Zero. Most of our students show up having never been in a small plane. Your first flight is with a certified instructor next to you the entire time — no prior knowledge required, no medical certificate needed for Discovery Flights.

The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours. In practice, most students need 50-70 hours and complete training in 3-6 months depending on how often they fly. Train twice a week and you'll be done faster than you think.

Realistic budget for a Private Pilot certificate is $14,000–$18,000 total — covering aircraft rental, instructor time, FAA exams, books, and headset. We bill hourly so you only pay for what you use.

Only Part 61 training. Part 61 offers more flexibility (no fixed syllabus deadlines) — best for working adults. Part 141 follows a structured FAA-approved curriculum — required for some VA benefits and international students.

Primary trainers are Cessna 172. For Multi-Engine training we use our Piper Twin-Comanche. For procedural and instrument practice we also have the FAA-approved Redbird TD-2 flight simulator.

A 60-minute introductory experience for people who've never flown a small plane. You take the controls in flight (instructor handles takeoff and landing initially), see Southern California from above, and find out if flying is for you. Time logged counts toward your Private Pilot training if you decide to enroll.

We work with aviation-specific lenders (Stratus Financial, AOPA Finance). Many students also use 529 plans or simply pay as they fly. Call us for current options.