Almost every pilot can name the flight that decided it. It was usually an hour long, it was usually their first, and they remember exactly where they were when the instructor said "your controls." If you're thinking about learning to fly, that hour is where to start, and it's what we do.
Why a discovery flight is the first step
A discovery flight answers the only question that matters before you spend money on training: do you love this? You'll find out whether you like the feel of the airplane, whether you're comfortable with the radio chatter and the traffic, whether the view from 2,500 feet does to you what it does to pilots. Most people know by the time they're back on the ground.
It also isn't wasted if the answer is yes. The hour is logged as dual instruction in your name and counts toward the FAA's 40-hour minimum for a private pilot certificate.
What learning to fly involves
- The private pilot certificate requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time under FAA rules; most people finish in 55 to 70 hours over four to eight months, flying two or three times a week.
- Ground school covers weather, navigation, regulations and aerodynamics, and ends with a written test.
- A medical certificate from an FAA-designated doctor is needed before you fly solo, not before you start.
- Cost in Los Angeles runs roughly $12,000 to $18,000 for a private certificate, depending on aircraft and how often you fly. Frequency is the biggest factor: people who fly three times a week finish faster and cheaper than people who fly every other weekend.
- Sport pilot is a lighter, cheaper option with fewer hours, limited to smaller aircraft and daytime flying.
How to make the most of your first flight
- Book a 60-minute discovery flight; sixty minutes is enough to fly real maneuvers, not just take a lap.
- Tell your instructor you're considering training. They'll fly the lesson accordingly and answer the questions the brochures don't.
- Ask to see the training airplanes, the schedule and the syllabus while you're at the airport.
- Keep the logbook entry. It's the first line of your training record.
Where to train after your discovery flight
You Fly LA does one thing: first flights and simulator experiences. For full private pilot training at the same airport we recommend Essence Flight, which trains from Van Nuys with a fleet that includes the airplanes you'll fly with us. Your discovery flight hour transfers to your logbook wherever you train.
Not sure yet? That's what the flight is for. Choose your discovery flight.