SAFETY FIRST
★★★★★
Very safety and detail oriented. Pre-flight briefing explained everything there was. To my knowledge, this flight school is exceptional in their ability.
Airline Pilot Course · Van Nuys (KVNY)
Airline Pilot Training
Zero to 1,500 hours — finishing with CFI, CFII and MEI, the ratings that let you get paid to build time.
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5.0
Google · 85 reviews
Since 2017
Program Snapshot
Enrolling now
Total Flight Hours
260
FAA Certificates
10
To Complete
9 mo
Build To ATP
1,500 hrs
$89,000$84,000 Back to School Special all-in · from $2,500 down
See Breakdown
Scroll
The Numbers
Every Hour, Rating, And Cost — On One Dashboard
This is a proof-of-value program. Before you commit, see exactly what you get: the logged hours, the certificates earned, and the timeline to the flight deck.
260
Total Log Time (Hours)
200
Single-Engine Hours
10
Multi-Engine Hours
50
Redbird Simulator Hours
120
Flight Instruction Hours (Aircraft & Sim)
80
Ground School & Briefing Hours
10
FAA Certificates & Ratings Earned
9 mo
To Commercial / ATP-Ready
1,500 hrs
Path To Your ATP Certificate
Back to School Special All-In · Financing Up To 15 yrs
10 Certificates & Ratings You Earn — Private Pilot To ATP
Logbook Detail
260 Logged Flight Hours — Full Breakdown
A granular, per-aircraft and per-activity view of your logged time. Single-engine, multi-engine and simulator hours total 260. Flight instruction and ground school are delivered alongside those hours, not added on top of them.
Single-Engine — Piper & Cessna
185 hrs
Single-Engine — Diamond Aircraft
10 hrs
High-Performance Turbo Cirrus
5 hrs
Multi-Engine Flight Time
10 hrs
Full-Motion Flight Simulator
50 hrs
Flight Instruction (Aircraft & Sim)
120 hrs
Ground School & Briefings
80 hrs
Total Logged Time
260 hrs
Endorsements included
Complex
High-Performance
Spin
The Airline Path
Airline Pilot Training At Van Nuys Airport — Los Angeles Flight School's Route To ATP Minimums
The most advanced and complete commercial airline pilot training program in Southern California.
If you're wondering how to become an airline pilot in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Flight School at Van Nuys Airport offers the most advanced and complete commercial airline pilot training program in Southern California. Our curriculum is powered by the Redbird MCX full-motion flight simulator, delivering ultra-realistic, motion-based flight scenarios that prepare students for real airline conditions from day one.
We operate a fleet of 20+ training aircraft that we own outright, including single-engine and multi-engine planes. Our path takes you from private pilot through commercial multi-engine, meeting all airline licensing and flight-hour requirements to launch your career with confidence.
You finish this program holding CFI, CFII and MEI. Instructing is how most pilots get paid while they build time, and those hours count toward the 1,500 hours an unrestricted ATP takes under 14 CFR 61.159. The reduced restricted-ATP minimums in 14 CFR 61.160 come from military service or an approved aviation degree program — not from a Part 61 school like this one. Regional carriers hire at ATP minimums and the hiring decision is theirs. We hold no hiring agreement with any airline and we do not place graduates.
Our students rate us 5.0 on Google across 85 reviews, citing our safe, structured, and fun training environment guided by passionate, career-focused instructors.
Single-engine aircraft are $179 an hour, wet, for enrolled students — that is the airplane and its fuel. Your instructional hours sit inside the program price rather than being billed on top of the hourly rate. Ready to start your journey from student to airline pilot? Book your free in-person consultation at our Van Nuys Airport location today.
The Fleet
Train The Fleet That Builds Airline-Ready Hours
We operate a fleet of 20+ training aircraft that we own outright — from glass-cockpit high-performance singles to the multi-engine airplanes the airlines want you flying. Train in Diamond, Cessna or Piper at the same cost, with a premium Cirrus upgrade available.
Cirrus SR22 · Premium Upgrade
Glass Cockpit · High-Performance
Cirrus SR22 — Fly The Most Advanced Piston Single
The Cirrus is a high-performance aircraft with a full glass cockpit and an airframe parachute — the premium training experience for students who want the best. Its all-glass Garmin avionics mirror the flight-management systems you'll use on the airline flight deck.
Available as an upgrade at any stage of your training, the SR22 lets you build advanced systems and cross-country skills in one of the safest, most capable single-engine airplanes flying today.
Glass Garmin Avionics
CAPS Airframe Parachute
High-performance Single
Diamond · Core Trainer
Modern · Safe · Efficient
Diamond — The Modern Glass-Panel Workhorse
Our Diamond aircraft are maintained in exceptional condition and are a student favorite from day one — modern composite airframes with glass panels, superb visibility and a reassuring safety record. You can train in a Diamond, Cessna or Piper at the same cost and switch between them as you progress.
It's the aircraft most students fly for their Private, Instrument and Commercial single-engine work — efficient, forgiving and genuinely fun to fly around the Los Angeles basin.
Glass Panel
Same Cost As Cessna & Piper
Switch Types Anytime
Multi-Engine · ME Rating
The Airline Rating
Multi-Engine — The Airplane The Airlines Want You Flying
Every airline job requires multi-engine experience, and our Multi-Engine Rating adds twin-engine aircraft — essential for airline flying. You'll log 10 multi-engine hours and earn your Commercial Multi-Engine (CMEL) and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) certificates as part of the program.
Twin time is the currency of the regional carriers. They hire at ATP minimums, and an unrestricted ATP takes 1,500 hours under 14 CFR 61.159 — hours most pilots build by instructing. We hold no hiring agreement with any airline and we do not place graduates.
10 hrs Multi-Engine
CMEL + MEI
1,500 hrs To ATP
The Simulator · Van Nuys Airport
The Only One In The Los Angeles Area
No other flight school in the Los Angeles area trains on anything like it. Our top-of-the-line Redbird MCX full-motion simulator banks, pitches, and responds like a real aircraft — and because it's FAA-approved, the hours you fly in it go straight into your logbook. It's woven into every syllabus we teach, with up to 50 hours creditable toward your Commercial Pilot License.
Redbird MCX · FAA-Approved AATD
Our Redbird MCX At Van Nuys.A full-motion, FAA-approved Advanced Aviation Training Device — wraparound visuals, real controls, real logged time.
50 hrs
Loggable toward your Commercial licence
FAA Approved
Advanced Aviation Training Device
100%
Of our syllabi integrate simulator training
1 of 1
No other LA flight school has one
Full Immersive Visuals
Wraparound visuals put you inside the flight — weather, terrain, and traffic rendered around you, not on a desktop screen.
True Motion Platform
The MCX moves with you. Realistic motion cues build muscle memory and reaction time the way only flight can.
Dual Controls · Single & Multi-Engine
Fly side-by-side with your instructor in single- or multi-engine configuration.
Dual Controls
Pilot Logbook · Simulator Credit
The Hours You Fly In Our Simulator Go In Your Logbook
01
Instrument Procedures & IFR MasteryApproaches, holds, and partial-panel work — repeatable on demand
Logged
02
Emergency Scenarios, Flown SafelyEngine-outs, system failures, weather escapes — no real-world risk
Logged
03
Single & Multi-Engine, Dual ControlsYou and your instructor, side by side, in either configuration
Logged
04
Full-Motion Muscle MemoryThe platform banks and pitches with you — your body learns to fly
Logged
In Every Syllabus. Not An Upsell.
Simulator sessions are scheduled into every training program from day one — that's how our students fly sharper and spend less.
Simulator time costs a fraction of aircraft time — and it still counts. Up to 20% of your flight training can be done in the simulator, cutting the total cost of your training without cutting a single hour of preparation.
FAA Simulator Credit Ladder
Maximum hours creditable in an approved training device
Private PilotUp to 2.5 hrs
Instrument RatingUp to 10 hrs
Commercial PilotUp to 50 hrs
ATP CertificateUp to 25 hrs
Pricing & Ratings
What Your $84,000 Buys
Commercial Airline Pilot Program — Zero to Airline at Van Nuys. Every FAA certificate and rating, 260 logged hours, full-motion sim time, and instructor hours — itemized, so you see the value line by line. Back to School Special: $84,000 all-in — $5,000 off the $89,000 list price, until September 30, 2026.
Real panels, real IFR.Glass-cockpit avionics and full-motion Redbird sim — every dollar of your $84,000 itemized at right.
Itemized program value
Zero experience neededPrivate Pilot License (PPL)Included in your program — most schools charge separately |
Included |
Every rating, PPL → ATPInstrument, Commercial SE/ME, CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP |
10 certs |
260 Total Logged Flight HoursSingle-Engine Piper & Cessna · 185 hrs — Single-Engine Diamond · 10 hrs — High-Performance Turbo Cirrus · 5 hrs — Multi-Engine · 10 hrs — Full-Motion Simulator · 50 hrs |
260 hrs |
Multi-Engine Flight TimeTwin-engine time toward your CMEL and MEI certificates |
10 hrs |
Redbird full-motion sim timeUltra-realistic motion-based scenario training |
50 hrs |
Flight Instruction (Aircraft & Sim)One-on-one dual instruction · delivered within your 260 hours |
120 hrs |
Ground School & BriefingsStructured curriculum, exam prep, mentorship |
80 hrs |
Financing availableUp to 15 years · from $2,500 down · no co-signer |
Up to 15 yrs |
Running total · all-in
Back to School Special — $5,000 off until September 30, 2026
$89,000 $84,000
5.0
★★★★★
out of 5.0 · 85 verified Google reviews
G
Google85 reviews
5.0★★★★★
85
Total reviewsGoogle only — we publish no other source
85
From Students Who Enrolled
“Choosing Essence Flight School in Van Nuys has been one of the best decisions I've made for my aviation career.”
“I enrolled as student at Essence Flight School in July, and I couldn't be happier with my experience. I got my Private Pilot License here, and I'm now…”
Quoted verbatim from published Google reviews. Essence Flight School / Essence Flight Academy is this school under its pre-rebrand name — same team, same hangar at Van Nuys.
★ 5.0 · 85 Reviews
Zero Experience Needed
Financing Up To 15 Years
PPL Included
Every rating, one program
Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine and all your flight-instructor certificates — PPL through ATP in a single structured path.
Beyond FAA minimums
260 total logged hours and 50 hours of full-motion Redbird sim — more preparation than the FAA 250-hour minimum requires.
The route to ATP minimums
You finish holding CFI, CFII and MEI. Instructing is how most pilots get paid while they build the 1,500 hours an unrestricted ATP takes under 14 CFR 61.159. We hold no hiring agreement with any airline and we do not place graduates.
Financing made simple
Spread tuition over up to 15 years with as little as $2,500 down — no prepayment penalty and no co-signer for most applicants.
Back to School Special · $5,000 Discount
Take $5,000 Off The Airline Pilot Course
For back to school, take $5,000 off the all-in Airline Pilot Course price. Same program, same 260 logged hours, same 10 certificates and the same CFI, CFII and MEI at the end of it — $5,000 less to enroll.
Offer Ends September 30, 2026$89,000
$84,000
−$5,000 Saving
All-in tuition, financing still available up to 15 years from $2,500 down. Discount applies to enrollments completed on or before September 30, 2026.
Beyond FAA Minimums
260 logged hours. 10 certificates. One flight deck.
From your first discovery flight to twin-engine time, every stage is tracked, structured and built to airline standards — not the bare minimum.
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5.0
85 Google reviews
Van Nuys · KVNY
1,500 hrs to ATP
Your Roadmap
From consultation to the flight deck — 8 tracked stages
Program is roughly 9 months to Commercial / ATP-ready, then you build to 1,500 hours as a paid instructor. Follow the progress line stage by stage.
010%
Consultation
Free · Day 1Meet the team, tour the aircraft, and get a personalized training plan.
0213%
Private Pilot License
~11 weeks · ~80 hrsYour first certificate and the foundation for everything that follows.
0325%
Instrument Rating
~9 weeksFly by instruments in any weather — a core airline skill.
0438%
Time Building
~3 weeksLog pilot-in-command hours to meet commercial requirements.
0550%
Commercial Single-Engine
~5 weeks · ~55 hrsEarn the certificate that lets you get paid to fly.
0663%
Multi-Engine Rating
~3 weeks · ~20 hrsAdd multi-engine aircraft — essential for airline flying.
0775%
Flight Instructor Ratings
~5 weeks · CFI/CFII/MEIQualify to teach — and to start earning while you build hours.
08100%
Instructing And Time Building
Build to 1,500 hrsTeach for pay, fill the logbook, then interview at ATP minimums.
The Career Payoff
From student to captain — the earning trajectory
One fixed all-in tuition takes you from no experience to CFI, CFII and MEI. Instructing is how most pilots get paid while they build the 1,500 hours an unrestricted ATP takes under 14 CFR 61.159.
How pilots get paid while they build hours
You finish holding CFI, CFII and MEI. Most new commercial pilots instruct, because teaching is the job that pays while the logbook fills. We hire our own graduates when we have openings, and sometimes we have none. Nobody here promises you a job.
Instructing — Year 1
Career progression
Indicative annual pay · industry averages
The full pathway: All-in $84,000 through 30 September 2026 (list price $89,000) → CFI, CFII and MEI → instruct for pay while you build to 1,500 hours → apply to the regionals at ATP minimums under 14 CFR 61.159. We hold no hiring agreement with any airline and we do not place graduates. The interview is yours to win.
Financing Snapshot
Estimate your monthly investment
Financing made simple. Move the sliders to see an indicative monthly payment — no countdown, no pressure, just the numbers. Most applicants qualify with as little as $2,500 down.
- Affordable monthly payments — terms up to 15 years
- Low down payment — as little as $2,500 down
- Flexible interest rates — fixed or variable
- No prepayment penalties
- No co-signer required (most applicants qualify)
Payment estimator
Indicative only$5,000
10 yrs
Indicative monthly payment
$0/mo
Amount financed$84,000
Est. rate (fixed)8.9% APR
Estimates are illustrative only, based on the $84,000 Back to School Special program price ($5,000 off the $89,000 list price, offer ends September 30, 2026) and an 8.9% sample APR, and are not an offer of credit. Actual rates and terms depend on your application and lender. Talk to an advisor for a personalized quote.
Becoming an Airline Pilot at Van Nuys Airport
From Zero Experience To CFI, CFII And MEI
Comprehensive Airline Pilot Program in Los Angeles, California. Designed for aspiring aviators with no prior experience, this zero-to-ATP (1,500-hour) training program takes you from student pilot to fully certified airline professional in as little as 9 months.
Located at Van Nuys Airport, one of the world's busiest general aviation hubs, our program provides real-world flight training in a dynamic airspace environment. With financing options up to 15 years and every program price published openly — which most schools will not do — Los Angeles Flight School is a straight deal for people serious about becoming airline pilots.
Why choose Los Angeles Flight School
Built for serious future airline pilots
- Comprehensive training beyond FAA minimums260 logged hours and 50 hours of full-motion sim — more than the FAA requires.
- Every rating you need, in one placeYou finish holding CFI, CFII and MEI — the ratings that let you get paid while the logbook fills.
- World-class FAA-certified instructorsPassionate, career-focused mentors guiding you one-on-one.
- State-of-the-art aircraft & simulatorsCessna, Piper and Diamond aircraft plus FAA-approved full-motion sims.
Loved On Google
G★★★★★5.0 · 85 Google reviews
SAFETY FIRST
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the...
SUNSET CIRRUS
★★★★★
It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly...
FLYING LESSON
★★★★★
We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a...
KIDS LUXURY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel...
HONEYMOON SURPRISE
★★★★★
Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew...
FULL-MOTION SIM
★★★★★
Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of...
DISCOVERY FOR TWO
★★★★★
I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to...
SIMULATORS
★★★★★
Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
TEEN FIRST LESSON
★★★★★
We gifted our teenage son his first flying lesson. He was so excited! Alex greeted us and gave a reassuring brief that made us all feel comfortable and at...
FIRST-TIME FLYER
★★★★★
Flying is my husband's hobby and I was incredibly anxious and apprehensive about the discovery flight. However, I felt completely safe and at ease once we...
SAFETY FIRST
★★★★★
Very safety and detail oriented. Pre-flight briefing explained everything there was. To my knowledge, this flight school is exceptional in their ability.
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the...
SUNSET CIRRUS
★★★★★
It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly...
FLYING LESSON
★★★★★
We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a...
KIDS LUXURY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel...
HONEYMOON SURPRISE
★★★★★
Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew...
FULL-MOTION SIM
★★★★★
Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of...
DISCOVERY FOR TWO
★★★★★
I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to...
SIMULATORS
★★★★★
Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
TEEN FIRST LESSON
★★★★★
We gifted our teenage son his first flying lesson. He was so excited! Alex greeted us and gave a reassuring brief that made us all feel comfortable and at...
FIRST-TIME FLYER
★★★★★
Flying is my husband's hobby and I was incredibly anxious and apprehensive about the discovery flight. However, I felt completely safe and at ease once we...
Book A Free Consultation
Every card carries the photograph its reviewer posted. Reviews appear verbatim — many name Essence Flight Academy, the same school, same team, same hangar, before the rebrand.
FAQ
Answers before you enroll
Everything prospective airline pilots ask us most — from timeline to aircraft to financing.
Book It Or Gift It
Fly It Yourself, Or Give The Flight To Someone Else
Every discovery flight below can be booked for yourself in the next few minutes, or bought as a gift certificate that is emailed within minutes and never expires. Same flight, same price, either way.
Twin Engine
Multi-Engine Seminole
Two engines, and the airplane instrument-rated pilots move into when they start thinking about a career. Flown from the left seat with a multi-engine instructor.
Piper Seminole TwinMulti-Engine DepartureCareer-Track Instructor
Flight Length
$499Book Or Gift
Same Price
Most Given
Discovery Flight For One
One person, one instructor, and no audience. Hands on the controls from the left seat, briefed before you go and debriefed after you land.
Hands-On Stick TimePre-Flight BriefingLoggable Flight Time
Flight Length
$229Book Or Gift
Same Price
Two Seats
Discovery Flight For Two
The same flight with a passenger in the back seat, briefed and on the intercom. Couples book it; so do parents who would rather watch than hear about it.
One Passenger SeatPiper Warrior Or ArcherHeadsets For Both
Flight Length
$299Book Or Gift
Same Price
The Nice One
Luxury Cirrus For Two
The nicest airplane we put a first-time flyer in. Glass cockpit, air conditioning, leather seats, and a parachute built into the airframe rather than strapped to the person.
Turbocharged Cirrus SR22Air ConditioningWhole-Airframe Parachute
Flight Length
$399Book Or Gift
Same Price
Gift It issues a real gift certificate, emailed within minutes, which never expires and credits in full toward training. Flights are limited to 180 lb per person, 370 lb combined. Questions: (818) 290-8249, 9 AM–9 PM, seven days.
Our Courses
The Other Courses We Teach At Van Nuys
The other courses flown out of Van Nuys Airport, with real pricing on every one. Start with an hour at the controls, or take the ratings one at a time.
5.0 Average Rating
85 Google Reviews
Start Here
Discovery Flight
The first hour at the controls, over Los Angeles, with an instructor beside you. It is the entry point to every course below — and the cheapest way to find out whether flying is actually for you.
From$229
Open 9 AM–9 PM, Seven Days · (818) 290-8249
CertificateMost Popular
Private Pilot
The one most people mean by “learn to fly.” Fly with an instructor, fly alone, then carry passengers on your own certificate.
Fly With An Instructor Fly Solo Carry Passengers $10,900 Enroll Now
Youth Program
Teen Flight Training
Ages 10–15. For young people who want to start before they can legally solo.
$4,200 View Course
Milestone
Solo Certificate
Enough training to take an aircraft around the pattern alone. The day everything changes.
$5,500 View Course
Certificate
Sport Pilot
A real certificate with fewer hours and narrower privileges. The shortest honest route to flying yourself.
$8,400 View Course
Bundle
Comprehensive Private Pilot
Private Pilot with flight time, ground instruction and study materials bundled into one price.
$15,900 View CourseBundle
Premium Private Pilot
The same certificate as Private, with the most flight time before your checkride. Eighty logged hours, ground instruction and materials, all in one price.
80 Logged Hours Ground School Included Materials Included $22,500 View Course
Rating
Instrument Rating
The rating after Private. Turns a fair-weather pilot into a useful one who can file, launch and land in cloud.
$11,700 View Course
Rating
Multi-Engine Rating
For pilots already certificated who are adding a twin. Trained in our own Piper Seminole.
$5,100 View Course
Our Fleet
See Every Aircraft You Could Train In
Diamond DA20, Cessna 162, Piper Arrow II and our Piper Seminole twin — all on the field at Van Nuys.
View The Fleet
Your Runway Starts Here
The view from your first year as a paid pilot.
Zero to 1,500 hours, finishing with CFI, CFII and MEI in hand — all from one all-in program at Van Nuys, $84,000 through 30 September 2026 instead of $89,000.
CFI, CFII, MEI in hand
$84,000 all-in · was $89,000
Financing up to 15 yrs
Ready for takeoff
Ready to become an airline pilot?
Talk to an admissions advisor today — no pressure, just answers.
Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) · Open 7 days, 9am–9pm