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...
Van Nuys Airport · KVNY
Comprehensive Private Pilot Program: $15,900
Sixty logged hours instead of the FAA's forty, and more than three times the ground school of the standard package. Built for people finishing a private pilot certificate around a real job and a real diary. Compare all three tiers on the private pilot training page.
$15,900complete private pilot package
60 hrs55 aircraft + 5 simulator
10 hrsground school included
5.0 ★70 reviews
Who It Is For
The Package That Assumes Life Will Get In The Way
The FAA minimum for a private pilot certificate is forty hours. Almost nobody finishes in forty. The national average sits well above it, and the reason is rarely ability — it is gaps. Every fortnight you do not fly, part of the last lesson has to be flown again.
The Comprehensive package is priced for what actually happens: sixty logged hours, fifty of them dual, and ten hours of ground school rather than three. If you can fly two or three times a week, the Standard package at $10,900 is the better value and we will tell you so. If you cannot, this is the one that finishes.
What Is In It
Sixty Hours, Fifty Of Them With An Instructor Beside You
Fifty-five hours in a single-engine aeroplane — Cessna, Piper or Diamond — plus five hours in the Redbird full-motion simulator, which is FAA-approved and loggable. Fifty of those hours are dual instruction. Ten are ground school. Books, charts, logbook and training materials are included, and so is checkride preparation with a mock oral.
The simulator hours are not padding. Emergencies, instrument work and approaches into weather you would not launch into are all rehearsed on the ground first, at a fraction of the hourly cost of the aeroplane. The Redbird MCX is a full-motion device, not a desktop trainer.
The Money
What $15,900 Does And Does Not Cover
1
Fixed At Enrolment
The program price is fixed when you enroll and does not move for the duration of that program. It is a package rate, not an estimate built on an hourly figure that can drift.
2
Financing From $2,500 Down
Through Stratus Financial or an in-house payment plan. On this tier that works out at six instalments of $2,150 a month. The financing page has the full terms.
3
Your Discovery Flight Comes Off It
A discovery flight from $229 is credited in full against the program when you enroll within twenty-four hours of landing.
4
Two Things Sit Outside It
The FAA knowledge test, sat at an approved testing centre, and the examiner's fee for the checkride itself, which is paid to the designated pilot examiner rather than to the school.
FAQ
Comprehensive Private Pilot Program: Common Questions
Hours and ground school. Standard is $10,900 and buys forty logged hours — thirty-eight in the aircraft, two in the simulator — with three hours of ground school. Comprehensive is $15,900 and buys sixty logged hours — fifty-five in the aircraft, five in the simulator — with ten hours of ground school. The certificate at the end is identical. What differs is how much room you have to get there.
If you can genuinely fly two or three times a week, buy Standard. Consistency is worth more than hours, and we would rather tell you that than sell you the larger package. If your diary means you will fly once a week or less, or you want the extra ground school, Comprehensive is priced for that and usually costs less than Standard plus overage.
Yes. The Redbird MCX is an FAA-approved full-motion device and the time counts toward the certificate within the limits the FAA sets. It is also where emergencies get rehearsed, because you can fail an engine on the ground and try it again five minutes later.
You need at least a third class medical certificate before you fly solo, issued by an FAA-authorised aviation medical examiner. You can begin training and fly with an instructor before you have one. See the medical certificate guide for what the examination involves.
Then you finish under sixty hours, and the certificate is the same. The package is priced on the realistic case rather than the best one. Talk to us before you enroll if you think you are firmly in the two-or-three-flights-a-week camp.
Talk To Us
Fly It Once Before You Commit To Sixty Hours
Sixty minutes over Los Angeles with your hands on the controls, credited in full against the program if you enroll within twenty-four hours. Call (818) 290-8249 for a free consultation and we will tell you honestly which tier fits your diary.
Discovery Flight For One
$229
60 Minutes, Hands On The Controls, Fully Loggable
Book A Discovery Flight
Or Call (818) 290-8249
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.