Quality Score
Fair
Base (15) + components above = 61
About
Encore Flight Academy is the largest flight school at Van Nuys Airport, offering comprehensive flight training programs including Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Multi-Engine, Commercial, and ATP courses. The school operates a large fleet of training aircraft including Cirrus SR20, Diamond DA-20s, Piper Warriors, Piper Arrows, Piper Senecas, and Piper Seminoles, along with 5 Redbird FMX full-motion AATD simulators and 2 Precision Flight Control AATD simulators.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus SR20 (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $75 – $300/hr | $5,200 – $20,900 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $45 – $180/hr | $1,875 – $7,475 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $45 – $180/hr | $900 – $3,550 |
| Estimated Total Range | $8,000 – $31,900 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Encore Flight Academy is estimated to cost $8,000 – $31,900. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Encore Flight Academy operates under Part 61. Training is self-paced: you and your instructor set the curriculum rather than following a pre-approved syllabus. The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, though most students need 60 to 70.
No, Encore Flight Academy does not have a Designated Pilot Examiner on staff. When you're ready for your checkride, you'll need to book with an independent DPE. Ask the school if they can point you to one nearby.
Encore Flight Academy's training fleet includes the Cirrus SR20, Diamond DA20, Piper PA-28 (Warrior), Piper PA-28R (Arrow), Piper PA-34 (Seneca), and Piper PA-44 (Seminole). Having multiple types in the fleet keeps your training on track if one plane is down for maintenance. Ask the school about current availability and any additional charges per aircraft.
Yes, Encore Flight Academy has the following flight training devices: Redbird FMX and Precision Flight Controls MFD. Ask the school which ratings the devices count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Encore Flight Academy does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.