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
Solo Certificate Program At Van Nuys: $5,500
The program that takes you from your first lesson to the day you fly the airplane on your own. $5,500, all in. It is not a licence in itself — it is the milestone every pilot remembers, and every hour of it counts toward the private pilot certificate if you carry on.
$5,500complete solo certificate program
Your Ownfirst flight as pilot in command
$179/hrpackage rate, wet, once enrolled
5.0 ★70 reviews
What It Is
A Program, Not A Certificate — And That Distinction Matters
Solo is the point in flight training where your instructor gets out of the aeroplane and you take it around the pattern by yourself. It is not an FAA certificate and nobody will hand you a licence at the end of it. What you get is the training, the endorsements and the hours that make solo flight legal and safe, and a logbook that carries all of it forward.
We sell it as its own program for one reason: it is the honest answer for someone who wants to know whether they can actually do this before committing to a full private pilot package. Everything in the $5,500 counts toward the certificate. Nothing is wasted if you continue, and nothing is owed if you stop.
What Is Included
The Price Covers The Aeroplane, The Instructor And The Ground Work
The $5,500 is a package, not an hourly rate. It covers the aircraft wet, your instructor's time in the air and on the ground, the pre-flight briefing where the manoeuvre is explained and the post-flight debrief where you find out how it went, plus the syllabus, logbook and charts.
Ground school is included at no additional cost. So is checkride preparation if you go on to the certificate. Two things sit outside the school and always have: the FAA knowledge test, which you sit at an approved testing centre, and your medical certificate, which is issued by an FAA-authorised aviation medical examiner. Both are covered in the medical certificate guide.
How It Runs
What Has To Happen Before You Fly Alone
1
A Student Pilot Certificate
Applied for through the FAA's IACRA system with your instructor. It is free, it does not expire, and it is the document that makes student solo flight legal.
2
A Medical Certificate
You need at least a third class medical certificate from an FAA-authorised aviation medical examiner before you fly solo. Most people who are fit to drive get one on the day of the appointment.
3
The Pre-Solo Knowledge Test
A written test on the aircraft you fly and the airspace you fly in, given and reviewed by your own instructor rather than by the FAA.
4
Your Instructor's Endorsement
The endorsement for solo flight is specific to make and model and has to be kept current every ninety days. It is given when your landings are consistent, not on a schedule.
FAQ
Solo Certificate Program: Common Questions
$5,500 at LA Flight School, as a complete package rather than an hourly rate. That covers the aircraft, your instructor, ground school, briefings and materials. Financing is available from $2,500 down through Stratus Financial and through in-house payment plans. A discovery flight, from $229, is credited in full against the program if you enroll within twenty-four hours of landing.
No. Solo flight means you are legally flying as a student pilot without an instructor on board. It is a milestone inside training, not a certificate you can carry passengers on. The first certificate that lets you take somebody with you is the private pilot certificate, or the sport pilot certificate if you accept its limits.
Every one of them. There is no separate solo logbook. Dual instruction, solo time, takeoffs and landings and cross-country all go into one logbook and all count toward the forty-hour FAA minimum for the private pilot certificate.
It depends almost entirely on how often you fly, not on how much you spend. Students who fly two or three times a week get there markedly faster than students who fly once a fortnight, because less of each lesson is spent recovering what the last one taught. Weather at Van Nuys is rarely the limiting factor.
Yes, before you fly solo. A third class medical certificate from an FAA-authorised aviation medical examiner is the usual one. You can start training and fly with an instructor before you have it, so the paperwork does not have to hold up your first lesson.
Talk To Us
The Day You Fly It On Your Own Starts With One Lesson
Sixty minutes over Los Angeles with your hands on the controls, and the full $229 credited against the program if you enroll within twenty-four hours. Call (818) 290-8249 for a free consultation, or book the flight and decide afterwards.
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.