Aviation News
The nose and three-blade propeller of a Cirrus SR22 Turbo in the LA Flight School hangar at Van Nuys
How To Pass The Private Pilot Written Test In 30 Days
Sixty questions, seventy per cent, two and a half hours. A week-by-week plan for the private pilot knowledge test, the three subjects that catch students, and why taking it early makes the flying better.
The Downtown Los Angeles towers seen close up over the wing of a Cirrus circling the city
Night Flying In Los Angeles: What The 61.109 Night Requirements Look Like From Van Nuys
Three hours, a 100-mile cross-country and ten full-stop landings. What the FAA night requirements look like when you fly them out of Van Nuys, and what the city lights do to your eyes.
A white Cessna 162 Skycatcher training airplane, registration N3037T, banking in flight over open land and neighborhoods
Your First Cross-Country From Van Nuys: Where Student Pilots Actually Go
What FAR 61.109 actually requires, which airports Van Nuys students really fly to — Camarillo, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, Big Bear — and what each one teaches. With the distances.
A blue and white Cirrus SR22 with its doors open on the ramp at Van Nuys Airport at sunset
What Happens On Your First Solo, Hour By Hour
Three circuits, about twenty minutes, and a shirt you should not be fond of. What the first solo actually involves, what it feels like, and why most people reach it between 15 and 25 hours.
A white and gold Piper Warrior training airplane in flight above the clouds under a blue sky
Six Things To Check Before You Pay A Flight School Deposit
Six questions, asked at the airport before you hand over money, will tell you more about a flight school than a week of reading reviews. Here they are, with our own answers to each.
A smiling student pilot in a headset beside her instructor in the cockpit of a small airplane, seen through the side window
How To Pay For Flight Training: Every Option, Honestly Compared
Cash, financing from $2,500 down, in-house payment plans, employer sponsorship and VA benefits, compared without the sales gloss. The short version: the most expensive way to learn to fly is slowly.