Congratulations to SCFC's Newest IA

This month, Tim Davis passed his FAA test to receive Inspection Authorization added to his Mechanic certificate. Tim has years of experience working on San Carlos Flight Center aircraft and presenting maintenance related topics at SCFC safety seminars. He has performed a wide variety of services on SCFC aircraft include oil changes, 100-hour inspections, and routine service and repair of airframe and powerplants.

The new IA rating authorizes him to oversee annual inspections, and to approve major repairs and alterations. As the SCFC fleet grows, having two mechanics on the team with Inspection Authorization helps us return aircraft to service with less down time.

We are very proud to have a maintenance team that is always working to improve in service level and response time. Please join us in congratulating Tim for this achievement.

Pilot Tour of the USS Hornet - May 25

Join us for an adventurous afternoon as we take a pilot tour of the historic U.S.S. Hornet, and Essex-class aircraft carrier built for the United States Navy (USN) now on display as a museum in Alameda. The Hornet took part in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaigns of World War II, most notably the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Famously, the Hornet was the ship that recovered the Apollo 11 astronauts returning from the moon landing.

Pilots from SCFC plan to meet at the pier in Alameda at Noon on May 25th for a 2-hour tour with our own private docent. You can plan to drive to the pier at the Hornet or fly into Hayward and get transportation over to the pier.

Cost $15 approximately. Depends on how many register as the docent charge is in addition to the group rate.

Parking is free. Lunch is available at concession stands on the pier for an additional cost.

Planning for 5-Day June Colorado Trip

The big summer mountain training trip destination has been selected, as the FOG is returning to the high elevation airports and mountain passes of the Colorado Rockies.

We will depart on the last Wednesday of the month, June 26th, with a flight to Bryce, UT, adjacent to the national park. The next day, after a few more stops in Utah for fuel and meals, we'll arrive in Eagle, Colorado, which will serve as our Colorado home base of operations. Day 3 is for high-elevation adventures including Leadville, Aspen, and Telluride, with stunning views and memorable pilot challenges. We'll start the return to California by following the headwaters of the Colorado River, with overflights of the Grand Canyon, and landing at Las Vegas Class B. On the last day, June 30, we'll cross the California Sierras, with perhaps a stop at the lowest airport in the country, Furnace Creek below sea level.

This is a multi-purpose training adventure, with two pilots and one CFI on board each airplane. Participants can expect to work on high-performance endorsements, C182 aircraft checkouts, SCFC Mountain Checkouts, all while making amazing pilot memories.

Space is limited. If this is the year that you join the FlyOutGroup on this adventure, start talking with your CFI or email info@sancarlosflight.com to get added to the early interest list.

Safety

New Private Airplane ACS

The FAA has updated many of the Airmen Certification Standards, ACS. These documents contain the tasks that an applicant must do to obtain a pilot certificate. The tasks in the ACS contain a list of knowledge items, risk management considerations and skills that must be demonstrated. The updated ACS includes Private Pilot Airplane, instrument Airplane, Commercial Pilot Airplane, Flight Instructor Airplane as well as a few others. These updated standards become effective May 31^st. 

What does that mean for a student training here at the San Carlos Flight Center? Other than an awareness that there is a new standard document, there are no substantial changes. The training syllabus used at the Flight Center is extremely thorough and so there is no need for any change in your training. The changes in the ACS for private and instrument rating are minor. As an example, one of the changes enurmerate a list of weather services products. The FAA now includes items about the knowledge, risk and skills associated with using an electronic flight bag (EFB). Give the FAA credit for responding to technology from over a decade ago.

Rest assured that you will be well prepared to take your practical test when training here at the Flight Center regardless of FAA’s revised ACS documents.

Words from Mom, Don't Forget Your Sun Protection

The days are warming up, bringing an increase in sunshine. While this is great news for pilots who've been grounded constantly due to the rain, it also means members and their passengers should take extra care with sun protection. The windows on most general aviation aircraft are not fully UV-protected, and combined with the high altitudes, most pilots will be exposed to a larger quantity of sunlight. Including sunscreen in your flight bag and ensuring you're applying it to your arms and face before taking off is recommended.

Another item to remember is sunglasses. Flying without sunglasses may seem okay, but the bright light harms your eyes and makes them tired from squinting. Even a cheap pair of sunglasses can go a long way in protecting your eyes and making it easier to spot traffic. 

While it may not seem like it's making a difference, wearing sun protection on every flight can be a strong deterrent to a pesky sunburn, and helps reduce your risk for skin cancer. 

SCFC Member Profile: Nathan Harada

SCFC: Congrats on your recent first solo. Can you share what the experience was like when the plane lifted off the ground for the first time with you alone at the controls?

NH: Thanks! Honestly it felt pretty natural. The nerves went away as soon as I taxied back out to the runup area and the takeoff felt like any other (aside from rocketing into the sky without my CFI aboard). I'll never forget the takeoff briefing though where, reviewing the plan for an engine out climb, I had to correct myself from "we'll find a place to land straight ahead" to "I will find a place to land". It really drove home the level of responsibility I was about to take on.

SCFC: What control skill came the easiest to you during early training? What skill was the hardest to develop and perfect?

NH: Like many pilots, landings took a while to figure out. And somewhat embarrassingly, it took a little while to overcome the "steering wheel instinct" while taxiing and instead to steer with only the rudders. On the other hand, early on the basics of keeping turns coordinated felt quite natural, as did most of the basic flight controls.

SCFC: Other than flight training, what was the last major educational journey you undertook?

NH: A few years ago I learned how to paraglide, which ignited my interest in flight. There's much less book knowledge required for paragliding though, at least in the US, so the rigor of training at SCFC is still the most structured educational journey I've had since grad school. I really appreciate the community's focus on learning and safety compared to hanglider/paraglider community, which was a mixed bag in terms of how seriously people took it.

SCFC: What would you say was your main motivation for beginning flight training? The need for speed? Travel options? Skill challenge?

NH: I just love being in the air -- the vistas, feeling like I'm 100% present, the views most people won't get to see. I don't consider myself a daredevil at all. As far as I'm concerned, if the adrenaline is pumping something is wrong. Learning to fly fixed wing specifically was appealing to be able to share the experience with others and go places beyond a few dozen miles.

SCFC: How many times do you fly each week, and how has that pace affected your training process?

NH: I've managed to do 2-3 times per week, with 3 being typical. Luckily I'm only working part time during training, and I think that's made my learning much smoother since I really retain muscle memory compared to a weekly or less cadence. 

Full-Moon Flyers - KHAF May 23 (Th)

On May 23rd, make the quick hop over the Santa Cruz Mountains to Half Moon Bay for dinner. The flight is quick from points around the Bay Area but is much faster and less stressful than navigating the traffic on Highway 92. This is a perfect flight to take friends and family on, as it affords stunning views of the local coastline, beaches, and mountains in such a short flight.

After landing, taxi to the small ramp on the southeast side of the airport (located southeast of the taxiway that takes you to Runway 30). Secure your aircraft, and we’ll walk through the gate to meet at Mezza Luna at 7 PM, one of the best restaurants in the town. Enjoy an Italian dinner, complete with classic favorites like pasta and freshly-caught seafood.

Please RSVP so we can inform the restaurant of our headcount. We hope to see you in Half Moon Bay!

FOG Lunch - Willows - May 25 (Sa)

Want delicious food and some cross-country time? Join FOG on May 25 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 RSVPing here.