Anthony is a certified flight instructor at You Fly LA at Van Nuys Airport, and he is the instructor we put with teenagers, nervous first-timers and students in the weeks before a first solo. His subject, more than any particular maneuver, is confidence: getting a student from being flown to flying, and then to flying alone.
This page explains what he teaches and who he suits. For the rest of the team and how we match students to instructors, see our flight instructors roster. If the student in question is under eighteen, read it alongside our teen flight training course.
What Anthony Teaches
Anthony instructs in primary training: discovery flights, the first lessons, pattern work, and the block of training that leads to a student flying the airplane on their own for the first time. Under 14 CFR 61.193 a flight instructor is the person who gives that training and signs the endorsements behind it, and the solo endorsement is the one that matters most to the student and to us.
He is also who we hand a booking to when the person flying is fifteen and has never been in a small airplane, or forty-five and has quietly decided they are going to be bad at this. Neither of those is a training problem. Both are a pacing problem, and Anthony paces well: fewer new things per lesson, more repetition of the thing that just worked, and a clear statement at the end of every flight about what changed.
The Road To A First Solo, Under 14 CFR 61.87
A first solo is not a milestone your instructor awards you. It is a set of requirements in 14 CFR 61.87, and it has three parts. You pass a pre-solo aeronautical knowledge test written by your instructor covering the applicable regulations, the airspace rules for the airport you fly from, and the flight manual limitations of the aircraft you will fly. Your instructor reviews every incorrect answer with you. You receive flight training on the maneuvers and procedures listed in the regulation and demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in them. Then your instructor endorses your logbook for the specific make and model, and that endorsement has to be given by an instructor who has flown with you within the preceding 90 days.
| Requirement | Where It Comes From | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student pilot certificate | 14 CFR 61.83 | Minimum age 16 for airplanes; applied for through IACRA |
| Medical certificate | 14 CFR 61.23 | Third class is the usual route for a student pilot |
| Pre-solo knowledge test | 14 CFR 61.87(b) | Written by your instructor, reviewed face to face |
| Training on the listed maneuvers | 14 CFR 61.87(d) | Includes takeoffs, landings, stalls, go-arounds, emergencies |
| Logbook endorsement, make and model | 14 CFR 61.87(n) | From an instructor who flew with you in the last 90 days |
| Proficiency, in your instructor's judgment | 14 CFR 61.87(c) | The part no schedule can promise |
The list of maneuvers in the regulation runs to fifteen items for single-engine airplanes and includes normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, straight and level flight, turns, climbs and descents, stall recognition and recovery, approaches with a simulated engine failure, slips to a landing, go-arounds, ground reference maneuvers and traffic pattern procedures. Nobody solos on enthusiasm.
Teenagers, And What Changes
Teenagers usually learn the stick-and-rudder part faster than adults and the judgment part slower, which is exactly the opposite of what parents expect. Our Teens Pilot Course is $4,200 for ages 10 to 15 and covers 10 hours of flight, 3 hours in the simulator and 7 hours of classroom work. A ten-year-old cannot hold a student pilot certificate and cannot solo; what they can do is fly the airplane with an instructor and build real skill years before they are legally allowed to be alone in it.
The legal age to hold a student pilot certificate for airplanes is 16 under 14 CFR 61.83, and 17 for a private pilot certificate under 14 CFR 61.103. Anthony works with families on that timeline honestly, including telling a parent when the sensible plan is to start later.
Who Should Ask For Anthony
- Teenagers and their parents. Patience, structure and a willingness to explain the same thing twice without making it awkward.
- Nervous first-timers. If the words "small plane" make you uneasy, start here rather than talking yourself out of it.
- Students stuck before solo. Landings that will not settle are the most common plateau in flight training and the most fixable.
- People returning after a scare. A bumpy first flight elsewhere is not a verdict on whether you can fly.
How To Request Anthony
Call (818) 330-1318 and ask for him by name, or mention it when you book a free consultation. We are open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day at 7900 Balboa Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91406. For a teenager, book the consultation first and bring them: fifteen minutes on the ramp tells you more about whether this is the right year to start than any brochure will.
Related Reading
- Our flight instructors — the full roster and how matching works.
- Teen flight training in Los Angeles — the $4,200 course for ages 10 to 15.
- Your first solo flight — the 14 CFR 61.87 requirements in full.
- Student pilot certificate through IACRA — the paperwork that has to happen before solo.
- Adam — another instructor first-timers are often paired with.
Anthony: Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Anthony Teach?
Primary flight training: discovery flights, early lessons, traffic pattern work and the training that leads to a first solo under 14 CFR 61.87. He works most often with teenagers and first-timers.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Fly Solo?
Sixteen to hold a student pilot certificate for airplanes under 14 CFR 61.83, and seventeen for a private pilot certificate under 61.103. Younger students can fly with an instructor at any age.
How Many Hours Before A First Solo?
There is no hour figure in the regulation. It happens when the 61.87 requirements are met and your instructor judges you proficient. Flying twice a week gets most students there far sooner than flying twice a month.
Can A Ten-Year-Old Really Fly The Airplane?
With an instructor in the other seat, yes. Our Teens Pilot Course covers ages 10 to 15 for $4,200 and includes 10 hours of flight, 3 hours of simulator and 7 hours of classroom instruction.
I Am Nervous About Small Planes. Is That A Problem?
No, and it is common. Tell us when you book so we pair you with an instructor who paces the lesson for it. A 60-minute discovery flight is $229 and you decide how much of it you fly.
Does The Solo Endorsement Expire?
The endorsement under 14 CFR 61.87 has to come from an instructor who gave you training within the preceding 90 days, so it is refreshed as your training continues.
How Do I Book Anthony For My Child's First Flight?
Call (818) 330-1318 and ask for him. Weekend mornings book out first, so give us two or three possible days if you can.
Book A Flight With Anthony
A 60-minute discovery flight is $229, it is flown from the left seat with an instructor beside you, and it is credited in full toward training if you enroll within 24 hours. For a teenager, or for anyone who wants to talk the whole thing through before committing, book a free consultation instead. Call (818) 330-1318, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days.