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Class A · 14 CFR 91.135
Class A Airspace: 18,000 Feet To FL600, IFR Only
Class A begins at 18,000 feet MSL and ends at flight level 600. There is no VFR up there, no weather minimum to memorise and no way in without an instrument rating and a clearance. It is also the airspace almost every professional flight ends up living in, which is why it is worth understanding long before you can reach it.
18,000 ft MSL to FL600IFR only, no VFRInstrument rating required14 CFR 91.135
18,000ftMSL — the floor of Class A over the United States
FL600the ceiling, and it is inclusive
29.92the altimeter setting above 18,000 ft, per 14 CFR 91.121
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The short answer
What Class A Airspace Is
Class A is the airspace from 18,000 feet MSL up to and including flight level 600, over the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, and the airspace within 12 nautical miles of the coast. Above FL600 you are outside it again.
Everything in Class A operates under instrument flight rules. 14 CFR 91.135 requires an ATC clearance, and the pilot must hold an instrument rating and be operating an aircraft that is equipped and authorised for IFR. There is no VFR option, no Special VFR, and no weather minimum — weather does not change what you may do in Class A because you were never going to be flying by outside reference anyway.
Class A is also unusual in that it is not drawn on a sectional. It has no lateral boundary to memorise and no shelf structure. It is simply everything above 18,000 feet, everywhere, which makes it the simplest class in the system and the one most people find hardest to visualise.
At a glance
Class A Airspace, The Numbers
Everything below comes from 14 CFR Part 91. Class A has fewer moving parts than any other class, and the parts it does have are absolute.
| Item | Class A |
|---|---|
| Vertical limits | 18,000 ft MSL up to and including FL600 |
| Where it applies | The 48 contiguous states, Alaska, and airspace within 12 NM of the coast |
| Flight rules | IFR only. VFR is not permitted |
| To enter | An ATC clearance, with an instrument rating and an IFR-capable aircraft (14 CFR 91.135) |
| Equipment | Two-way radio, Mode C transponder (14 CFR 91.215), ADS-B Out (14 CFR 91.225) |
| Altimeter setting | 29.92 in Hg above 18,000 ft MSL, and altitudes are stated as flight levels (14 CFR 91.121) |
| Oxygen | Continuous crew oxygen above 14,000 ft MSL and supplemental oxygen for every occupant above 15,000 ft MSL (14 CFR 91.211) |
| Separation between FL290 and FL410 | 1,000 ft vertical separation requires RVSM authorisation (14 CFR 91.180) |
| VFR weather minimums | None — VFR is not authorised |
| Chart depiction | Not drawn on sectionals. It applies everywhere above 18,000 ft MSL |
Getting there
Who Is Actually Allowed To Fly In Class A
Three things, all of them required
You need an instrument rating on your pilot certificate, an aircraft certified and equipped for instrument flight, and an IFR clearance from air traffic control. Missing any one of the three and the answer is no. There is no equivalent of a Class B transition or a Special VFR clearance for Class A.
That is a much shorter list than most people expect, and it means an instrument-rated private pilot in a suitably equipped aircraft is legally allowed in Class A. You do not need a commercial certificate, an ATP or a type rating. What you need is the rating and the aeroplane.
The aeroplane is usually the constraint. A normally aspirated single-engine trainer runs out of climb performance long before 18,000 feet, and would need supplemental oxygen for everyone aboard well below that. Turbocharged piston singles can get there. Our Cirrus SR22 Turbo has a published maximum operating altitude of 25,000 feet, which puts the flight levels genuinely within reach for a private pilot with an instrument rating.
Altimetry and oxygen, which bite before Class A does
At and above 18,000 feet MSL every altimeter goes to 29.92 inches of mercury and altitudes are called flight levels: FL180, FL240, FL350. That is 14 CFR 91.121, and it exists so every aircraft up there is measuring against the same reference rather than against a local pressure setting hundreds of miles away.
Oxygen requirements arrive earlier. Under 14 CFR 91.211, the required minimum flight crew must use supplemental oxygen after 30 minutes between 12,500 and 14,000 feet MSL, must use it continuously above 14,000 feet, and above 15,000 feet supplemental oxygen must be provided to every occupant. In an unpressurised aeroplane, Class A means oxygen for everybody, all of the time.
Between FL290 and FL410, aircraft are separated by 1,000 feet vertically rather than 2,000, which requires specific RVSM authorisation under 14 CFR 91.180. That is airline and business-jet territory and it is not something a piston aircraft deals with.
What it means here
You Will Not Reach Class A In A Trainer, And That Is Fine
The honest version
Nothing in a private pilot syllabus goes anywhere near 18,000 feet. Your cross-countries out of Van Nuys happen between roughly 3,500 and 9,500 feet, under a Class B shelf and over terrain, and that is where the skill gets built. Anyone selling you a training programme on the promise of the flight levels is selling you the wrong thing.
So why does Class A matter to a student? Because it is the shape of the career if you want one. Every airline flight above 18,000 feet is in Class A. Every business jet cruising over the Rockies is in Class A. The path to being the person flying it goes private certificate, then instrument rating, then commercial, then the hours — and an unrestricted ATP requires 1,500 hours under 14 CFR 61.159.
The rating that actually opens the door is the instrument rating, and it is worth having in Southern California whether or not you ever intend to go near a flight level. The coastal marine layer produces low ceilings on summer mornings, and a VFR-only pilot sits those out.
Class A versus Class B, which people mix up constantly
Class A is not the busy airspace. That is Class B, which surrounds the nation’s busiest airports and runs from the surface to roughly 10,000 feet. Class A is the high-altitude structure and it is mostly empty of light aircraft.
The letters describe how controlled the airspace is, not how crowded it is or how high it goes. Class A is the most controlled because everybody in it is on an IFR clearance with ATC separating them. Class G is the least controlled and it is usually the closest to the ground. The full comparison, with entry rules and cloud clearances for all six classes, sits in airspace classes explained.
The route up
The Path From A First Lesson To The Flight Levels
Private pilot certificate first. That is 40 hours minimum under 14 CFR 61.109, with a national average between 60 and 75, and at Van Nuys it is flown under a Class B shelf in some of the busiest airspace in the country.
Then the instrument rating, $11,700 here, which is the one that makes Class A legally possible and makes a California certificate useful in June. Then commercial, then a CFI if you want to build hours while being paid, then the airline minimums.
It is a long road and we are not going to pretend the timeline is short or that anybody can promise you a seat at the end of it. What we can tell you is what each step costs and roughly how long it takes, which is on our pilot training cost page with nothing left out.
The people who finish are almost never the ones with the most aptitude. They are the ones who kept flying twice a week when it stopped being novel.
Related reference
The Airspace You Will Actually Use First
Class A is the last airspace you will use, not the first. These are the ones that shape your training.
D
Class D — every lesson
Van Nuys is a Class D field. Two-way radio communication established under 14 CFR 91.129, roughly 40 to 60 times before your checkride. Read Class D airspace.
B
Class B — overhead
The LAX Class B shelf sits above the basin and needs an explicit clearance under 14 CFR 91.131. Busting the floor is the most common airspace violation in Los Angeles.
★
All six, in one table
Entry rules, equipment and the full 14 CFR 91.155 weather minimums for A, B, C, D, E and G are in airspace classes explained.
The fleet
What We Fly, And How High It Goes
Single-engine training runs in the Cessna, Piper and Diamond aircraft. The Premium programme is flown in the Cirrus SR22 Turbo, and the Piper Seminole carries the multi-engine add-on.
The Seminole and the Cirrus sit outside the $179 hourly package rate. The Seminole is flown on the $5,100 multi-engine add-on, the Cirrus on the $22,500 Premium programme.
Redbird MCX
Everything About High-Altitude IFR Rehearses In A Simulator First
Instrument scan, holds, approaches and failures all transfer straight to the aircraft, and the instructor can pause the aeroplane mid-approach to make a point.
Redbird MCX hours are built into every private pilot programme — 2 on Standard and Premium, 5 on Comprehensive. A standalone session is $189.
Your instructor
Instructors Who Have Flown The Flight Levels
Every instructor here holds a commercial or ATP certificate plus a CFI and a current medical, and is legally pilot in command on every training flight you fly with them.
Several came to instructing from professional flying rather than as a stop on the way to it, which means the questions about what a career actually looks like get answered honestly rather than optimistically. Nobody here will tell you a job is waiting at the end.
There are eleven of them, so a booked lesson gets flown. If something on this page is wrong, tell us and we will correct it.
What people say
5.0 Stars, 70 Google Reviews
Seventy reviews on Google, all of them five stars, and the same three things come up again and again.
★
Instructors Who Teach, Not Just Log
The most repeated line in our Google reviews is about the debrief after the flight, not the aeroplane.
★
Scheduling That Holds
Eleven instructors and a fleet we own and maintain. A booked Saturday morning stays a booked Saturday morning.
★
The Number Does Not Move
The price you enrol at is the price you finish at. Reviewers mention this more than they mention the flying.
If you want to get there
The Ratings That Lead To Class A
Class A is a destination, not a course. These are the steps that lead to it, with the prices published.
Start here
Free consultation
Free / 30 min
Thirty minutes with an instructor to map out the route from where you are to where you want to be. No pitch.
- In person at Van Nuys or by phone
- Open 9am to 9pm, seven days
- No obligation
Instrument Rating
$11,700
The rating that makes Class A legally possible, and the one that makes a Californian certificate work in June.
- Flown at Van Nuys and across the LA basin
- Redbird time included
- Added after the private certificate
Discovery Flight For One
$229 / 60 min
Sixty minutes, hands on the controls, well below 18,000 feet. Loggable dual instruction and the honest first step.
- Credited in full on enrolment within 24 hours
- You fly from the left seat
- 90 and 120 minute options
Standard Private Pilot
$10,900
40 logged hours. Nothing happens until this exists, including the instrument rating.
- Aircraft time, wet$179/hr
- Redbird simulator2 hrs
- Ground school3 hrs
- Books and materialsIncluded
Most chosen
Comprehensive Private Pilot
$15,900
60 logged hours and 10 hours of ground school. Where the national average actually lands.
- Aircraft time, wet$179/hr
- Redbird simulator5 hrs
- Ground school10 hrs
- Books and materialsIncluded
Zero to airline
$89,000
The full professional track, private certificate through the ratings. Long, expensive and honest about both.
- Private, instrument, commercial and beyond
- An unrestricted ATP needs 1,500 hours under 14 CFR 61.159
- Financing available
Sport Pilot $8,400 · Premium Private Pilot $22,500 · Multi-engine add-on $5,100 · Solo Certificate $5,500 · Teens 10–15 $4,200 · Redbird session $189. Financing from $2,500 down.
$500 off any private pilot programme this summer. Standard $10,400 · Comprehensive $15,400 · Premium $22,000. Ask when you enrol.
Next step
Start At 3,500 Feet, Not 18,000
The route to the flight levels begins with a private certificate and there is no shortcut around it. A $229 discovery flight is sixty minutes with your hands on the controls, loggable as dual instruction, and credited in full against any programme if you enrol within 24 hours. If you want to map the whole path first, the consultation is free.
Free consultation
Free
30 minutes · in person or by phone · no obligation
Airspace Reference
airspace classes explained, all sixClass D airspace explainedaviation glossary, 100+ termsFAA written exam guidethe ATP certificate and the 1,500-hour rule
FAQ
Class A Airspace: Common Questions
Class A is the airspace from 18,000 feet MSL up to and including flight level 600, over the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, and the airspace within 12 nautical miles of the coast. All operations in Class A are conducted under instrument flight rules and require an ATC clearance under 14 CFR 91.135.
Up to and including FL600, which is 60,000 feet. It begins at 18,000 feet MSL. Above FL600 an aircraft is outside Class A again, which matters to a very small number of high-altitude operators and almost nobody else.
No. VFR is not permitted in Class A under any circumstances, and there is no Special VFR option. Every flight in Class A operates under instrument flight rules with an ATC clearance, which is why 14 CFR 91.155 lists no VFR weather minimums for Class A.
Three things: an instrument rating on your pilot certificate, an aircraft certified and equipped for IFR, and an ATC clearance. Equipment includes a two-way radio, a Mode C transponder under 14 CFR 91.215 and ADS-B Out under 14 CFR 91.225. You do not need a commercial certificate or an ATP.
14 CFR 91.121 requires every aircraft at and above 18,000 feet MSL to set 29.92 inches of mercury, so all aircraft in the high-altitude structure measure against the same pressure reference rather than local settings that vary across hundreds of miles. Altitudes above that point are stated as flight levels.
Yes, in an unpressurised aircraft. Under 14 CFR 91.211 the required minimum flight crew must use supplemental oxygen continuously above 14,000 feet MSL, and above 15,000 feet supplemental oxygen must be provided to every occupant. Since Class A starts at 18,000 feet, both requirements are already in force.
Yes, if the private pilot holds an instrument rating, is flying an IFR-capable aircraft and has an ATC clearance. 14 CFR 91.135 sets no certificate level higher than that. The practical limit is usually the aircraft: a normally aspirated trainer cannot reach 18,000 feet, though turbocharged piston singles can.
Class A is the high-altitude structure from 18,000 feet MSL to FL600 and is IFR only. Class B surrounds the busiest airports from the surface to roughly 10,000 feet MSL and permits VFR with an explicit ATC clearance under 14 CFR 91.131. The letters describe how controlled the airspace is, not how high it sits.
No. Class A has no lateral boundaries to depict — it applies everywhere above 18,000 feet MSL over the contiguous United States, Alaska and within 12 nautical miles of the coast. Sectional charts stop well below it, and high-altitude operations use enroute high charts instead.
Between FL290 and FL410, aircraft are separated by 1,000 feet vertically instead of 2,000, which requires specific Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum authorisation under 14 CFR 91.180. It applies to airliners and business jets rather than piston aircraft, and it sits entirely inside Class A.
No Cost, No Obligation
Get The Full Training Plan And Price Sheet
The three private pilot packages, what each one includes, the financing options and a realistic timeline built around how often you can actually fly. Sent to you in one email. Nobody will pressure you.
- Every package price, itemised
- Financing from $2,500 down
- A timeline based on your schedule
Loved On Google And Yelp
Five Hundred Reviews. 4.9 Stars.
More five-star reviews than any other flight school in Los Angeles — written by the people who learned to fly here, not by us.
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
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.
LEARN TO FLY
★★★★★
I can't recommend Essence Flight School enough! The staff is awesome, and the whole vibe is just really positive and cool. Huge shoutout to Anthony, our...
INSTRUMENT RATING
★★★★★
I'm currently working on my instrument rating at essence, and it has been Fantastic so far, my instructor is Alex and he is very knowledgeable and patient...
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...
KIDS FIRST FLIGHT
★★★★★
Had a great experience with this company. My son has been very into airplanes and his flight simulator on the computer so for his 11th birthday treated...
LEARN TO FLY
★★★★★
Essence Flight Academy is an outstanding place to learn how to fly. From the start, I felt comfortable and confident thanks to the professionalism and...
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...
HANDS-ON FLIGHT
★★★★★
One of the best flight experiences I've ever done! If you're looking for a fun flight, beautiful views, and even taking control of the plane, Essence...
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...
SKY PROPOSAL
★★★★★
Unforgettable private flight with Essence—smooth journey and a magical moment as I proposed to my girl in the skies! Highly recommend!
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...
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
★★★★★
This was my first flight at Essence and it will be one I will never forget for several reasons. Joseph was an awesome instructor, demonstrating...
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
FIRST FLIGHT
★★★★★
My experience at Essence Flight School was absolutely incredible! I have to admit, I was super nervous at first because flying in a small plane seemed...
NEW STUDENT
★★★★★
I recently joined Essence flight school after my consultation with Alex. Their team is very honest about what to expect the pricing and they were...
FIRST-TIME FLYER
★★★★★
Anthony was an INCREDIBLE instructor and it was SO fun to enjoy my first time on a plane at Essence Flight Academy! The atmosphere was super chill and it...
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...
GIFT FLIGHT
★★★★★
Great experience with first ever discovery flight! Would highly recommend! Got it as a gift for my dad and he had a great time flying!
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...
PPL → INSTRUMENT
★★★★★
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...
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
★★★★★
An Amazing Experience with Essence Flight Academy and CFI Joseph!! Flying with them was such a memorable experience! From the moment I arrived, everything...
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.
LEARN TO FLY
★★★★★
I can't recommend Essence Flight School enough! The staff is awesome, and the whole vibe is just really positive and cool. Huge shoutout to Anthony, our...
INSTRUMENT RATING
★★★★★
I'm currently working on my instrument rating at essence, and it has been Fantastic so far, my instructor is Alex and he is very knowledgeable and patient...
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...
KIDS FIRST FLIGHT
★★★★★
Had a great experience with this company. My son has been very into airplanes and his flight simulator on the computer so for his 11th birthday treated...
LEARN TO FLY
★★★★★
Essence Flight Academy is an outstanding place to learn how to fly. From the start, I felt comfortable and confident thanks to the professionalism and...
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...
HANDS-ON FLIGHT
★★★★★
One of the best flight experiences I've ever done! If you're looking for a fun flight, beautiful views, and even taking control of the plane, Essence...
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...
SKY PROPOSAL
★★★★★
Unforgettable private flight with Essence—smooth journey and a magical moment as I proposed to my girl in the skies! Highly recommend!
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...
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
★★★★★
This was my first flight at Essence and it will be one I will never forget for several reasons. Joseph was an awesome instructor, demonstrating...
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
FIRST FLIGHT
★★★★★
My experience at Essence Flight School was absolutely incredible! I have to admit, I was super nervous at first because flying in a small plane seemed...
NEW STUDENT
★★★★★
I recently joined Essence flight school after my consultation with Alex. Their team is very honest about what to expect the pricing and they were...
FIRST-TIME FLYER
★★★★★
Anthony was an INCREDIBLE instructor and it was SO fun to enjoy my first time on a plane at Essence Flight Academy! The atmosphere was super chill and it...
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...
GIFT FLIGHT
★★★★★
Great experience with first ever discovery flight! Would highly recommend! Got it as a gift for my dad and he had a great time flying!
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...
PPL → INSTRUMENT
★★★★★
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...
See Discovery Flight Details — $229
Reviews shown verbatim. Many name Essence Flight Academy — the same school, same team, same hangar, before the rebrand.