Quality Score
Fair
Base (15) + components above = 59
About
Santa Monica Flyers is Los Angeles' premier flight school and aircraft rental center, offering world-class flight training that's safe, fuel-efficient, and ultra-modern. With 15+ years of experience and 1,000+ pilots trained, Santa Monica Flyers provides a diverse fleet including electric aircraft, light sport aircraft, Cessna 172s, and Cirrus aircraft. Training programs include Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and CFI certificates.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipistrel Velis Electro (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $65 – $260/hr | $4,500 – $18,100 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $55 – $220/hr | $2,300 – $9,250 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $55 – $220/hr | $1,100 – $4,400 |
| Estimated Total Range | $7,900 – $31,700 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Santa Monica Flyers is estimated to cost $7,900 – $31,700. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Santa Monica Flyers 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, Santa Monica Flyers 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.
Santa Monica Flyers's training fleet includes the Pipistrel Velis Electro, Czech Sport Aircraft SportCruiser, Cessna 172N (Skyhawk), Cessna 172S (Skyhawk), Cessna 172RG (Cutlass), Cessna 172SP (Skyhawk), Cirrus SR20 G3, Cirrus SR22 T, and American Champion Super Decathlon. 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, Santa Monica Flyers has the following flight training devices: RealSimGear C172 G1000 and RealSimGear SRx. Ask the school which ratings the devices count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Santa Monica Flyers does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.
Contact
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