What To Wear And Bring To Your First Flight Lesson

The Checklist

• Government photo ID. A passport if you're not from the U.S.
• Closed-toe shoes you can feel the pedals in.
• Comfortable clothes and a light layer.
• Sunglasses, non-polarized if you have them.
• Water, especially in summer.
• Your phone, for photos.
• Your logbook, if you already have one.
• Arrive 15 minutes early.

What To Wear

A training airplane's cockpit is small, warm on the ramp and cooler once you're up. Dress for comfort and for using your feet.

• Closed-toe shoes. Sneakers are ideal. You'll steer on the ground and work the rudder in the air with your feet, and you'll walk around the airplane on the ramp. Skip sandals and heels.
• Comfortable clothes, plus a layer. Pants are more comfortable against the seat than shorts. The ramp at Van Nuys can be hot, and it's cooler at altitude.
• Sunglasses. The glare over the coast is real. Polarized lenses can make some cockpit screens hard to read, so bring a non-polarized pair if you have one.
• Go easy on fragrance, and leave the hat for after. Brims and headsets don't get along.

What To Bring, And What Not To

You need very little. We have the airplane, the headset and everything for the lesson.

• Bring: your photo ID, water, your phone and, if you have one, a pilot logbook.
• Leave in the car: big bags and anything loose. Your instructor will show you where your phone goes, because loose items in a small cockpit are a nuisance.
• No medical certificate needed. You don't need one to fly with an instructor. You'll need it later, before you fly solo.

Eat, Drink, Sleep

Eat something ordinary before you come. An empty stomach makes queasiness more likely, and so does a big greasy meal. Drink water. Skip alcohol the night before: the FAA's rule for pilots is no drinking within 8 hours of flying, and it's a good rule for your first lesson too. And get a decent night's sleep, because you'll be taking in a lot.

If You Feel Queasy

If you're prone to motion sickness, a few things help:

• Book an early slot, when the air is usually smoother.
• Keep your eyes outside on the horizon, not down on the panel.
• Open the air vent and tell your instructor the moment you feel off. It's much easier to fix early.
• Ask us before you take any motion sickness medicine. Some cause drowsiness.

If you'd rather start on the ground, the simulator flying lesson covers the same lesson in our full-motion Redbird.

About Weight Limits

Small airplanes have firm weight limits, and we confirm them before the calendar opens: 180 lb per person in the Cessna, Piper and Diamond (360 lb combined with a guest in the Piper) and 200 lb in the Cirrus. If you're close, call us on (818) 290-8249 before you book and we'll talk it through. The limits are firm: over the limit at check-in, the lesson can't fly and is charged in full.

Getting Here

We're at 7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite 108A, Van Nuys, CA 91406, on Van Nuys Airport, with free parking at the door. Arrive 15 minutes before your time. If you're running late, call us rather than rushing; more than 30 minutes late counts as a no-show.

Questions