Took my bride for a 60-minute (well, more like 52-min. Engine start/stop) Air Tour in one of the company's Cessna 172S's. Pilot Martin S. was fantastic -- great host, excellent flying. We enjoyed views of the SFV, Universal Studios, Hollywood and Griffith Park, Dodger Stadium, DTLA, Santa Monica, and the Malibu coastline before flying high above the Santa Monica Mountains en route to VNY. Overall, great flight and service from start to finish (reservation to exit). read more

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I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, Quinn Larkin, and the person who responded to messages in the middle of the night, Chloe Le Lievre, for their outstanding service and care. The pilot went above and beyond to make everything perfect. A huge heartfelt thank you to him. It was an incredible experience! The birthday surprise was a success, exceeding all expectations. The only suggestion I have is to add some sort of sign at the entrance to indicate that "Corsair Aviation" is located in the building. It would make it easier for your clients to find you. read more

Hello Yelpers, all though I was just a passenger with a friend who rents planes from Corsair, the office girl was very nice and the place was cool, comfortable and had a nice second floor view of parked planes on the tarmac. We went for a flight around the Los Angeles basin and further up north via the coast to Camarillo before we headed back to the Van Nuys Airport. Upon return, again, the front desk gal was very pleasant and asked how my first flight with them was. I appreciated the interaction. I had a good time flying and the kindness at Corsair Aviation was noticeable. read more

I have personally experienced: safety focused, professional, knowledgeable, approachable, relatable, patient, understanding, accommodating, partnership, teamwork and high integrity results-oriented folks at Corsair Aviation regardless of their role at the organization. This has provided me with a tremendous amount of peace of mind which has enabled me to focus on my flight training without worry. Corsair Aviation has the team, the tools, the processes, the experience and the results to show they are the best flight training school in the greater Los Angeles Area, perhaps even the entire State of California or the whole country. The airspace here in Van Nuys is challenging in terms of volume of air traffic and in complexity of its configuration. As Frank Sinatra (he was a famous singer from the 1950's through the 1970's) once said, if you can make it there you can make it anywhere. He was referring to New York, but I can tell you from experience that if he had to complete his private pilot license training out of Van Nuys, we would have a hit song called "Van Nuys, Van Nuys." Start spreading the news, you know you want to be a part of it.....king of the hill.....top of the heap.....A number one.....be part of the greatest aviation guys, right here in the heart of it, Van Nuys, Van Nuys!!!!!! read more

Great experience! Adam was knowledgeable & took safety seriously. Definitely will go again! read more

Corsair Aviation - Inside office - Flight Instruction Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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Corsair helped prep me for my PPL checkride after a four year gap of not flying. Very professional and great instructors. Planes are well maintained and pretty new, too. A bit expensive, but nothing unexpected given their fleet and location. If you want cheaper, you'll have to fly something older or outside LA. It's pretty good compared to pricing at other van nuys flight schools. read more

received an Airtour package as a birthday present. The facilities were modern and the office staff was very professional. The aerial tour was flown by Corsair Chief pilot Mike and asst Chief pilot Tyler. Both did a great job providing commentary on LA area icons being seen from a different perspective. Very enjoyable and I can recommend it to anyone looking for a different view of the LA area. read more

I signed up for flight school with Corsair and I could not be happier. I looked at a lot of schools and I am very happy with my choice. Professional, easy, and personalized it's a great experience to learn how to fly. The owner Mike is very nice and explains the course in a honest way. Up front about all the costs and procedures that will be needed My flight instructor, Dana, is great! Takes the time to explain everything that is happening on my flights, answers all my questions and really makes you feel like you're getting the education you need to be a successful pilot. I would recommend this school to anybody. The planes are all newer models with great technology built into them. I'm looking forward to continue my training and renting with them in the future. read more

Be careful as a student there. Their solo flight 10 knot wind limits will keep you there for a long time even tho you are trained up to 25 knots. You will be there for months waiting for the perfect weather. As a 141 student, theyll make you pay $90/hr for orientation/initial paperwork, which use to be free. read more

My son Luke and I interviewed and got an orientation/grand tour with all of the pilot schools around the Van Nuys airport. He is very interested in becoming a pilot. We both agreed that we felt the most comfortable with Corsair Aviation. They were very personable, knowledgeable and we both had a good feeling about them. Luke has had seven or eight lessons now and I actually went up with him and his instructor the other day and I was beyond impressed! He already seems to know his stuff, he had the controls pretty much the whole time, spoke with air traffic control with confidence, landed and took off a couple times. I don't Yelp very often but I definitely wanted to take the time to give these guys 5 stars! I highly recommend them. read more

I could give Corsair an extra star but sadly there's only 5! I never once felt unsafe, mike (the pilot) explained everything in detail in regards to the safety regulations and how to get inside of the private plane, they offered snacks before going the tour, my 8 MONTH had to experience everything with my husband and I for his dads birthday and it was so special! Definitely recommend this place to everyone and a few of my friends are planning to do this tour soon. Thank you very much to the receptionist she had everything ready by the time we walked in there was no waiting! read more

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I've been flying with Corsair for the past four months while I work on getting my private pilot certificate. I currently have spent 40 hours in the air with the team and so far it's been an amazing experience. The team is very professional, the planes are clean and well-maintained, and the entire experience instills trust that you're going to have a safe and pleasant experience. Costi is my primary instructor and he's been very good teaching me the necessary skills and responsibilities a pilot should have. We've flown about 25 hours together and he does a great job pushing you to learn but at the same time making sure you're in your comfort zone. I've also flown with Mike (chief pilot) several times who has a ton of experience and it shows in his instruction. He's very patient and knows exactly what to ask or say to push you along in your training efficiently. During the winter I flew with Joe and again the professionalism of Corsair shines. His strength in the few flights we've had is letting you fly the plane as much as possible and only jumping in when he feels it is absolutely necessary. This allows you to really get a feel for the plane, and flying is a lot of "feel". Since this is my first flight instruction school, I can't compare it to any others. I have heard a number of negative stories about other schools and also read about red flags you should look for while searching for the right school. Luckily for me, Corsair doesn't have any of the issues other schools have and the way everything is structured makes sure everybody is flying safely. Here are some tips if you're interested in pursuing your private pilot certificate: 1) 40 hours is the minimum FAA flying time before you can get your certificate. I'm probably going to be at around 50-55 when I take my test which I think is on the lower side. I've heard of people needing 80+ hours so talk to the team to get a rough idea on how much time and how much you'll be spending 2) Fly with a couple instructors before choosing one. Each instructor has their own way of teaching and since you'll be spending so much time with them, make sure it fits with how you prefer to learn. 3) Watch a ton of Youtube videos. There are so many videos about flying that you'll have what feels like an unlimited resource of knowledge. Watching videos of other pilots flying helped significantly in my training. I hope that helps anybody looking to see if Corsair is right for them. Good luck! read more

Love this place. Had a blast flying around and practicing flying. Staff was friendly and nice. Facility is really clean. Thank you for a great night. read more

Corsair Aviation - Flight Instruction Near Me - Van Nuys, California

I highly recommend this flight school. I just completed my Sport Pilot License here. Very clean and nice offices and the planes are well maintained. It is not the cheapest flight school, but by far the best. You get what you pay for. I feel that I received a very solid education and flying out of a high traffic airport such as Van Nuys, will prepare you for almost anything. Mike Killian, owner, and his staff are all incredibly friendly and accommodating. I especially want to recommend my instructor Jeff Tartaglini, who totally went over and above with my training. Jeff's knowledge, teaching style, patience and willingness to work odd hours made all the difference in completing the training in a timely fashion. You are in great hands with Corsair Aviation. read more

This was such an amazing tour! I took two of my best friends with me on the tour and we had a blast. I am from Los Angeles and loved being able to see the city from a birds eye view. I would totally recommend this tour to anyone and everyone. It was such an awesome experience! Our pilot was so awesome and he even let me fly (steer) the plane as we headed into Malibu leaving the Santa Monica pier. I opted for the Deluxe tour and it was well worth it. We felt super safe in the hands of our pilot as he has been flying since he was a kid! I would totally do this again! read more

Absolutely awesome experience with pilot Mike for my son's sixth birthday! Ever since going to an airshow earlier this year, my son has become inspired by airplanes. So, I decided an airplane tour would be a great gift for his sixth birthday. He's never been on a plane and I had some concerns that he might be frightened by the experience. However, pilot Mike had a very welcoming and relaxed (but also professional) demeanor that put my son at ease (as well as my daughter and I). It turned out to be an amazing experience for my son. Mike even let him take the control and "fly" the plane. My daughter and I also thoroughly enjoyed the ride and the sightseeing. Mia in the front office was very professional and responsive in helping to arrange for the flight. I don't have anything negative to say about this experience and highly recommend Corsair Aviation. read more

Had a blast with mike , enjoyed chocolate covered strawberries with some moscato while over looking our beautiful city of los angels . Definitely recommend trying it out for yourself read more

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I just finished my PPL (Private Pilot License) with Corsair this past November, and it was an absolute pleasure to train here. The airplanes are maintained to incredibly high standards, and Mike has gone above and beyond in organizing the business to operate in a manner consistent with high quality and (most importantly) safety. I had the opportunity to fly with a number of different instructors during my training, and they are all solid. Each is incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, and fun to be up in the air with. I did have to switch instructors a couple times as my primary instructor moved on to an airline job (a testament to their abilities as pilots)... but to Corsair's credit, they were replaced quickly with someone equally as proficient. The only gaps that ever existed in my training schedule were due to my own availability limitations. If you're ready to learn, Corsair is ready to teach. I cannot say enough great things about this company. Everything from the facilities, to the instructors; the airplanes, to the dispatch crew is top notch. If you're looking for a place to get your pilot's license, look no further. You'll be hard pressed to find another company that will teach as you safely and effectively as Corsair, all while having a ton of fun along the way. read more

Their pricing was competitive, but their service was outstanding. Provided great service from start to end with a great rate!

Booked the trip with the family and had a wonderful time. Mike put everyone at ease by explaining his extensive experience and qualifications. The Deluxe tour was awesome! We hit all the major spots around Los Angeles and Mike was pointing out key things and dropping some history on us. We had our 9 month old son with us and he was having a blast pulling on headset cords in the back. The facilities are immaculate. We even got a bottle of wine and cheese spread due to a small mix up on pricing. Customer service is on point! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to tour around the skies of LA! I bet their training is just as good as the tour experience. I will definitely be coming back here for any flying needs! read more

What a great company! My son had a flight today and Walt and Shane were as helpful and as friendly as you could imagine. Wish there were more stars to give. read more

Corsair Aviation flight training is the best in the LA area! With extremely knowledgeable instructors and very competitive rates accompanied with a fleet of brand new aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, this is surely the best bang for your buck! I've been going to Corsair for over a year now and have experienced consistent training conditions every flight! I received my private pilot certification through them and I am currently working on my Instrument rating and plan to stick with them all the way through to my CFII. If you are interested in learning to fly, just stop by Corsair Aviation and see for yourself how they go above and beyond to earn 5 stars!! read more

I am a private pilot who rents out of corsair aviation, all i have to say is awesome flight school. Well maintained fleet. Been knowing the owner Mike since before he started this flight school, did my private pilots license with him. He is a great instructor and mentor, extremely knowledgeable. Facility is very nice as well. read more

I passed my instrument rating with Michael Killian, he is very professional and knows his stuff.The new location (Signature East) is really fancy, I even ran into stars twice in the office. I'm about to start my commercial license and I will definitely go back there. read more

Currently getting my PPL here, great fleet of planes and instructors. Up to date, glass panel planes, responsive staff // great experience

I do all of my training here. Got my Private Pilots License through Mike Killian and currently working on my instrument rating. I've been with them since before Corsair and I would never switch schools! Best prices in the valley and the best aircraft! I would recommend this place to anyone! read more

You get what you pay for at Corsair. They're prices are great considering they keep their facility, and their aircraft spotless! I've met a couple of different CFIs here and they were all super knowledgeable and helpful; Instructors actually follow up and care about where you are in your training... and that is something I really appreciated. I also really loved that they were so honest, and were always trying to save me money! They really care to make you a pilot ASAP and not just take all your money up front. Also, now that I know how well maintenance they keep their aircraft I feel a little skeptical to rent from any other place that is not Corsair. Saftey is definitely their #1 priority. read more

Got an air tour with my two friends with Corsair Aviation! It was so fun! We got the 60 min tour and it was so much fun!! Recommend this place since they use airplanes instead of helicopters which made the tour much cheaper than the other company's. read more

If you want to fly, Mike is that guy! The night tour around LA exceeded my expectations. Me and my girlfriend felt extremely safe with him. Very professional. Topped it off with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries read more

Lovely! They were very beautiful cessnas with amazing technology and mike was extremely knowledgeable and pleasant. Awesome landing as well! Definitely will recommend. read more

Our air tour was great!! My wife and I did the 60 min tour and we loved it!! The company is very professional and the facility is very very upscale! We saw so many different places like the hollywood sign, santa monica pier, down town LA, Malibu, and so much more! read more

I did my flight discovery with Corsair, my instructor was Joe and he was absolutely fantastic. I was taking my discovery flight to se if I want to peruse my Private Pilot Certificate with Corsair and I am so excited to begin training with them particularly Joe. It was important for me to click with an instructor as I am interested in doing 3 days a week of flying training which is a lot of time spent with an individual. I also have no experience in aviation so I need someone who is patient and willing to explain everything and anything - Joe is that for me. He made the flight so relaxed and exciting and was so willing to take time and answer all my questions (which there were many!!). I took months researching flight training and I found it really overwhelming trying to find a company that had good reviews and lived up to them, every time I googled flight training Encore flight school would pop up, they have a really prominent online presence, however all the feedback and reviews I was finding was very negative, other schools I found had very little web presence which was off putting. Overall Corsair is professional, established and they have a wonderful staff that really take care of you, I had to reschedule a couple times and Shane was really great. If you are looking for a fun flight or serious training I highly recommend Corsair!! read more

I did a tour with Michael Killian over LA and the view was amazing, you even get to touch the controls since he is also a flight instructor. I also noticed that his airplanes are way more modern than most of the ones I saw in Van Nuys. I would definitely recommend this place for tours. read more

Had an amazing time! I went with my friend as a surprise bday gift and everyone at Corsair was stupendous!!!! Special thanx to Drew & Faraz you both were so awesome! read more

Took a 60 min tour of LA last night for my husbands birthday and it was so amazing! Mike was our pilot and made us feel right at home. Although we have lived here our whole lives, seeing different parts of LA from the sky was breathtaking. I would definitely recommend Corsair and now my husband is looking into taking flight lessons with them due to our fantastic experience! Thank you Mike and Corsair for an unforgettable experience! read more

PLEASE read this, it will potentially save you a lot of time and money. I am by no means an expert, just someone who recently received a private pilot certificate and encountered two different schools at KVNY along the way. I initially started training at Encore at Van Nuys airport. Encore was known to be the largest flight school at KVNY. I paid $10k for a package including ground and flight time. What I found at Encore was shocking. Culture of Risk: - A student and pilot disappeared over the ocean and were never found again. http://ktla.com/2016/05/31/student-pilot-flight-instructor-missing-after-plane-disappears-near-catalina-island/ - Another incident where a student and CFI had to make an emergency landing on the 23 Freeway due to running out of fuel. http://ktla.com/2016/01/12/light-plane-lands-on-freeway-in-moorpark-area/ - Multiple occasions where there were no air worthy planes. I personally grounded planes over a dozen times. - Management pressuring students and CFIs to take risks and fly substandard planes. Tremendous amount of frustration: - Many students were frustrated with the issues at the school and quit, which management liked as students pre-paid for non-refundable packages. Horrible Reputation: - Students were turned away for check-rides due to substandard planes (more than one occasion) and plane registration issues - During '15/'16 when i was a student at Encore there were no examiners at KVNY who would perform check rides for Encore students due to substandard training. As a result students had to fly to Fresno for check rides. When I left Encore I was frustrated, disheartened, and $10k lighter in my wallet with very little to show in return. Thankfully I have a good friend who is a captain of a major airline who teamed up with me to find a new flight school. The two of us reviewed all of the schools at KVNY and after careful review he overwhelmingly recommended Corsair. The difference at Corsair is AMAZING. - Outstanding CFIs, owner, and staff who extrude professionalism and the love of aviation. - Management actively encouraged risk mitigation, not taking unnecessary risks - Excellent equipment, availability, and maintenance - Standardized ground school with Cessna self-study program augmented by 1 on 1 with a CFIs. This is not only ensures a standardized approach to ground school but also is the lowest cost approach and in my opinion has the best outcome. - Very competitive prices, by far the best value at KVNY - Highly respected by others in the industry. For those starting on the PPL path I recommend the following: - Definitely keep Corsair on your short-list of schools and avoid Encore - Do NOT buy pre-paid packages anywhere - Visit the school twice, and on at least one occasion sit in the office for a few hours and chat with multiple students who are in the training program to find out the good/bad ugly. There is no better way to learn about the school than from the students. Ask questions: how often are planes are not airworthy, how was the ground school, competency of the CFIs, how often are there scheduling issues..." - Start with the intention of finishing as soon as possible. Due to multiple business trips I was away for 30 days on several occasions. In my experience these prolonged breaks from flying set me back each time. - Watch YouTube videos (MzeroA is one good source) Good Luck! read more

Corsair offers the best air tours. I thought their plane was very nice and the pilot was very professional. We did the Deluxe tour which was awesome. It was very cool to see all the different sights of LA. I have been on helicopter tours before but the airplane tour covered much more in a similar amount of time. I would highly recommend this company to anyone!! read more

Fantastic flight school. Currently working towards my Private Pilot License and I couldn't be happier with this school. Shane made setting up my discovery flight simple and easy and my instructor Erik is extremely patient and knowledgeable. Everyone has so many helpful tips and different ideas, there is so much to absorb. From discovery to flying the pattern, everything has been very clear and concise. At no point have I felt pressured or in the dark about anything. Anyone looking for a good flight school, look no further than Corsair Aviation. After all, they're the only school in town that's Cessna Pilot Center Certified. read more

I completed my training at Corsair about six months ago,,successfully obtaining my private pilots license. I have only great things to say about my experience there. It took me approximately six months from start to finish, averaging 2-3 lessons per week. My instructor (Talon Potter) was awesome, although he has since taken his skills and moved on.. now flying for the airlines. Despite that, I have flown with a couple other instructors there (Edgar & Eric) and would highly recommend either of them to anyone. Based on my experience, safety is their #1 concern at Corsair, and they do an excellent job of providing a good learning environment. Everyone there is super friendly, knowledgeable, and confident (without being arrogant). With plenty of aircraft and the most helpful operations manager ever (Shane), scheduling lessons and/or flights was rarely a problem. For those of you shopping flight schools as I did, you may find that Corsair isn't the cheapest. For that I say "you often get what you pay for." We all know flying can be dangerous, and I'm not about to cut corners with my learning to save a few dollars. If I had to do it over, Corsair would again be my choice. read more

Great Flying school and committed staff. Everything went through as planned the plane was in perfect shape. Prices are competitive. Did my Big Bear and Catalina checkout here. Thumbs up! read more