Let Them Actually Fly the Airplane.
A safe, structured, one-on-one flight training program for kids ages 10 to 15 — real lessons in a real airplane with a patient, FAA-certified instructor beside them. No experience needed.
Teen Aviation Course (Ages 10–15) — Learn to Fly at Van Nuys Airport
Unlock the skies with our exclusive Teen Aviation Course, designed for aspiring young pilots aged 10 to 15. This one-on-one flight training program provides an immersive introduction to aviation in a safe, structured, and exciting environment. Whether your child dreams of becoming a pilot or simply wants to experience the thrill of flying, our program is the perfect starting point.
Many of today's airline pilots caught the flying bug as kids. This package lets your child actually fly the airplane with an instructor beside them — taking the controls, learning the fundamentals, and discovering what they're capable of. It's the perfect birthday gift, summer activity, or first real step toward a future in aviation or STEM.
At Los Angeles Flight School in Van Nuys, we're committed to providing comprehensive, world-class training that builds skill and confidence in equal measure. With access to our advanced fleet of more than 12 aircraft, an FAA-approved Redbird MCX full-motion simulator, and instructors who genuinely enjoy teaching young students, the skies over Los Angeles become your child's classroom.
How the program is structured
Fifteen one-on-one sessions of roughly 90 minutes each, mixing in-air flight training, full-motion simulator practice and classroom instruction — 20 hours of training in total. Every session has a clear objective, a pre-flight briefing and a post-flight debrief, and scheduling is adjusted to your family's availability rather than a fixed calendar.
Every hour, every line item — one fixed number
One fixed price for the whole program. No hourly surprises, no aircraft rental add-ons, no hidden fees. Here's exactly what the $4,200 Teen Aviation Course buys you.
Teen Aviation Course
Verified · Van Nuys Airport (KVNY)
Not sure yet? Start smaller.
If your child has never been in a small airplane, a single Discovery Flight is the perfect low-commitment first step. They'll take the controls for part of the flight and see Los Angeles from the left seat.
Discovery flights from $229 · 100% credits toward training when you enroll within 24 hours
Book a Free ConsultationWhere your child's 20 hours actually go
What Your Child Will Learn
Real aviation knowledge, taught one-on-one and paced to your child — not a watered-down summer camp curriculum.
Aerodynamics
Understanding how airplanes generate lift and maneuver through the air — the physics behind flight, explained in a way a 10-year-old genuinely gets.
Weather & Meteorology
Learning how different weather conditions affect flight safety and planning, and how pilots decide whether today is a good day to fly.
Navigation Basics
An introduction to charts, flight planning and GPS — figuring out how to get from Van Nuys to anywhere and back again.
Aircraft Systems
Exploring the components and functions of an aircraft — engines, avionics and instruments — plus how to preflight an airplane properly.
Radio Communication
The basics of air traffic control communication and phraseology. Talking to the tower at a busy airport is a confidence milestone all its own.
Emergency Procedures
How to recognize and handle in-flight emergencies safely and calmly — practiced first in the simulator, where mistakes cost nothing.
Your child flies the airplane — with a certified instructor right beside them.
Dual controls, a modern well-maintained trainer, and an instructor who has done this hundreds of times. They fly. You watch them grow.
Your child receives 10 hours of actual flight training under the supervision of an experienced instructor. They take the controls and experience piloting an aircraft while learning essential flight skills — and every one of those hours is one-on-one.
- ✓Hands on the controls from lesson oneNot a sightseeing ride — real training, logged in a real logbook.
- ✓Dual controls, alwaysThe instructor can take over instantly at any moment.
- ✓No prior experience requiredNo prerequisites, no aviation background needed, start any time of year.
- ✓Parents can come along or watch from the rampMany parents watch takeoffs and landings from just outside the hangar.
Discipline, focus and responsibility — learned 3,000 feet above Los Angeles.
Parents tell us the change shows up at school first. Flying an airplane asks a young person to prepare, concentrate and follow through — and they rise to it.
Our fleet at Van Nuys is newer and better maintained than most of what flies out of KVNY — which matters more when it's your kid in the seat. And the view from the left seat isn't bad either: the Hollywood Sign, downtown LA, Malibu and the coast.
- ✓Over the LA BasinThe Hollywood Sign, DTLA, Malibu, the coast — their classroom.
- ✓Cirrus SR22 TurboGlass cockpit — an optional step up for students who want it.
- ✓Van Nuys Airport (KVNY)One of the busiest general-aviation airports in the country — real radio and traffic experience from day one.
- ✓Flying at KVNY since 2017500+ five-star reviews across Google and Yelp.
The reassurance every parent wants first
Safety is our highest priority — not a marketing line, but the reason our training is structured the way it is. All lessons are conducted by FAA-certified flight instructors, all training follows strict FAA regulations, and every aircraft is inspected and maintained to the highest standards.
- ✓One-on-one with an FAA-certified instructorYour child never shares an instructor's attention. Every session is personalized to how they learn and how fast they're ready to move.
- ✓A structured, predictable environment15 scheduled sessions of about 90 minutes each, each with a clear objective, a pre-flight briefing and a post-flight debrief.
- ✓Parents are welcome — alwaysYou're invited to observe lessons, ground instruction and flight sessions, and to share in the excitement of your child's aviation journey.
- ✓Meticulously maintained modern aircraftDual controls mean the instructor can take over instantly at any moment. Our fleet is newer than most of what flies out of Van Nuys.
- ✓Emergencies practiced on the ground firstThe full-motion simulator lets your child rehearse the unexpected safely, long before they'd ever encounter it in the air.
The full-motion simulator, built into the course
Three of your child's 20 training hours happen in our FAA-approved Redbird MCX — a full-motion, enclosed-cockpit simulator with 210° wraparound visuals, a 3-axis motion platform, dual controls and a real Garmin G430.
It's where the hardest things get practiced first: crosswinds, engine failures, go-arounds and low visibility — all with the freedom to pause, reset and try again. It's a favorite part of the program for nearly every student.
FAA Milestones by Age — and Why Starting Now Matters
The FAA sets minimum ages for soloing and licensing, but not for learning. Kids who start at 10, 12 or 14 arrive at those birthdays already knowing how to fly.
Start Lessons Now
Real flight training, simulator time and ground school. No minimum age to begin learning — and no prior experience required.
You Are HereFirst Solo Flight
The FAA allows a student pilot to fly solo at 16. Students who trained with us as teens often solo within weeks of that birthday.
Private Pilot License
The minimum age for a Private Pilot certificate. An early start means the written exam and checkride are already within reach.
Wherever They Want
Instrument, commercial, an airline career — or simply a lifelong hobby and a story no one else at school has.
Graduates receive a certificate of completion and a strong foundation to continue toward a Private Pilot License. Logged time and early exposure put aviation-minded kids years ahead of their peers.
$2,500 first. $1,700 second. That's the whole thing.
The Teen Aviation Course is $4,200 all-in, split into two straightforward payments. Longer-term financing is available school-wide if you'd prefer to spread it further.
Teen Aviation payment plan
The exact plan for this course — nothing hidden, nothing balloon-shaped at the end.
What's included at no extra charge
The things other schools quietly bill for, already in the price.
- ✓A personal pilot logbook to record every flight
- ✓Age-appropriate ground instruction, one-on-one
- ✓A certificate of completion to mark the milestone
- ✓Flexible scheduling, 7 days a week — weekends, after school, summer
- ✓Financing available up to 15 years, from $2,500 down — soft credit check, no co-signer
- ✓100% of a discovery flight credits toward training when you enroll within 24 hours (discovery flights from $229)
Loved On Google & Yelp
Including a lot of very happy parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Safety is our highest priority. All lessons are conducted by FAA-certified flight instructors, and we strictly adhere to FAA regulations. Our training aircraft are regularly inspected and maintained to the highest safety standards, and every aircraft has dual controls so the instructor can take over instantly. All students receive thorough pre-flight briefings and safety instructions before each lesson.
No — this course is designed for beginners. No previous aviation knowledge or experience is required, and there are no prerequisites. Students can start at any time of year.
Yes. Your child receives 10 hours of actual flight training under the supervision of an experienced instructor. They take the controls and experience piloting an aircraft while learning essential flight skills. This is not a ride-along.
The course consists of 15 sessions, each lasting about 90 minutes — 20 hours of training in total. The schedule is customized to fit your family's needs and can be completed at your own pace, on weekends, after school or during the summer.
Yes. Parents and guardians are always welcome to observe ground instruction, simulator sessions and flight lessons — an opportunity to share in the excitement of your child's aviation journey. Many parents watch takeoffs and landings from the ramp.
Fifteen one-on-one sessions of roughly 90 minutes each, mixing in-air flight training, full-motion simulator practice and classroom instruction: 10 hours single-engine flight time, 3 hours FAA-approved full-motion simulator, 13 hours dual instruction (aircraft & simulator) and 7 hours ground school with pre/post-flight briefings. Scheduling is flexible and adjusted to the student's availability.
The Teen Aviation Course is $4,200 — the complete course cost, with nothing else to add. It's split into two payments: a first payment of $2,500 and a second payment of $1,700. School-wide financing is also available up to 15 years from $2,500 down, with a soft credit check and no co-signer.
Yes. Our program is designed to be engaging and educational for students of all learning styles. Our instructors are experienced in working with young learners and focus on a positive, confidence-building experience — quieter kids often blossom fastest.
We offer flexible start dates throughout the year. Sessions are scheduled around your availability — including weekends, school holidays and summer.
Graduates receive a certificate of completion and a personal logbook recording every flight, plus a strong foundation to continue toward a Private Pilot License. The FAA allows solo flight at 16 and a Private Pilot certificate at 17 — this course is an excellent head start for anyone interested in aviation as a career or a lifelong hobby.
Students should come prepared with:
- Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes
- A notebook and pen for classroom instruction
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for outdoor flight sessions
- A water bottle to stay hydrated
We fly out of Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) — 7900 Balboa Blvd. Suite 108A, Van Nuys, CA 91406. Van Nuys is one of the busiest general-aviation airports in the country, which gives students real-world radio and traffic experience from day one. Open 7 days, 9am–9pm.
Ready to Give Your Child Their Wings?
Talk to a real instructor today — no pressure, just answers. We'll walk you and your child through the program, the schedule and the aircraft.