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    Proteus

    4.6 (32 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Reviews With Photos

    Xmas party 23
    Audrey H.

    My boyfriend rents from Proteus frequently The owner, Haris is very friendly & truly cares about creating an honest business. His love of aviation is apparent in how well the aircraft is maintained & how well he treats his students & instructors. The location is insanely gorgeous with a large fleet of low wing aircraft that is unmatched. We attended a Xmas event there & had a great time.

    N400JW, one of the Proteus Cherokees landing at Santa Monica

    I did some flight training here a few years back and enjoyed it! It's a great flight school, instructors are very nice and I learned a lot! Definitely recommend!

    Fun flight to KOXR

    I got checked out in the PA-28 here. I love flying it! Dylan, the manager, is awesome too.

    Doing my ppl at proteus with Ricky. Nice staff and clean fbo. Doing my training in Piper Cherokees - I like the feel more than cessnas and I feel like the facility is more private and professional than others. So far having a blast :)

    Plane

    Words don't even begin to describe how much we appreciate proteus and how much they made our day special. They went above and beyond the owner made us feel like we owned the place. He was so nice and friendly and made our day go every smoothly. I highly recommend this amazing company to everyone who to make memories flying. Go try them once I guarantee you will have the time of your life.

    Proteus makes the rental process easy and efficient with an awesome fleet and friendly staff.

    Earned my private and instrument here. the fleet is amazing and the staff beyond reproach.

    Rachel B.

    My son and his Dad are enjoying their flight lessons from Sam, he is extremely thorough, professional, answers all of their questions with great detail. They both are having fun & loving their new hobby while working towards their private pilots licenses. They have a new found passion for flying. The staff are all incredibly friendly & knowledgeable, thank you for all that you do. They both have a lot more hours to complete in the sky, but are enjoying the process. I'm happy with our families choice to come to Proteus Air Services thank you

    Instructor
    Tora M.

    I'm all for taking risks-calculated risks- and flying is certainly one of those. If I were rich I'd take flying lessons (about $16,000) but for this experience, I was totally tourist-class/economy! This was an Amazon deal for a 1/2 price flight ($99) so there I was, on a vacation Monday morning- then, boo- cloud cover over LA...reschedule to the following week in the afternoon - less chance of cloud cover y'all... And we're off. My instructor, Chris, was cool. He left the entertainment industry to FLY. He flies those celebrity Gulfstreams too! We walked out to the Cessna and went over safety checks outside and inside. I put on my headset, which allowed us to communicate, and he even let me wear my flip flops (I prefer to drive/fly barefoot)! I did NOT know that, while on the ground, you use the pedals to steer the plane around! Chris let me pull the steering wheel back during take-off and it was a thrill! I got to fly up the coast to Malibu. He let me do most of the flying unless there was another plane near us, but even then, he didn't freak out when I followed his movements by placing my fingers lightly on the steering wheel. We also flew over the 405 freeway and could see downtown LA. It was a beautiful day. One surprise was that, unlike in cars, the dashboard is very high- too high to see a lot over. This is why you rely on the instruments. My friends thought I was crazy and that it would be scary- I've been skydiving- that's way crazier and scarier if you're solo. This was just good FUN... Another bucket list item completed!

    Wheeeeeeee!!!!
    Lucy Y.

    It's my birthday and I'll fly if I want to!!!! OMG yes - I flew a plane today!! I flew a plane today!!!! This is how it went: I called a few days before my birthday and spoke to Nick on the phone to set up my appointment for an $89 introductory flight lesson. He told me that I'd be up in a small plane for 20-30 minutes with an instructor, but that I'd be in the pilot seat and I'd actually FLY it. When I got there, shockingly young-looking instructor Andrew greeted me professionally and warmly and took me into the small classroom to go over some things before we took off. It was here that I learned that this 23-year-old has been an employee at Proteus for over 5 years, and he's been flying for years! As a flight instructor, he conducts their ground school (which is always one-on-one) as well as takes people up in one of their three planes for flight time. Andrew asked me whether this was just a one-time fun thingy for me, or if I had interest in getting licensed. Since Nick had told me over the phone that the entire licensing would be about $13k-ish, as opposed to the number I had in my head previous to that of $25k-ish, I was actually open to the thought of getting licensed. Since that was the case, Andrew went into more detail about what to expect from their client-driven pace in the ground school, and their belief that getting in the plane for some amount of flight time with each ground school lesson is the best way to go. I asked about the necessity of math in the ground school, and he assured me that the math requirement wasn't anything that he would estimate as past freshman high school level. (Don't let my Asian eyes fool you - math is NOT my strong suit!) Just before we went out on the tarmac, Andrew referred to a picture of the cockpit, and told me that I'd be focusing on the steering wheel only (I think that's what it's called!!) - not the pedals or any of the many moving dials on the dashboard (I think that's what it's called!!). He also pointed out that he would have his own steering wheel as well, so everything would be super safe. After getting into the cockpit (with ME in the pilot's seat!!), belting in, putting on headphones, doing a safety check and then taxiing down the runway, Andrew took us off into the air!! We flew above West LA, and towards the ocean, and over the water!! Gorgeous!!! When we ascended to what I think was about 1,000 feet, Andrew instructed me on using the right amount of pressure to FLY THE PLANE!! I ascended, descended, and made turns, ALL ON MY OWN!!! With his instruction, of course : D. The flight time went by so fast; you could even say that time flew, heehee. But it was actually the perfect amount of time to get a feel for what it would be like to be a pilot. Andrew was an AWESOME instructor! He was patient and detailed in his communication, warm and calming in his demeanor, and was someone who I felt I could put my complete trust in. Plus, he was super sweet and took a bunch of pictures of me with the plane. Thank you Andrew for starting off my birthday in an awesome way!! I still have to decide whether getting pilot licensed is going to be my thing or not. But if it is, you can be sure that I will be back at Proteus, and requesting Andrew as my instructor!!

    Anacapa island in N2902S from Proteus.
    Robert C.

    There's a difference between getting your certificate and learning to fly. If you want to learn to be a safe pilot, feel confident and experienced and have fun....and of course get your license... Proteus is the place - fantastic staff and newly renovated facility. I got my private elsewhere, but my instrument rating and complex endorsement here. While where I received my private rating was fine, in hindsight I would have preferred Proteus.

    Cue Miley Cyrus...
    Michael L.

    TL;DR version: Go there. You won't be sorry. Prices are very fair. Equipment is in good shape. And Nick is a great, great CFI. Longer version: Visiting Santa Monica on business, I reached out to Proteus to see about a checkout ride in one of their aircraft. Very friendly, good rates, and seemed like a good value. Then I met Nick there, and I have to say he's one of the best CFI's I've worked with. (no bullsh!t kind of guy -- I like that). After a quick discussion of the noise abatement rules, and a longer discussion about the fairly complex LAX Class B airspace, and then an even longer time shooting the breeze about aviation in general, we make it out to the ramp. They have decent, well maintained, but not especially pretty aircraft. I flew the yellow Archer (N2902S) and it handled about as I would expect. Nick was helpful on the flight without being overbearing, and tightened up my flying as I would have hoped, but not in the overbearing ("your other instructors were obviously morons; let me tell you how it should be done") way that some CFI's act. Touch and goes at a nearby airport and back to SMO. Then more shooting the shit for a while about an upcoming aircraft purchase I'm considering. In all, Nick is someone I hope to be in touch with long after I am back in NYC, and someone who's experience I hope to tap in the future.

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    1 month ago

    Great flight instructors and programs to learn how to fly. Each instructor supports you and teaches you.

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

    Great space and a friendly knowledgeable staff. Good array of well-equipped and well-maintained rental aircraft.

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    4 years ago

    Learning to fly can be overwhelming but the CFI here are amazing. They are patient and everyone is friendly!

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    Proteus Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Proteus

    Review Highlights - Proteus

    This was my first time flying out of Santa Monica Airport - Van Nuys and Whiteman I have you down.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    SkyThrills!

    5.0(78 reviews)
    29.1 mi

    Well. That was WELL worth the money. I honestly thought it was a steal of a deal if you ask me…read more Mike and his team were more than I could have asked for - in so many ways. His training, explaining and safety prep was comforting. He obviously knows his stuff and has been doing this for a very very long time. Just the interaction and education would have been enough for me - throw in the multiple 5-gs and every maneuver that plane was capable of - FIVE STARS from me!! I WILL BE DOING THIS AGAIN!! Thank you for making me feel alive, it was such a blessing. Ps. Girls, this isn't only for guys. Get out there and DO IT!!!!! We all know you want to

    Skythrills provided such an AWESOME and exciting experience!!!! I initially thought it was a bit…read moretoo expensive for a couple of minutes in the air but it was totally worth it! How often do you have the opportunity to board a small open hangar craft and feel the wind blow by you as you soar over the world beneath you?! Not often at all. Mike was our pilot. He must be one of the friendliest guys I've ever encountered in quite some time. He gave us some nifty leather caps and a mic set so we could talk and hear from each other throughout the flight. You can tell Mike really gets a kick out of the joy others experience through flying with him. What I appreciated the most about this experience was how the plane was constructed. The biplane allowed my girlfriend and I to experience the whole flight together. I hiiiighly recommend giving Skythrills a try. Treat yo self!!!!!!

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    Corsair Aviation

    Corsair Aviation

    4.8(42 reviews)
    14.3 miVan Nuys

    I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, Quinn Larkin, and the person who responded to…read moremessages 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.

    I was getting ready to schedule a flight with this company until I read their release of liability:…read more "You acknowledge and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Corsair Aviation, LLC and its officers, partners, agents, employees, parent corporations and subsidiaries from and against all claims, allegations, demands, liabilities, fines, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and any amounts paid in settlement) arising out of or related to: (i) your participation in flight activities (ii) the breach by Corsair Aviation, LLC of any of its material obligations under any Agreement, or (iii) the negligence, gross negligence, bad faith, intentional or willful misconduct of Corsair Aviation, LLC, it employees or other representatives or affiliates. You agree and assume full responsibility and risk in participating in the flight activities." Among other things, you must agree to hold them harmless due to their negligence, gross negligence, bad faith, intentional or willful misconduct. How scary is it that they make you agree to that? Hard pass.

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    Advanced Flight

    Advanced Flight

    5.0(6 reviews)
    15.7 mi

    Surprised my husband with an one hour helicopter ride for Valentine's Day and we both LOVED it!!…read moreNick our pilot was very personable and knowledgeable. During our flight, he pointed out all kinds of interesting facts and fun finds in and around LA. The ride itself was smooth and we both felt very safe! We came home excited from our new adventure and happy with a ton of amazing pictures from all over LA. I highly recommend advanced flight if you're in the southbay and looking for something fun and exciting to do!

    Found out about Advanced Flight from a co-worker as I was looking for the perfect birthday gift for…read moremy boyfriend. We had to reschedule once, due to bad weather, but loved the fact that Simon was very concerned for our safety AND that we got bang for our buck. Once we rescheduled, it was an amazing experience. I had only been on one other helicopter ride and no safety tips. But first thing we did with Simon was review what to do if something should happen. Safety first and so appreciated. And like all the other reviews, it was 5 star. Interesting, fun, exciting and seriously it felt like 5 minutes and we can't wait to go again! If you're looking for a great gift for a loved one and want 5 star service and a 5 star experience, go with Advanced Flight! You will NOT be disappointed and really, with all the disappointments that surround us these days, isn't it reassuring to know that when you go on a helicopter ride around the city you WON'T be disappointed?

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    Proteus - flightinstruction - Updated May 2026

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