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 · Open 9 AM to 9 PM, Seven Days
Call LA Flight School At Van Nuys Airport
Tap to call (818) 290-8249 Open 9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week. On a phone, tapping the number dials it.7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite 108AOpen 9 AM – 9 PM, seven days4.9 stars across 500+ Google reviews
One number, answered by a flight instructor or the owner rather than a call centre, nine in the morning to nine at night, seven days a week. Tell us what you want to fly and we will tell you what it costs and how long it takes, in plain numbers.
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(818) 290-8249
- Phone(818) 290-8249
- Emailalex@flightschool.la
- Open9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week
- Address7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite 108A, Van Nuys, CA 91406
- ParkingFree, unattended, on site
Prefer to write? Email alex@flightschool.la and attach whatever is relevant — a logbook page from a previous school, a training record, a question about the FAA medical. Putting a question in writing means the answer comes back in writing, which is useful when you are comparing numbers rather than trusting your memory of a phone call.
Find Us
Where We Are: 7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite 108A
Give a satnav or a rideshare driver the street address, not “Van Nuys Airport”. The airport has several public gates spread over a mile of frontage, and the passenger terminal on Waterman Drive is on the opposite side of the field entirely. The wrong gate usually means a locked fence and a fifteen-minute detour.
- Address7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite 108A, Van Nuys, CA 91406
- AirportVan Nuys Airport (KVNY), western boundary
- Open9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week
- ParkingFree, unattended, on site
From the 405, take the Sherman Way exit and head west about a mile and a half. From the 101, exit at Balboa Blvd and drive north past Victory and Vanowen.
Visit Us
The Building, And What To Do When You Get Here
Suite 108A is a numbered door beside the hangars, with the desk immediately inside. Visitors are welcome during opening hours, and the two things worth arranging before you come are a discovery flight and the free consultation.
Turn in from Balboa and follow the lot round to the visitor spaces beside the hangars. Parking is free, unattended and on site, which is not something every flight school at Van Nuys can offer. Look for the suite number rather than the street number, because the complex is shared with a number of unrelated businesses. 108A is the door you want, and the desk is immediately inside it.
You are welcome to turn up unannounced between 9 AM and 9 PM, but a phone call an hour ahead is worth it. Instructors spend most of the day airborne, so an unannounced visit at two in the afternoon can mean waiting. Ring (818) 290-8249 first and we will make sure somebody is on the ground to walk you round the classrooms, the flight line and the Redbird MCX simulator properly rather than between lessons.
Two things are worth arranging before you come. A discovery flight puts you in the left seat for sixty minutes with an instructor beside you, from $229, and the hour is loggable. The free in-person consultation is the other: no flying, no cost and no obligation. We look at what is already in your logbook, what you are aiming at and how many days a week you can realistically fly, and then give you numbers.
From The 405
Take the Sherman Way exit and head west for about a mile and a half. Balboa is the major signalled intersection you cross, and the entrance is just off it.
From The 101
Exit at Balboa Blvd and drive north past Victory and Vanowen. You will be running alongside a long airfield fence, and the numbered driveways along it belong to different tenants.
By Metro
The Metro G Line busway crosses Balboa at the south end of the airport, and Van Nuys Metrolink station is a short ride away. Both work without a car.
When You Arrive
Free unattended parking on site. Suite 108A is the numbered door beside the hangars and the desk is immediately inside. If you cannot find it, call and somebody will walk out and wave.
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.
Call Us
The Quickest Route Is Still The Phone
Nine in the morning to nine at night, seven days a week, on (818) 290-8249. An instructor or the owner answers. If now is not a good moment, ask for a call back, or come to 7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite 108A and knock. The first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Free In-Person Consultation
$0
In person at Van Nuys · no flying, no obligation · bring your logbook and your questions
Request A Call Back
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