May 6th 1pm - SCFC Early Summer BBQ

It's time to gather as a pilot community and celebrate the warmer weather that is on its way!

Bring your family and friends at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 6th, for our first BBQ of the year.

Our Flight Instructor team will be cooking some great food and our Maintenance team will be hosting a fun and interactive preflight challenge for pilots.

We will have activities for kids as well. We're looking forward to seeing you there! Please RSVP here so we can get a good headcount for food and drinks.

2023 Private Pilot Syllabus is Now Out!

San Carlos Flight Center is committed to providing our students with the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and effective training possible. That's why we're excited to announce a series of updates to our Private Pilot Syllabus, ensuring you have access to the latest information and resources for your flight training journey.

Our revamped syllabus now includes recent updates from the FAA handbooks, giving you the most current guidance and regulations to prepare you for success in the skies.

In addition to the syllabus improvements, we've completely updated our Flight Training Workbook to match the content from the FAA's latest revision of the Airplane Flying Handbook. This ensures that your study exercises remain consistent with the most recent guidelines, making your training experience even more seamless and effective. We've also incorporated valuable insights from our experienced instructors and feedback from prior students, ensuring our syllabus reflects the most effective teaching methods and practical knowledge.

The syllabus has been updated to allow the cross-country training to be accomplished in a flexible manner allowing for greater matching to student needs. We believe that these updates will not only enhance the quality of our Private Pilot training program but also create a more engaging, dynamic, and personalized learning experience for our students. Whether you're just starting your flight training journey or already making progress toward your Private Pilot certificate, we're confident that the updated San Carlos Flight Center syllabus and workbook will support you every step of the way. So, buckle up and get ready to soar to new heights with our improved training program!

Refresher: Non-Towered Operations

Air Traffic Control Tower staffing at San Carlos Airport is at an all-time low as we reported in last month’s newsletter. It is unfortunate that pilots operating at KSQL are continually subjected to a reduction in service due to years of insufficient staffing. There has been no tangible progress in rectifying this issue and so good aviation practices are now more than ever critical when operating at KSQL.

With insufficient staffing, regular operations can’t be maintained and the tower will close even during normal scheduled operating hours.

This results in the closure of the tower. When the tower is closed during regularly scheduled hours of operations, there should be a NOTAM published such as “!SQL 04/026 SQL SVC TWR CLSD MNT CTAF 119.0 2304281400-2304281600” however that may not always be the case. Another way to identify if the tower is closed is to listen to the weather broadcast on 125.9. The lack of an ATIS code, e.g., information Foxtrot, or a remark stating that tower operations are suspended are indicators that the tower is closed.

When the tower is not in operation, non-towered procedures should be used. Remember, there is no requirement to broadcast on the radio when the tower is closed. Don’t assume if you hear nothing on the CTAF that there is no activity at the airport.

Follow good radio communication practices including the proper phraseology. Remember to begin your transmission with “San Carlos Traffic” and end your transmission with “San Carlos”. Note that the word “traffic” is only used at the beginning.

There is no “active runway” at a non-towered airport. Pilots pick the runway they want to use so phrases such as “… clear of the active …” or “… taking the active runway for departure …” are meaningless.

Paint schemes and color or style descriptions may be added to the use of the aircraft call sign and type but should not replace type or call sign. 

For refresher on non-towered operations, review the FAA Advisory Circular 90-66B “Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations”. Another resource is to watch the recorded safety seminar “Radio Communications Part 3: Non-Towered Airport Communications” or “Operating at Non Towered Airports”.

Mind the Centerline at KRHV

The FAA has notified pilots that there is a heightened level of scrutiny for pilots operating at Reid-Hillview, KRHV, in response to a number of recent accidents at other airports with closely spaced parallel runways.

KRHV has two parallel runways that are separated by less than 300 feet. Often both runways are being used which increases the chance that a pilot might unintentionally overshoot final and transgress into the final for the parallel runway. Reid-Hillview pilots and controllers are always alert for this situation with the controllers often notifying pilots of traffic on the parallel runway.

On April 12^th, the FAA issued Runway Safety Notice NOTC2929 to bring awareness to this risk. It identifies a number of things pilots should do when operating at KRHV including repeating the landing runway ATC assigns, scan for traffic on the parallel runway, and keep a sterile cockpit. Other tips include being extra vigilant of your landing sequence and keeping the traffic you are following in-sight, if you lose sight of the traffic notify the tower. On base, be aware of the final for your assigned runway – begin your turn to final earlier rather than later. 

Due to the increased focus on runway operations be very careful to maintain the pilot on the extended centerline for the assigned runway. Be advised that if you stray off the extended centerline there may be consequences. If inside one mile and you stray from the extended runway centerline air traffic must file a mandatory operating report or if inside half-a-mile it will be treated as a pilot deviation with the accompanying records forwarded to the FSDO

For more information, check out the FAA video, From the Flight Deck - Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV). San Carlos Flight Center offers training for operating at KHRV so contact the Front Desk to get familiarity with this challenging airport.

Hazards of Operating at Unimproved Airports

On Wednesday, May 17th at 7 PM, Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) Ambassador, Terry Cross will present a safety seminar to highlight the hazards of operating at backcountry recreational airports.

In this seminar, Terry will share what it takes to operate out of these airports safely. All pilots should be aware of the differences in operational technique when flying into or out of unimproved surfaces, in addition to differences present with limited communication receptivity and limited services. In addition to these safety considerations, he will also share how the RAF constantly works to preserve access to recreational airports, and improve the sustainability of unimproved airports, ensuring their accessibility for future pilots.

You never know when you might have to land at an unimproved airport, so all pilots should have the knowledge of what it takes to operate safely. Join us in-person at SCFC for this unique seminar. Register here to secure your seat today. 

SCFC Member Profile: Eric Klein

SCFC: How many hours of flight time are you up to?

EK: I just past 100 hours on the 19th of April, and hope to hit 200 hours before the end of the year.

SCFC: How have the last few flights been sharing flying with passengers?

EK: My first non-pilot passenger was my wife, and then my kids. It was both a thrill, and honestly nerve wracking. But in the end, it went perfectly as I had trained for just these kind of flights. Absolutely having a blast now.

SCFC: What is next on your aviation agenda?

EK: My top priority is getting my IFR rating and High Performance Endorsement. I just finished my ground school training and written test and am full speed on practical training now.

SCFC: People fly for many reasons. What drew you to becoming a pilot?

EK: I have always wanted to fly since I was a kid, and you can easily put me in the group who were inspired by the original Top Gun. However when I got my commission in the US Navy back in the early 90’s I was unable to go Navy flight as the requirements were for uncorrected 20/20 vision.

Up until now I have had to live vicariously through my friends who were able to go through the various flight programs in the US military from the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Today nearly all of them no long fly and now get to live vicariously through my pilot journey.

SCFC: Overall, how would you rank your flight training experience compared to other educational journeys you have been on?

EK: I was very happy with my private pilot training and my choice of CFI. Terry was a great partner and mentor along my journey and I really appreciated the materials provided by the Flight Center.

Full-Moon Flyers Livermore - May 5 (Fri)

Join us on a spectacular full moon flight to a popular local favorite located directly at Livermore Airport.

Elevation LVK is located in the airport building next to transient parking. After parking on the ramp under the tower, walk the short distance to the airport building, where the restaurant will be. Please plan to be seated by 7:00 PM. With options like fresh fish, steak, pasta, and salads, there are plenty of choices for everyone.

Since it’s a short flight, consider taking your passengers on a sunset Bay Tour before dinner. The views during the cooler winter evenings will be spectacular, and nothing beats the gorgeous sunsets. After dinner, you can refresh your night landings at many of the nearby airports, such as Livermore, Hayward, or Oakland on your way home.

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. As this is a new restaurant, it may be a popular event, so please book your plane early. Hope to see you there!

Recap: FlyOutGroup SoCal Airshow Trip

A couple of weeks ago, Bay Area FlyOutGroup (FOG) pilots took 10 airplanes down to San Bernardino Airport (SBD) to watch the SoCal Airshow hosted by the US Air Force at March Air Reserve Base. The Air Force had many aircraft open for static display, which pilots got to explore. They also hosted a fantastic airshow, including the Bay Area's own Patriots Jet Team, a large array of military fighter jets, and headlined by the US Air Force Thunderbirds. 

On the way back, pilots stopped at Victorville Airport (VCV) for a tour of their long-term storage facility and boneyard, seeing what goes into the long-term storage of airliners. Pilots also saw the Boeing 777X prototype up close after it returned from a test flight. We hope you will join us on our next FOG adventure!

FOG Tour of the Southwest - Jun 1-4

Experience the ultimate cross-country training adventure with the FlyOutGroup Tour of the Southwest. This 4-day trip in early June will feature flying to the best of the Southwest United States and provide pilots with unique challenges and amazing memories.

Day 1 will take us to San Diego Lindbergh Field (SAN), a large yet accommodating Class Bravo Airport, with lunch along the way planned at Catalina Island (AVX).

Day 2 takes us through the Southwest with sightseeing over the meteor crater, and the gorgeous natural beauty of Sedona Arizona (SEZ). We'll spend the night at a private airport in Monument Valley, where you'll experience unparalleled views of the surrounding landscape. Day 3 allows us to follow the Colorado River over the Grand Canyon and into Harry Reid Las Vegas International Airport (LAS), bagging another Class Bravo Airport. End your night with some fun in the vibrant culture of Las Vegas.

On Day 4, we'll make our way back home via Bishop and Mammoth, posing the unique challenge of mountain flying with gorgeous views of the surrounding Sierras. 

For this cross-country training trip, you'll be paired with a CFI and another pilot to share flight time and costs. You can choose to make the trip in any of our C172s, C182s, or new C206, so you could use the time toward an aircraft checkout, or high-performance endorsement.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore the beauty of the Southwest from a unique and exciting perspective. Stay tuned for more information on our website.