(818) 290-8249 · Open 9 AM–9 PM, 7 Days a Week · ★★★★★ 4.9 · 500+ Reviews · Van Nuys Airport
Sylmar sits at the top of the San Fernando Valley, right where the mountains begin, and pilots who grow up here already know the terrain by heart. Our flight school near Sylmar trains at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY), about 7 miles south, with lessons every day from 9 AM to 9 PM.
Sylmar is the northernmost neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, and it still feels a little different from the rest of the Valley. Its name nods to the olive groves that once covered the area, and pockets of horse property, ranch fencing and equestrian trails remain along the foothills. Families have room to spread out, and many residents commute through the Newhall Pass toward Santa Clarita or south into the Valley every day. Students from Los Angeles Mission College and staff from Olive View-UCLA Medical Center are part of the community too, along with plenty of people who simply love the outdoors.
That outdoors mindset is a good fit for flying. Pilots who train near mountains learn early to respect wind, terrain and weather, and those lessons make better aviators anywhere. At Van Nuys you will learn the local airspace step by step, practice in our FAA-approved Redbird MCX simulator and build the judgment to fly confidently over the hills you see from your driveway. When you are ready, the same skills carry you toward instrument, commercial and even airline flying.
From Sylmar, the 5 and the 405 lead almost directly to Roscoe Blvd and Van Nuys Airport, about 7 miles away.
Our instructors teach you to read the winds and terrain around the San Gabriels and the Newhall Pass from your first lessons.
Ready for more? Our Piper Seminole is a true multi-engine trainer for students building toward a professional career.
Fly the Cirrus SR22 Turbo with a modern glass cockpit and the CAPS whole-airplane parachute system.
Long hours make it easier for commuters to fit lessons in before or after the drive.
Stratus Financial offers terms up to 15 years, and in-house payment plans are available too.
From Van Nuys your discovery flight climbs north up the Valley, and Sylmar shows up where the city grid meets the mountains. Look for the white cascades of the Los Angeles Aqueduct tumbling down the hillside near the 5, the Van Norman reservoirs just to the southwest and the tight turns of the Newhall Pass where the 5 and the 14 split. The Los Angeles Mission College campus and the Olive View medical center sit at the base of the foothills, with the San Gabriel Mountains climbing behind them. It is one of the most dramatic views in the Valley, and you will be on the controls.
Whether you dream of weekend trips or a seat at an airline, every program is taught at Van Nuys Airport, a straightforward drive south from Sylmar.
The license most pilots start with: fly passengers anywhere in the United States, day or night.
Learn to fly safely in clouds and reduced visibility, an essential skill for flying around coastal and mountain weather.
Build toward paid flying with complex-aircraft training in the Piper Arrow and professional-level standards.
Zero to airline for $84,000 (regularly $89,000, with a $5,000 promotion), with financing available. A full path for Sylmar students aiming for an airline career.
Local high school students can start early, building skills and flight time before graduation.
Become a certified flight instructor, teach new pilots and build hours toward your next goal.
Van Nuys Airport is about 7 miles south of Sylmar. Take the 5 south and follow it onto the 405 south, exit at Roscoe Blvd, head west on Roscoe and turn south on Balboa Blvd. Our school is at 7900 Balboa Blvd, Main Terminal, Van Nuys, CA 91406. Call (818) 290-8249 if you need help finding us.
The small independent city just southeast of Sylmar, with an easy route to KVNY on the 5 and 405.
Over the Newhall Pass to the north, about 13 miles from Van Nuys Airport.
From the foothills of Sylmar to the runway at Van Nuys is a short trip. Call us and we will set up your first flight.
Real students, real first flights, real ratings — straight from Google and Yelp.
The fastest way to know if the left seat is for you is to stand on the flight line. Book a free consultation — or reach us whichever way you like.
Tour the school, meet your instructors, sit in the cockpit, and leave with a personal training plan and exact pricing. Your Discovery Flight fee is credited toward training when you enroll within 24 hours.
One minute, a few details, fast answers from a real person on our team.
