Audit experience first
Review total time, PIC, cross-country, night, instrument, and applicable certificate/rating requirements so time-building flights have a purpose.
The commercial pilot certificate requires a minimum of 250 total flight hours and demonstrated proficiency in specific maneuvers. American Aviation structures this curriculum according to the FAA's ACS for the commercial certificate, focusing on achieving precise standards for chandelles, lazy eights, steep spirals, eights on pylons, and precision landings.
Time building represents a significant aspect of commercial pilot development. At a rental rate starting at $130/hr wet, students are able to accrue solo PIC hours more affordably than at many larger flight schools within the Los Angeles area. Our fleet is available for cross-country scheduling across the LA Basin, Central Valley, and beyond.
Training for the commercial pilot certificate at KVNY leverages the local complex airspace. Gaining proficiency with LA Class B, Burbank Class C, and terminal area procedures under commercial standards provides excellent preparation for professional aviation roles.
Flying to Commercial Tolerances
The jump from private pilot to commercial is less about new maneuvers and more about precision. The commercial ACS tightens the tolerances on altitude, heading, and airspeed, so flying that was acceptable at the private level now needs to be repeatable to a far finer standard, every time.
Commercial maneuvers such as chandelles, lazy eights, steep spirals, eights on pylons, and the power-off 180 accuracy landing are about energy management and smoothness. A typical lesson isolates one or two of these, breaks them down, and rebuilds them until they meet standard, then integrates them so you can fly the full sequence cleanly.
Because the certificate also requires reaching 250 total hours, much of the path is solo time building, and fleet rental aircraft — starting at $130/hr wet — let you keep those cross-country hours affordable by choosing the right airplane for each flight. Skyhawks and Warrior IIs are well suited to both maneuver training and time building. Call or text 818-231-1036 to outline your commercial plan.
Plan the Hours and Skills That Matter Next
Career-minded flight training is strongest when the certificate, aeronautical experience, and teaching or precision skills are planned together. Our flight school helps each pilot identify the next FAA requirement before spending aircraft time.
Train to a higher standard
Commercial maneuvers and instructor demonstrations are practiced to the applicable FAA/ACS standard, with clear briefing, demonstration, and debrief.
Use aircraft time efficiently
Choose an appropriate aircraft and route for the lesson or time-building objective; the wet aircraft rate and hourly-rate model keep the cost visible.
A Los Angeles Training Environment With Purpose
At KVNY, pilots from Los Angeles can develop professional habits around flight planning, airspace awareness, and accurate communication. The goal is preparation for the next certificate or rating—not simply accumulating hours.
Checkride coordination is planned early
As checkride readiness approaches, the school plans examiner coordination early and targets a checkride after proficiency, required endorsements, independent examiner availability and aircraft readiness are confirmed, weather, and eligibility allow. This is a planning target, not a guarantee: independent DPE availability and checkride outcomes remain outside the school's control.
Why Train at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY)?
Van Nuys Airport is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States — and one of the best environments to earn a pilot certificate.
Active Controlled Airport
KVNY has a live tower, ILS approaches, and year-round high-traffic conditions. You learn real-world radio communication from lesson one.
Real Los Angeles Airspace
Training here means working with Burbank Class C, LA Class B, and diverse terminal area procedures — preparation for flying anywhere in the country.
Consistent Training Weather
The San Fernando Valley's inland location provides consistent VFR training conditions, particularly compared to coastal marine-layer airports.
Cross-Country Route Variety
From KVNY you can fly cross-country to Santa Barbara, Camarillo, Bakersfield, Big Bear, Brackett, Long Beach, and beyond — building real navigation skills.
General Aviation Focused
No commercial airline traffic competing for runway time. KVNY is a dedicated GA airport built around pilots like you.
Checkride Access
FAA Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) are available in the Van Nuys area for all certificates and ratings.
Transparent Pricing
No fuel surcharges. confirm separate charges. No large upfront training loans required. confirm payment terms.
Aircraft Rental
From $130/hr
Wet — fuel included
Flight Instructor
$35/hr
Fair, flat instructor rate
Dual Combined
From $165/hr
Aircraft + instructor
Discovery Flight
$199.99
1 hour of flight time + briefing and debrief
Flight Training Programs at Van Nuys Airport
From your first discovery flight through your commercial certificate and flight instructor rating — all based at Van Nuys Airport.
How We Approach Your Training
American Aviation is built around a straightforward principle: efficient, structured training that respects your time, your money, and your goals.
ACS-Based from Day One
Every lesson objective maps directly to the FAA's Airman Certification Standards — the exact document your checkride examiner will use. No filler flights.
Checkride-Focused Preparation
You are never wondering when you will be ready. Your instructor tracks your progress against checkride standards and gives you a clear picture at every stage.
Instructor Accountability
Your instructor debriefs every flight with specific observations. What you did well, what needs work, and exactly what your next lesson will address.
hourly-rate
No large training loans required. No large prepaid blocks. You schedule and pay per lesson, keeping your investment proportional to your progress at all times.
Student-First Instruction
No runaround, no scripted upsell sequences, no inflated hours. Our instructors teach because they believe in the mission of aviation training done right.
No Pressure on Pace
Train twice a week or twice a month — your schedule, your pace. The instruction quality does not change based on how fast you progress through the program.