Discovery Flight FAQ

The flight

What is a discovery flight?

A first flying lesson. You sit in the pilot's seat of a real airplane with an FAA-certificated flight instructor beside you, and you fly it, with the instructor handling the radios, the takeoff and the landing. It is logged as instruction in your name.

Do I actually fly the airplane?

Yes, for most of the flight. Once the airplane is climbing cleanly your instructor hands you the controls. You fly the climb, the turns, the cruise and the descent; the instructor stays on the controls with you and can take over instantly.

Is it the same as an airplane tour?

No. On a tour you're a passenger. On a discovery flight you're the student pilot. Many people who book a "tour" are looking for this and don't know the name for it.

How long is a discovery flight?

Our flights are 60 or 90 minutes in the air. Plan on two to two and a half hours at the airport including the briefing, walk-around and debrief.

Where do you fly?

From Van Nuys Airport over Los Angeles: the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, downtown, the Santa Monica Mountains, and on the longer flights the Santa Monica Bay and Malibu coast. Routes are agreed in the briefing and depend on weather and traffic.

Cost

How much does a discovery flight cost in Los Angeles?

At You Fly LA: $229 for 60 minutes for one, $299 for 60 minutes for two, $399 for 90 minutes on the Malibu coast for two or 60 minutes in the Cirrus SR22 for two, and $189 for an hour in the full-motion simulator. Every price includes the airplane, fuel, instructor, briefing and logbook entry. There are no fees on top.

Is there a deposit or a tip?

You pay in full when you book online. Tipping isn't expected; a review afterward is the thing instructors value.

Requirements

Do I need any experience?

None. Most of our customers have never been in a small airplane.

Do I need a medical certificate or a license?

No. Neither is required to fly with an instructor.

Is there a minimum age?

No legal minimum to fly with an instructor. Children fly with a parent's blessing and the instructor's judgment; teenagers regularly fly. Anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian to sign at check-in. There is no upper age limit.

Is there a weight limit?

180 lb per person (360 lb combined) in the Piper Warrior and 200 lb per person (400 lb combined) in the Cirrus SR22, set by the airplanes' weight-and-balance limits. The simulator has no weight limit. Close to a limit, or not sure? Call us at (818) 330-1318 before you book and we'll put you in the right airplane.

What do I bring and wear?

Government photo ID, closed-toe shoes, long pants, a light layer, and non-polarized sunglasses. Leave large bags in the car. Phones and cameras are welcome.

Comfort and safety

Will I get airsick?

It's uncommon on a discovery flight. Eat something light beforehand, book a morning slot if you're worried (the air is smoothest before noon), and keep your eyes outside. Your instructor flies gently on a first flight.

I'm nervous about small airplanes. Should I still book?

Yes, and consider the simulator session first. An hour in a full-motion simulator with an instructor makes the real flight feel like a repeat. Many nervous flyers tell us the real thing was calmer than they expected because they were busy flying it.

Who is in charge in the airplane?

Your instructor is the pilot in command at all times, as FAA rules require. You fly; they're responsible.

Two people, gifts, groups

Can I bring someone?

On any flight for two, yes: one person flies from the left seat, the other rides in the back seat with a headset. You can't swap seats in flight, so if you both want to fly, book two flights back to back.

Can I give a discovery flight as a gift?

Yes. A You Fly LA gift card is emailed within minutes, has no blackout dates, and works on any flight. Most of our December bookings are gifts.

Can you do a proposal, a birthday or a group?

Yes. See groups and events.

Weather and changes

What happens if the weather is bad?

We call you before you leave home and move you to another slot at no charge, or you fly the simulator instead. Los Angeles has more than 300 flyable days a year.

Can I reschedule?

Free up to 24 hours before your flight. Inside 24 hours, and for no-shows, see the policy.

After the flight

Does the flight count toward a pilot license?

Yes. Time flown with an instructor is logged as dual instruction and counts toward the FAA's 40-hour minimum for a private pilot certificate. Your signed logbook entry is the first line.