AOPA 2023 Distinguished Flight School

Last month, San Carlos Flight Center was awarded a Distinguished Flight School award from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). This award is a result of the feedback AOPA received from their annual Flight Training Experience Survey and is awarded to schools with high marks on their quality of instruction and atmosphere. SCFC was one of four schools in the western region of the country that received this notable distinction.

SCFC's Chief Pilot, Herb Patten, also was recognized as designated a Distinguished Flight Instructor. Herb is one of nine CFIs in the Western Region who received the award.

Please join me in congratulating Herb and the rest of the Flight Center staff for creating such a great community for our members to thrive in. I also want to thank our members for their support. Without you, we wouldn't be here. Thank you.

- Alessandro Franco, Owner

Welcome New SCFC Front Desk Staff

Please join us in welcoming the two newest members of Team SCFC, Andy Lam and Jeremiah Amaya. They work weekday mornings and afternoons and may occasionally join Kate, Alex, and Brandan on the weekends.

Andy and Jeremiah will likely introduce themselves to you on your next flight. Andy works afternoons and Jeremiah works mornings. They are on hand to help you with scheduling issues, grab quarts of oil for your plane, or issue you rental headsets for your passengers.

PIC means Control

Pilots make many decisions, both before and during flight. That is the job of the Pilot In Command (PIC), to be the one person completely responsible for all aspects flight and every safety decision.

While ATC contains the word “control”, their authority is not the ultimate control of the safety of flight, a fact that some new pilots have trouble understanding. A pilot works closely with ATC and coordinates many safety aspects, but ATC directives must never override the pilot's safety judgment.

A case in point is runway assignments at towered airports. While often pilots don’t think too much about what runway they are assigned, it is a critical factor for the outcome of the flight. With the series of storms that have recently rolled through the Bay Area, surface wind direction can shift rapidly. It can happen that the winds have shifted during the hour to the point that the runway in use by ATC may no longer be the safest runway for all aircraft with regard to headwinds, tailwinds, and crosswinds. Ideally, ATIS would be updated with any significant change of wind but that isn’t always the case. What should a pilot do if the current wind requires use of the opposite runway?

To a PIC, the answer is easy. If the wind no longer favors the runway that has been assigned for takeoff, the pilot should request a different runway. This can be as easy as stating that you need to depart Runway 12 (even if others are using Runway 30). Clarifying the reason for the request can be useful, such as “Due to current winds, I need Runway 12”. This is equally true for landing. If the runway assigned by the controller isn’t appropriate based on the current surface winds and your aircraft capabilities, ask for a different runway.

In these situations, you should expect the controller may need to do some coordination with other aircraft and there may be a slight delay, but a slight delay is certainly preferred rather than a potential tailwind takeoff or landing.

Just remember, the active word in "pilot-in-command" is “command”.

Don't Skimp on Preflight!

Every good flight begins with a good preflight inspection. The very first time you do a preflight you are super focused and ask lots of questions of your instructor. As time goes on, you may slip into a cursory preflight inspection to “save” time or you just may be rushed to get on with the flight. If you find yourself slipping away from a thorough preflight inspection, try out some of these suggestions.

First is to enforce a preflight “no distraction” policy. If you plan to take passengers, consider having them wait inside until you have completed the preflight inspection. Your passengers may thank you for allowing them to wait inside.

Another consideration is fighting the “get-there-itis” operational pitfall. This often causes pilots to rush the preflight. Set aside sufficient time to perform the preflight inspection.

Another great tip is to do one final walk-around before hopping in your aircraft, taking a few steps back to see how the entire aircraft looks. Conducting countless preflight inspections can lead to complacency because of its repetitive nature. Discipline yourself to detect subtle changes!

VOR Equipment Checks

If you plan to use VORs on your IFR flight, be sure to confirm 30-day recency before your flight. The VOR log sheet for each aircraft can be found in the SCFC information binder provided in each airplane. That's the white 3-ring binder containing phone numbers, member regulations, departure procedures, and flashlights.

Examine the log sheet to determine if a 30-day check is already present and current. If needed, log your equipment check on the next available row in the columns provided, in conformance with 14 CFR 91.171.

Your IFR pilot peers will thank you.

SCFC Member Profile: Kiran Rao

SCFC: Congratulations on your recent Private Pilot Checkride. What would you say was the biggest challenge of getting across the finish line?

KR: The biggest challenge was staying focused throughout the checkride process. It was two full months between my initially scheduled checkride and completion, with delays for weather, availability, airplane issues and a disapproval. Having to stay sharp week after week not knowing if/when I'd actually be able to take the test was strenuous.

SCFC: What caught your interest in aviation to begin with?

KR: I've been wanting to fly since I was a kid. There's something magical about breaking free from the flat surface that is everyday life. As a child in the late 90s, I got to see the inside of a 747 cockpit mid-flight. I was instantly hooked.

SCFC: What were your favorite moments from the training path?

KR: My first solo flight. Before my first solo, I doubted myself. I didn't know if my instructor was secretly helping or putting in minor corrections. The moment of making my first landing, I knew: "This was all me. I can do it. I can fly."

SCFC: Now that you’re a Private Pilot, what destinations will you be departing to in the coming year?

KR: Catalina and Death Valley. Catalina (KAVX) is one of the most beautiful and unique places you can fly to.

Death Valley (L06) is in a massive canyon surrounded by sweeping mountains. I see it from the road, but the experience from the air would be phenomenal.

SCFC: How do your family and friends feel about your accomplishments as a pilot?

KR: I am hearing "When's your next flight and can I join?" and "You're now one of the coolest people I know"

SCFC Pilots Capture Yosemite Firefall

A handful of Flight Center pilots took advantage of the clear skies and calm winds to photoshoot Yosemite at sunset. One photographer was even able to capture the rare "Firefall" phenomenon that occurs when the sunset light hits Horsetail Falls at an angle that makes it appear lava is tumbling down El Capitan. The Firefall makes its appearance in late February, and is a coveted photograph for many, but SCFC pilots were able to beat the crowds and see it from the air.

Want to explore Yosemite from the air yourself? Make sure you fly at or above 2000 feet above the terrain, and try to limit your engine noise so as to not disturb people enjoying the National Park. Flying at sunset is a magical time to see the park, but ensure you aren't flying over the mountains at night.

The best lighting for photos often occurs 30-60 minutes prior to sunset, but daytime flights also look spectacular. Enjoy these photographs captured by Andrew Goddard, Amanda Chan, Brayden Snedigar, and Obed Han.

Upwind Foundation Wine & Cheese Party - Mar 17 (Fri) 6:30pm

The Upwind Foundation and San Carlos Flight Center invites all SQL pilots and supporters to you to a fundraising Wine and Cheese Party on Friday, March 17 at 6:30pm. Our annual fundraiser for the Upwind Scholarship will include wine & cheese pairings and the conclusion of our annual fundraising silent auction. As a special treat, we will also announce and introduce the winners of the 2023 Upwind Summer Scholarships!

Be prepared to bid hard to win great aviation auction items such as training time with your favorite CFI, free aircraft rental, fantastic bottles of wine, and unique flight experiences (e.g., Cessna 195)

The Wine & Cheese party is the highlight of all SCFC annual events. All are welcome to bring friends and family to experience the fun of a night out with the greatest piloting community in Northern California. Please RSVP for the party online so we can have enough wine and cheese!

Full-Moon Flyers Hollister - Mar 7 (Tue)

Need to practice night flying, or just want to gain more experience at night? Come join us for dinner at Seabrisa’s Eatery in Hollister (CVH) on March 7th at 7 PM.

On the way down, soak in the gorgeous sunset over the coastal mountains before descending into Hollister Airport. Make sure to remain clear of the San Jose final approach course, and consider talking to NorCal Approach to have an extra set of eyes looking out for you. Park in transient parking, and then walk across the street to the local airport restaurant – Seabrisa’s Eatery! A local favorite for many pilots in the area, they’re known for their unique flavors and vegetables grown from many of the local farms.

After dinner, Hollister is a great place to work on night landings or fly to San Jose (SJC) to complete your night requirements there. With big runways, it’s easy to make the landings to a stop-and-go, and you’ll enjoy the challenge of flying alongside jet traffic.

Everyone is welcome to join us, so please RSVP online and we’ll see you at the event.

FOG Lunch: Stockton - Feb 12 (Sun)

Want delicious food and some cross-country time? Join FOG on March 19 as we head north to Willows (WLW), where we’ll break for lunch at Nancy’s Airport Cafe.

Willows can be found in the northwest side of the Central Valley, and is located between Nut Tree and Redding. Flying in the Spring time will hopefully present a green and colorful landscape, as many of the surrounding hills will be various shades of green from the winter rains. On a clear day, you may even be able to get a glimpse of the towering Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen on the descent!

Nancy’s Airport Cafe is a small airport diner, but is known for its all-day breakfast, American fare, and best of all, their pies! Make sure to grab a slice before heading home, as they’re known for keeping pilots coming back for more. To access the restaurant, please park on the ramp alongside the hangers and self-serve fuel depot, and walk through the gate.

As always, if you’re interested in attending, please let us know by signing up here.

FOG Wine Tasting Trip - Apr 14-16

After a long hiatus, a FOG favorite is making its return! Mark your calendars for April 14-16 as the FlyOutGroup hosts the Santa Maria Wine Tasting trip.

Fly down south to Santa Maria, and join us for a weekend of wine tasting! Enjoy a full-day of tasting throughout the Foxen Canyon and Santa Ynez Valley, where we'll sample various wines from unique wineries. As a bonus, this trip will include a lunch stop at a newly-reopened airport on the return flight home. 

Trip details are being finalized, but if you are interested in attending, please email flyoutgroup@sancarlosflight.com for more details and updates. 

FOG March AFB Air Show - Apr 21-23

Join the FlyOutGroup on April 21-23 for a visit to Southern California's March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, where we'll attend the SoCal Airshow. The Airshow will feature demonstrations by some of the US military's iconic aircraft, including the US Thunderbirds, as well as static displays of aircraft such as the B-1B Lancer, A-10 Warthog, and F-35. 

On the return trip home, FOG pilots on the trip will be able to stop at Victorville Airport for an exclusive tour of the airport, including the boneyard and airliner parking facilities. You'll be able to see iconic aircraft like the Boeing 747 and 787!

You can learn more about the event and sign up on our website.