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Member News
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Welcome New Members
Lucas Babbitt
Eric Blatner
Martin Choy
Alan Eustace
Xavier Gury
Justin Jiang
Heather Lake
Ran Mokady
Brian Murphy
Benedkit Tebartz van Elst
Member Achievements
Tom Werner
CFI Rebecca Joseph
First Solo
Peter Nork
CFI Kevin Hyberger
Private Pilot
Carl Chatfield
CFI Reid Raisanen
First Solo
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Pop Quiz
A fun monthly knowledge test.
Editors: Herb Patten &Dan Dyer
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1. In 2015, what special significance does December 21st have?
A. It is the shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere.
B. It is the coldest night of the year.
C. Santa is busy getting the annual on the sleigh.
2. When is "night", according to the FAA?
A. From the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of morning civil twilight, when you can log night flight time.
B. When the runway lights come on.
C. One hour after sunset.
3. About how long is evening civil twilight?
A. One hour, unless in Alaska or Hawaii.
B. It varies throughout the year and it depends on location. At KSQL, the average is 28 ½ minutes, ranging from 25 ¾ to nearly 31 minutes.
C. The length of time it takes to do a preflight inspection before a night flight.
(answers are at the bottom)
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Upcoming 
Events & Trips
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The Fleet
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Helicopter
Robinson R22
Robinson R44
C150/C152
C172S - G1000
N9402T - $210/hr
Cirrus SR20
Piper Warrior
Piper Archer
Piper Arrow
Tailwheel
Citabria
Super Decathlon
Multi-Engine
Beechcraft 76 Duchess
Turbo Seneca II
Simulators
Helicopter Sim - $110/hr
(member prices shown)
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| Contact Us |
| (650) 946-1700 Email Us 655 Skyway Rd Suite 215 San Carlos, CA 94070 |
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Pop Quiz Answers
1) A. The shortest night
2) A. End of evening civil twilight until beginning of morning civil twilight
3) B. Varies from 25 to 31 minutes at SQL
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Stay Informed
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SCFC News
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Holiday Gifts for Pilots
 Tired of getting gifts of sweatshirts or socks? Here's something better to say when family or friends ask you what you want for the holidays. Ask for the gift of flight! Tell grandma that you've been nice all year and what you really want is some flight time toward your instrument rating. Or ask the kids to throw in some flight time along with a hand drawn card. No matter what you are celebrating, San Carlos Flight Center has the perfect gift to give to the pilot in your family.
From now through New Year's, if someone in your family buys
 you
a gift certificate from San Carlos Flight Center for $500 or more, we'll throw in a bonus SCFC specialty t-shirt! That's two presents at once! Choose from one of our three new gift shirt designs and wear it when you share your next flight with the one who loves you. If your special someone puts $1,000 or more on your Flight Center account by cash or check, you get flight time, a t-shirt, and a $50 block bonus. That's three presents at once. Win, win, win.
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Celebrate your Mastery of a New Aircraft
 During Private training, it's easy to think that everything your trainer plane does, is what all planes do. It is not until you get checked out in a second type of aircraft that you realize what things are true across all aircraft, and what things were quirky and specific from plane to plane.
SCFC is celebrating your moment of triumph with Type Checkout Shirts. Recently transitioned to tailwheel? Check out the new "Tailwheel Certified" shirt. Have you mastered the Robinson R22? Show off your skill by wearing our R22 "If you can fly this, you can fly anything" shirt.
A good pilot is always learning. A great pilot is always wearing cool new shirts. Ask at the SCFC Front Desk for details.
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Safety
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Air-to-Air Safety at the Golden Gate Bridge
Our helicopter tour flight to see the Bay Bridge implode was agreat reminder of the importance of air-to-air safety. While our auction winners watched the bridge caisson disappear beneath the bay, they were also treated to cool air-to-air views of four news helicopters and two sightseeing planes circling the excitement. All that activity was coordinated air-to-air by pilots using the little known Golden Gate frequency.
Low-flying helicopters in the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge still use 124.3 to communicate position reports and direction of flight. The frequency can be especially useful for very low-flying aircraft, but it's good for all bay area pilots to know about it. Higher flying aircraft may find radar services from NorCal more helpful, but pilots in the area should know that not all air traffic may be monitoring or talking to NorCal approach. Stay alert in the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge and consider monitoring both NorCal and the Golden Gate frequency. And keep your eyes outside looking for traffic.
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Distracted by Family and Friends
When flying with family and friends, beware of distractions. Although it is great to give Uncle Fred that tour of the G olden Gate bridge while he is in town visiting, remember your first priority is safety.
Brief all guests on your need to focus. Tell them to keep a sterile cockpit as you taxi to the runway, and warn them of your need to prioritize radio communications over in-cockpit chatter. Make sure you know how to use the ISOLATE feature on the intercom so that your guests can share the thrill of flight and comment on the amazing views without interfering with your traffic calls. Involve your passengers in the safety of the flight and instruct them how to call out traffic nearby. As a pilot, it is tempting to play the role of tour guide, but focus first on being pilot-in-command.
We want our family and friends to enjoy flying as much as we do. Do you primary job and keep them safe, the rest will happen on its own.
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Community
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SCFC Supports Sequoia Parents Nursery School
San Carlos Flight Center is a proud donor to Sequoia Parents  Nursery School's spring fundraising silent auction in support of their school. For more than 40 years, SPNS has provided a play-based learning environment in San Carlos, CA for children aged two to five.
The Flight Center actively participates in the community of San Carlos and throughout the peninsula. We are always looking for ways to share our love of aviation with worthy local schools and charities. SCFC thanks the Sequoia Parents Nursery School for this exciting opportunity to share our love of aviation with the next generation.
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FLAG Hosts Full Moon Flyers at Willows-Glenn
 The pilots of Fly like a Girl will host this Month's Full Moon Flyers to Willows-Glenn on December 23 (Wed). Meet the pilots of FLAG at 7:00pm in front of Nancy's Airport Café. FLAG is aimed at inspiring and supporting women pilots. The pilots of Fly Like a Girl are looking forward to meeting you! Friendships and mentorships are developing over hangar talk and refreshments. You may find your next flight partner or just come to hear other women's stories.
All are welcome to attend!
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Member Profile: Octavio Valdiosera
 SCFC: When did you know you wanted to fly?
OV: Learning how to fly planes and becoming a pilot was a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I am a second generation pilot, my father flew planes far before I was born and he was the one that introduced me to aviation.
SCFC: How did you first become interested in aircraft maintenance?
OV: My father used to work on his own planes and I would shadow him and help by handing him tools. I was in my early 20s when I finally decided to get my A&P license and work on planes as a licensed mechanic.
SCFC: What kind of experience do you have as a pilot?
OV: Being a pilot is something amazing and hard to put into words. I have been flying since I was seven years-old. Flying any and all type of aircrafts is something that I love to do. Being a pilot has given me the opportunity to explore the world in a different way that many can only dream of. I highly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to become a pilot, they will not regret it.
SCFC: What is your favorite plane or aircraft that you have worked on as a mechanic?
OV: I am more of a Piper person simply because that's what I grew up with. My father had a Piper Archer and I used to fly with him anytime I had the opportunity so I have a strong bond with Pipers, but I do like Cessna's and all other aircraft.
SCFC: What do you do for fun outside of the Flight Center?
OV: I consider myself a competitive outdoors person. I like to be active and enjoy playing sports and exploring new places. I am also family oriented; they are like my second job. I have two kids, a seven year-old daughter and a 2 year-old son. Like their father, both of my children love the outdoors. They consume most of my free time but I enjoy every moment spent with them and am happy to be involved in their lives.
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Adventure
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Spend NYE in Vegas with the FlyOutGroup
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Unless your FOG buddies take photos of you dancing on the bar, that will definitely come back with you. Join FlyOutGroup pilots from December 30th - January 1st for a 3-Day New Year's Eve retreat in Las Vegas! FlyOutGroup will depart Wednesday morning to check into hotels on Dec 30. Ring in the New Year in style and spend your getaway anyway you desire. Don't gamble with your reservation, call or sign in to
sancarlosflight.com
to reserve your space today!
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In early 2015, on the night of the first full moon, 20 planes from the Bay Area FlyOutGroup landed at SFO for an amazing party and to log KSFO landings in our logbooks. Not everything ended up working according to plan, and many lessons were learned. Join FOG planners on December 16 (Wed) 7:00pm for a planning session for our repeat visit, a Full Moon Flyers flight in January. We will talk about scheduling, flight paths, radio calls, and the process we will use to coordinate our plans with NorCal Approach and SFO Tower. No Wings credit for this one, just the thrill of being in the planning for SFO 2016.
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Charting Your Adventure Flying for Next Year
In 2015, over 200 California pilots took part in a FlyOutGroup event. The search for adventure in 2016 is on. FOG is always looking for ways for pilots to share in the wonder of flying. We've started planning for SFO, a landing contest, overnights through LA airspace, and two more chances to see the Pacific Northwest. As well as our usual popular trips: wine tasting, whitewater rafting, and to air museums throughout the state.
Where do you want to go? What new adventures do you want to try? What new places do you want to explore? Share your favorite on-field restaurant or your favorite runway nestled in a sleepy mountain valley. Help shape the adventure in 2016 and make exciting new memories in 2016. Share your ideas on the next FlyOutGroup trip, or emails us your suggestions today at
flyoutgroup@gmail.org
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We keep our
online calendar
updated, so bookmark this p
age:
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