Frequently Asked Questions

None at all. We take students with zero flight experience all the way to airline-ready pilots. Your first step is a Discovery Flight — a 1-hour introductory lesson where you actually take the controls under the supervision of a certified instructor.

A Discovery Flight is a hands-on introductory lesson where you meet your instructor, go through a safety briefing, and then fly from Van Nuys Airport (VNY). You'll get to handle the controls in the air. It costs $175 and typically lasts around 1 hour.

You can begin training at 16 years old. However, you must be at least 17 to take your Private Pilot checkride and receive your certificate. There is no maximum age requirement.

For most certifications you will need a 3rd Class Medical Certificate issued by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). We can recommend local AMEs to make the process easy. For a Sport Pilot certificate, a valid U.S. driver's license is sufficient — no medical required.

U.S. citizenship is not required, but international students must obtain TSA Flight Training Authorization before beginning training. We are experienced with this process and can guide you through the TSA approval steps to minimize delays.

We offer the full progression: Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and CFII. We also have an accelerated Airline Pilot Program that takes you from zero experience to Commercial/CFI in under two years.

Flying 3 days per week, most students complete training in 3 to 4 months. On a full-time accelerated schedule (1–2 flights per day), it can be done in as little as 2 weeks. The FAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours, though the national average is 65–70 hours.

On a standard 3-days-per-week schedule, the Instrument Rating takes approximately 2 to 3 months. An accelerated full-time pace can get you rated in as little as 2 weeks. You'll need 40 hours of simulated or actual instrument time, 15 of which must be with a CFII.

Our flagship program takes you from zero flight experience to a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine rating and CFI/CFII — everything you need to fly for the airlines. The full-time program is completed in under 2 years. We also offer a partnership with SkyWest Airlines' Cadet Program to fast-track your airline career.

A CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) teaches students under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). A CFII (Certified Flight Instructor — Instrument) can additionally instruct students on instrument flying (IFR). We recommend earning your CFI before your CFII, though it is not required by the FAA.

The average cost of a Private Pilot Certificate at Aviators is approximately $17,000. This includes flight time, instructor fees, and ground training. Total cost will vary based on how many hours you need to reach checkride-ready proficiency.

The Instrument Rating program starts at $11,995. Final cost depends on individual flight hours needed, which varies by how frequently you fly and how quickly you progress.

Yes. We partner with Stratus Financial to offer student loans specifically for pilot training. Stratus looks beyond your credit score — they consider your academic history, military background, and work experience. Approved students can receive full deferment during training and for up to 12 months after, with no prepayment penalties. Learn more about financing.

Yes. Students who complete our Airline Pilot Program receive a 100% guaranteed job placement as a Flight Instructor at Aviators Flight Academy. This lets you immediately start building flight hours toward the 1,500 hours required for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate — while getting paid to fly.

Yes. Students who already hold a Private Pilot Certificate or Instrument Rating qualify for discounts on the Airline Pilot Program. Contact us for a custom quote based on your current credentials.

We recommend flying 3 days per week — this is the sweet spot for retaining knowledge between lessons without losing momentum. Flying more frequently (full-time, 5 days/week) will speed up your training significantly. Less frequent flying can increase total hours and cost.

Absolutely. We can customize any program for a full-time accelerated pace up to 5 hours of flying per day, 5 days per week. A full-time Private Pilot student can finish in as little as 2 weeks. Our team will work with you to build a schedule that matches your goals and availability.

We are located at Van Nuys Airport (VNY), 7900 Balboa Blvd, Unit D6, Van Nuys, CA 91406. Van Nuys is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, which means you'll train in a complex, real-world airspace that prepares you exceptionally well for any flying environment.

Training in the LA basin's complex airspace is actually a major advantage. You'll become highly proficient in radio communications, ATC coordination, and navigation in dense traffic — skills that set students from our academy apart. Los Angeles also offers outstanding year-round flying weather with very few weather-related cancellations.

Yes. We offer unlimited simulator usage to enrolled students in our Airline Pilot Program. Practicing procedures and approaches in the simulator before your actual flight hours saves money and accelerates your instrument proficiency.