profile: Kuni Migimatsu

SCFC: You passed your Private checkride in 2022. Are you working on any additional certificates or ratings?

KM: Yes, I am working on my IFR rating with an eventual goal of getting my Commercial and CFI.

SCFC: How does your flying fit into the other aspects of your life? Does it tie in to your work or other hobbies?

KM: I work a typical 9-5 office job, quite the opposite of flying. While flying may be a weekend hobby, all my coworkers know I am a pilot and are very supportive (in fact, they call me “Captain”).

SCFC: You’ve been with the Flight Center for years, but are one of the members who lives the farthest away. What influenced your decision to fly with SCFC?

KM:  I often get this question. Long story short, it’s Safety, Community, Adventure, and most importantly, Resource. Without resource, none of the 3 other reasons are possible, and that’s what makes SCFC unique.

SCFC: What have been some of your memorable flights so far?

KM: One favorite was our trip to KVCV with the FOG group to the Valley Airshow. Entering the FBO, we noticed “San Carlos Air Force” written in big letters on their events wall. We chuckled, but for a moment it felt good to be part of an “Air Force” community about to attend an Air Force airshow.

SCFC: What aviation dreams do you have? What destination are you hoping to visit someday? Is there a dream plane you’d like to fly?

KM: For now, I just want to be the best version of a pilot I can be. I was told as a child I would never be a pilot, and yet here I am years later still opening new doors and redefining the possible. While I have my own dreams, I want to keep an open mind so I don’t miss any opportunity along the way, much like how Brian Shul never missed the moment..

Annual FlyOutGroup/Upwind Dinner - Jul 21

The Bay Area FlyOutGroup’s most popular event is back, our annual joint event with the summer class of Upwind pilots.

On the evening of Sunday July 21st, join us at the Stockton Airport (SCK) to continue our yearly tradition of celebrating the Upwind Class of 2024 with a fly-out dinner event. We invite all pilots to showcase the fantastic General Aviation community to high-school students and their families.

Please park around 6:30 PM at transient parking located just south of the airline terminal. If confused of its location, ask for progressive taxi or look for San Carlos Flight Center aircraft parked on the ramp. Exit through the pedestrian gate and plan to meet up no later than 7:00 PM at Top Flight Grill and Catering inside the passenger terminal. Afterward, enjoy the twilight flight home. The restaurant has asked for each table to pay as a group instead of individual checks, please plan accordingly.

Upwind students will fly with their instructors, but FOG pilots who are able to will often allow the students’ families to ride along in their aircraft. This is a great way to introduce the families to the aviation community and the incredible people behind it.

Due to the popularity of this event and the coordination of rides, please make sure to RSVP and book your plane early! Also, when you register, please let us know where you are departing from and if you are able to accept passengers. For those that are willing to take parents and family members, FOG and Upwind will be in contact with you to coordinate the logistics.

(In the event we get weathered out, the FOG Coordinator will advise attendees with an alternate plan)