Independent flight training · Van Nuys, California
American Aviation trains recreational and professional pilots with published wet rental rates and pay-per-flight instruction. There is no school deposit to fund a package in advance: aircraft and instructor charges are settled as you fly.
Van Nuys fleet · wet rental
Wet rental includes fuel. Prices are per aircraft hour and vary by tail number and payment method. Instructor time is billed separately at $35 per hour; confirm aircraft availability and scheduling details with the office.
Published fleet range
Single-engine: $130–$190/hr
Seminole: $360/hr cash/check
Card pricing is listed per aircraft.
Wet hourly rental at Van Nuys Airport. Cash/check and credit card rates are shown separately.
| Tail | Aircraft | Cash / check | Credit card |
|---|---|---|---|
| N46907 | C-152 | $130/hr | $135/hr |
| N5298J | C-172N Skyhawk | $155/hr | $160/hr |
| N96575 | C-172P Skyhawk | $175/hr | $181/hr |
| N6393C | PA-28-161 Warrior | $180/hr | $186/hr |
| N523ER | C-172S Skyhawk | $180/hr | $186/hr |
| N21705 | C-172S Skyhawk | $180/hr | $186/hr |
| N427DP | PA-2015 Warrior | $180/hr | $186/hr |
| N6159R | C-172RG | $180/hr | $186/hr |
| N2897M | PA-28-161 Warrior | $180/hr | $186/hr |
| N6247J | PA-28-181 Archer | $190/hr | $197/hr |
| N614DP | PA-44-180 Seminole | $360/hr | $373/hr |
Aircraft rental covers the aircraft only. Flight instruction, checkout requirements and any examiner-day aircraft time are separate.
Instructor
$35/hr
CFI and CFII instruction, billed in addition to aircraft rental.
Dual flight · aircraft + instructor
From $165/hr
Based on the $130 Cessna 152 cash/check rental rate plus $35 instruction. Aircraft choice changes the combined hourly total.
Seminole dual at the cash/check rate is $395/hr. Card rates are different; use the tail-specific table above.
Plan by certificate
These school-provided planning ranges cover seven common paths. They are not packages or guaranteed completion prices: logged experience, aircraft selection, pace and proficiency shape each student's total.
45 hours budgeted at $165/hour for aircraft and instruction. This is a flight-cost budget, not a guaranteed completion time; the FAA Part 61 minimum is 40 hours and additional proficiency training may be needed.
School-supplied Southern California comparison range: $15,000–$25,000+.
Explore this training pathPlanning budget
As low as $7,425
The lower budget relies on efficient, legally compliant safety-pilot practice. Your existing cross-country PIC time, instrument experience and instructor-led lessons determine the personalized total.
School-supplied Southern California comparison range: $16,000–$23,000.
Explore this training pathPlanning budget
$8,700–$15,400
A starting-from-zero budget across the Private, Instrument and Commercial stages. If you already hold certificates or ratings, ask for a bridge estimate based on your logbook.
School-supplied Southern California comparison range: $70,000–$110,000.
Explore this training pathPlanning budget
$40,000–$55,000
For the usual Part 61 airplane path, plan around 250 total hours, including 100 PIC hours and 50 cross-country PIC hours, plus the other applicable experience requirements. We calculate the time and training still needed from your logbook.
Explore this training pathPlanning budget
Call or text for your total
A 10–15-hour flight budget at $395/hour cash/check: Seminole rental plus instruction. The add-on follows an existing commercial certificate; the actual lessons needed depend on proficiency.
School-supplied Southern California comparison range: $5,000–$8,000.
Explore this training pathPlanning budget
$3,950–$5,925
Instructor preparation after Commercial Pilot training, including right-seat flying, teaching practice and practical-test preparation. Final cost depends on your starting proficiency.
School-supplied Southern California comparison range: $5,000–$11,000.
Explore this training pathPlanning budget
$3,000–$6,000
Instrument-instructor preparation after CFI. The budget depends on instrument proficiency, teaching preparation and the lessons required before the practical test.
School-supplied Southern California comparison range: $3,000–$6,000.
Explore this training pathPlanning budget
$2,000–$4,000
Budgets are for planning; they do not include every possible personal purchase or third-party fee. A logbook review is the best starting point for a tailored total.
No upfront school deposit. Pay per flight.
These budgets are planning points, not fixed packages. Aircraft rental, instruction and third-party expenses should be itemized separately. Part 61 minimums describe eligibility; they do not promise how many hours a particular student will need.
Plan for the checkride
Practical-test fees are separate from instruction and rental. Pay the DPE directly for the specific test you are taking; there is no charge now for checkrides attached to future ratings. Examiner amounts can vary and change, so confirm the current fee and payment terms with your examiner.
| Certificate or rating practical test | Planning fee |
|---|---|
| Private Pilot checkride | $800–$1,000 |
| Instrument Rating checkride | $800–$1,000 |
| Commercial Pilot checkride | $800–$1,000 |
| CFI checkride | $2,000–$3,000 |
| CFII checkride | About $800 |
The FAA knowledge exam is a separate charge of about $175 per attempt. Examiner and testing provider fees are independent of American Aviation's hourly rates.
Student planning list
Some items below are American Aviation's own training or rental policies; they are not universal FAA equipment requirements. Federal medical rules are identified separately. Ask your instructor before buying equipment or arranging a solo rental.
About $100 · one-time purchase
American Aviation requires students to have an aviation headset for lessons. A basic headset around this price point may suit training; ask the office which plug and intercom connections the aircraft uses and whether loaner equipment is available before purchasing.
This is the school's policy, not a universal FAA mandate.
American Aviation requires a cellular- and GPS-capable iPad or iPad Mini for its electronic flight-bag workflow. Wi-Fi-only models do not meet this school requirement. No device price is stated because models and prices vary. Confirm your instructor's setup before buying.
Essential includes IFR en route charts and georeferenced approach plates. Confirm current plan details and pricing with ForeFlight.
Typically $100–$200
A student pilot needs the appropriate medical certificate before solo flight. The Aviation Medical Examiner sets the exam fee. For private-pilot privileges, a third-class medical issued when you are under 40 is valid for 60 calendar months; at age 40 or older on the exam date, it is valid for 24 calendar months.
Duration depends on age when examined and the privileges being exercised. Review your certificate and current FAA rules.
About $300/year
American Aviation requires active renter coverage when you rent an aircraft for solo flight or another flight without an instructor onboard. It is not required for instructor-led lessons. Confirm policy terms and evidence of coverage before your first solo rental.
These are American Aviation's rental minimums, not universal FAA insurance rules. Review exclusions and aircraft damage terms with your insurer.
Digital FAA training references are free to download
Printed copies are optional. These references support ground study and flight preparation; your instructor can point you to the appropriate sections as your training progresses.
Available from faa.gov. Where editions or charts update, use the current FAA publication.
Keep third-party and test expenses in the plan.
Budget separately for knowledge-test attempts, personal equipment, applicable renter insurance, DPE charges, and aircraft rental used for a practical test. We review applicable items before training so you can plan each stage.
Understand the commitment
American Aviation does not offer flight-training loans and is not affiliated with a pilot-loan program. We publish cash/check and card rates and collect payment per flight. Financing is a personal decision; evaluate an offer from the lender's written terms rather than its monthly payment or advertised program length alone.
Loan terms, school agreements and student outcomes differ. Read the contract, payment schedule, cancellation policy and refund rules before signing; ask how the schedule handles weather, aircraft availability, retakes and training delays.
These are conditional comparison budgets supplied for planning, not results for every financing provider or flight school.
The 60-hour figures compare the stated hourly basis only. A complete program budget depends on aircraft, experience, training requirements and contract terms.
Pay as you fly
Cash/check and credit-card aircraft rates are published separately above. Accepted payment methods: Cash, Credit card, Zelle, Apple Pay, CashApp.
If your training experience falls short of the structure, clear communication or student-focused support described here, tell American Aviation directly. We will review what happened with you and work to make it right.
Your hours. Your target. A clear next step.
Tell us what you have already logged and where you want to go. We can review your starting point and prepare a custom estimate; call or text the office with questions about rates, aircraft or scheduling.
