Adam is a flight instructor at You Fly LA at Van Nuys Airport, and he is the one we pair with people who want to know exactly what is going to happen before it happens. He teaches primary training with an unusually clear structure: a briefing that tells you what the lesson is for, a flight that does that one thing, and a debrief that says plainly what improved and what did not.
This page covers what he teaches and how a lesson with him runs. The full team is on our flight instructors roster, and if you have not flown at all yet, read it with our what to expect on a first flight guide.
What Adam Teaches
Primary training toward sport and private pilot certificates, and discovery flights. Under 14 CFR 61.193 a flight instructor gives the ground and flight training and issues the endorsements behind a student pilot certificate, a solo and a practical test, and Adam covers all of that front section, from a first hour through pattern work and pre-solo preparation.
What distinguishes him is precision in language. Instructing badly sounds like a running commentary; instructing well sounds like short, specific instructions with nothing extra in them. "Two hundred feet to go, start reducing power" is useful. "Try to be a bit smoother" is not. Students who find flying overwhelming usually do not have a flying problem, they have an information problem, and it is fixed by an instructor who says less and means more.
The Shape Of A Lesson
A flight lesson is not just the time in the air, and people booking their first one are often surprised how much of the value sits either side of it. Budget around two hours at the airport for a one-hour flight.
| Stage | Roughly | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival and paperwork | 10 minutes | Photo ID, weights, and the plan for the day |
| Pre-flight briefing | 20 minutes | What the lesson teaches, the numbers you will fly, the weather |
| Walkaround and start | 15 minutes | The preflight inspection, done by you with the checklist |
| Flight | 60 to 90 minutes | Taxi, takeoff, the exercise, the return and the landing |
| Debrief and logbook | 15 minutes | What changed, what to read, what the next lesson is |
| Instruction charged | $110 per hour | Briefing and debriefing time is instruction and is charged as such |
| Aircraft charged | $179 at the package rate | Cessna 162 or Piper Warrior, wet, per hour |
We say that plainly because hidden briefing charges are one of the most common complaints about flight schools generally. Our flight school cost page sets out how hourly rates build into a course price.
What A First-Timer Actually Does
On a first flight with Adam you will do the walkaround yourself with a checklist in your hand, you will taxi if the ramp is quiet enough, and you will have the controls for most of the time between the end of the climb and the start of the approach. He takes the takeoff and the landing on a first flight. That is not a rule so much as a sensible default, and plenty of students have their hands on the controls for both while he flies them.
You do not need a medical certificate, a license, or any experience to fly a discovery flight, because you are flying with an instructor and the flight is logged as dual instruction. You do need photo identification, and you need to be under the weight limit for the aircraft: 180 pounds per person flying the Warrior single, 360 pounds combined for a flight for two.
Who Should Ask For Adam
- People who want the plan up front. If uncertainty is what bothers you, a structured briefing removes most of it.
- Analytical learners. Engineers, clinicians and anyone who wants the number rather than the adjective.
- First-timers who are nervous but not frightened. Calm and precise beats enthusiastic when your heart rate is already up.
- Students who have lost confidence elsewhere. Clear instructions usually fix what felt like a talent problem.
How To Request Adam
Call (818) 330-1318 and ask for him by name, or say so when you book a free consultation. We are at 7900 Balboa Blvd, Main Terminal Unit 108, Van Nuys, CA 91406, open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day. Bring photo identification and a pair of sunglasses; we provide the headset, and there is no charge for it.
Related Reading
- Our flight instructors — the full roster and how we match students.
- What to expect on a discovery flight — the hour, start to finish.
- Flight school cost in Los Angeles — what each hour is charged at and why.
- Frequently asked questions — identification, weight limits, weather and rescheduling.
- Anthony — the other instructor first-timers are most often paired with.
Adam: Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Adam Teach?
Primary flight training toward sport and private pilot certificates, discovery flights, pattern work and pre-solo preparation at Van Nuys Airport.
How Long Should I Allow For A One-Hour Lesson?
About two hours at the airport. Roughly 20 minutes of briefing, 15 minutes of preflight, the flight itself, and 15 minutes of debrief with the logbook entry.
Is Briefing Time Charged?
Yes. Ground and briefing instruction is charged at $110 per hour, the same as in-flight instruction. We say so up front rather than putting it in a footnote.
Do I Need A Medical Certificate To Start?
Not for a discovery flight or for dual instruction. You need a medical certificate before you fly solo, so it is worth starting the application early rather than late.
What Should I Bring To A First Lesson?
Photo identification, sunglasses and clothing you can move in. Headsets are provided at no charge. Leave the camera bag behind; there is not much room in a two-seat trainer.
Will I Take Off And Land Myself?
Your instructor flies the takeoff and landing on a first flight, usually with your hands on the controls following through. Everything between the climb and the approach is yours.
What Is The Weight Limit?
180 pounds per person for the Warrior flown single, 360 pounds combined for a flight for two, and 400 pounds combined in the Cirrus SR22. There is no weight limit in the simulator.
Book A Lesson With Adam
A 60-minute discovery flight is $229, it is logged as dual instruction, and it is credited in full toward a course if you enroll within 24 hours. If you would rather understand the whole path before booking anything, book a free consultation and we will price it out honestly. Call (818) 330-1318, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week.
