The Short Answer
- $349 in a Cessna or Piper, $449 with a guest in the Piper, $549 in the Diamond DA20 and $749 in the Cirrus SR22 Turbo.
- $249 for the same lesson in our Redbird full-motion simulator.
- Every one is two hours with an instructor, and 100% of it comes off any program if you enroll within 24 hours.
Every Price
| Package | Aboard | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Or Piper | You + instructor | 2 hrs, about 70 min flying | $349 |
| Piper + Guest | You + instructor + 1 guest | 2 hrs, about 70 min flying | $449 |
| Diamond DA20 | You + instructor | 2 hrs, about 70 min flying | $549 |
| Cirrus SR22 Turbo | You + instructor | 2 hrs, about 70 min flying | $749 |
| Redbird Simulator Lesson | You + instructor | 2 hrs, about 70 min in the simulator | $249 |
What The Price Includes
- About two hours with an FAA-certified flight instructor
- 30 minutes of ground school and a briefing on today's maneuvers
- Your preflight inspection of the airplane, with your instructor
- About 70 minutes of flying over the Malibu practice area, airplane and fuel included
- A debrief, a plan for lesson two, and your logbook entry, signed
- A headset to use. You don't need to buy anything before the lesson.
What It Would Cost By The Hour
If you booked the same two hours at our enrolled-student rates, here's what a Cessna or Piper lesson would come to:
| Item | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Airplane, about 1.2 hours | $179 an hour, fuel included | $214.80 |
| Instructor, about 2 hours | $110 an hour, flight and ground | $220.00 |
| By the hour | $434.80 | |
| First flight lesson | Everything above | $349 |
In the Cirrus SR22 Turbo, which is a $400-an-hour upgrade in our programs, the same two hours would come to about $915. The Cirrus first lesson is $749.
Why The Airplanes Are Priced Differently
The lesson is the same in every airplane. The price follows the airplane:
- Cessna or Piper, $349. The Cessna 162 and the Piper Warrior are the trainers our Standard and Comprehensive programs fly, and the Warrior is where most of our private pilot hours are flown.
- Piper + Guest, $449. The Warrior has four seats, so a guest can ride in the back for $100 more.
- Diamond DA20, $549. Our sporty two-seater, with a bubble canopy and a control stick.
- Cirrus SR22 Turbo, $749. A high-performance airplane with full glass instruments and a whole-airframe parachute. Our Premium program is flown in it.
- Redbird simulator, $249. The full lesson on the ground, in our FAA-approved full-motion simulator. How the simulator lesson works.
Not sure which to pick? Compare the four airplanes.
Compared With A Discovery Flight
A discovery flight for one starts at $229 for 60 minutes, then $299 for 90 and $399 for 120. It's built around the landmark route over Los Angeles. The first lesson costs more for less time in the air because it adds 30 minutes of ground school, your own preflight and a full debrief, all with your instructor. See the full comparison.
What Comes Off Later
Enroll in any program within 24 hours of your lesson and 100% of what you paid comes off the program price. Book a $349 first lesson, enroll the next morning, and $349 comes off your program.
| Program | Total time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sport Pilot | Trained in the Cessna 162 | $8,400 |
| Standard Private Pilot | 40 hours | $10,900 |
| Comprehensive Private Pilot | 60 hours | $15,900 |
| Premium Private Pilot | 80 hours | $22,500 |
Private pilot programs can be financed from $2,500 down. Your first lesson counts toward the hours, too: it's logged as dual instruction.
Questions
Are there any other fees?
The price covers your instructor, the airplane and its fuel, ground school, the preflight and the debrief. You don't need to buy any equipment before your first lesson.
Can I get a refund?
Lessons are non-refundable, but you can transfer yours to someone else with 48 hours' written notice. Rescheduling is free with 48 hours' notice and $50 inside 48 hours. If we cancel for weather, maintenance or safety, we reschedule at no cost.
How much is it to bring a guest?
$100. The guest lesson is in the four-seat Piper Warrior, so it's $449 in all.
Can I pay monthly?
Financing is for programs: the Private Pilot programs start from $2,500 down. The first lesson is paid when you book it.