At Santa Monica Flyers, we’re committed to making aviation accessible to everyone, regardless of your experience or knowledge level. Explore our Frequently Asked Questions below for helpful information, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions—we’re here to help!
Santa Monica Flyers has the widest variety of airplanes, instructors and ratings available in the Los Angeles Basin. We are highly focused on making our students feel welcome, safe, and part of an institution that will help them achieve their aviation goals as efficiently as possible. We also maintain some of the most modern, fuel efficient, aerodynamically-stable aircraft around, and we maintain the highest possible standards for safety through ongoing maintenance of our aircraft, even sending aircraft in two times as frequently as the FAA requires. Potential students should stop by our school and see for themselves. We believe our aircraft and team members speak for themselves.
If you’re in the area, please stop by! It will give us a chance to meet you and show you some of the aircraft on our flight line. We like to start people off with an Introductory Flight with one of our instructors. This 45-minute flight will give you an exciting, close up hands-on experience, which will give you an opportunity to see how our airplanes handle and our instructors teach flight. After the flight, you will debrief with your instructor and discuss scheduling and training materials with the front desk staff, should you decide to continue your training.
The time it takes to complete the training for a pilot’s license varies from student to student depending on the frequency of lessons, how much a student prepares for lessons – including reading textbooks – and how quickly a student learns. Assuming a student is well prepared, flying 2-3 times per week, and learns at an average rate, we find students are able to complete their training for the Sport Pilot’s License in as little as 3 – 6 months, and 6 – 9 months for a Private Pilot’s License. Students set the pace of their own training. We feel that tailoring training to meet students’ specific needs is not only convenient, but also allows a student to take as little or as much time as they may wish. Our primary goal is to produce safe and proficient pilots in the time comfortable for each individual student pilot.
Have you ever noticed, if you fully commit to a dream, the money usually follows? We have seen countless students realize this truism. The cost of a sport pilot certificate can be as low as $9,000 to $11,000. As of 2024, a sport pilot certificate usually ranges from $14,000 to $19,000+ and a private pilot certificate usually ranges from $22,000 to $25,000+. Rarely have we seen students begin their training with the ability to finance all of their training at once. At Santa Monica Flyers, training is “pay-as-you-go” even if you only pay for one lesson at a time. Our students fly when they have both time and resources to fly and are never pressured to do otherwise. Our students move forward with their training only when they are able.
Absolutely! We understand that people who want to get their pilot’s license are some of the most successful and busy people around. Fitting flight training into an already busy schedule can be difficult. This is why our students schedule their training to fit their own calendar. They schedule their lessons during the times that best work for them. We find that the students who most want their license always figure out how to work it into their schedule.
Santa Monica Flyers has a wide variety of Flight Instructors on staff. We encourage all students to fly with a few of our instructors to see how well they mesh with them. Please check out our Instructors page to learn more about them. We do ask our students to eventually settle on one flight instructor and to stick with them through the end of their training. You may also feel free to stop in and talk to any of the instructors that are free to get to know them. We encourage walk-ins and find it’s best to come on a day with good weather.
Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument; Also: Re-currency, Flight reviews, Instrument proficiency checks, Complex, High-Performance, and Tailwheel endorsements. Cirrus Transition Courses are also available through our Cirrus Training Center.
Minimum Coverage:
Bodily Injury/Property Damage (including passengers) Limit of Liability: $1,000,000
For Optional Damage to your Non-owned Aircraft Limit of Liability:
You can obtain aircraft renter’s insurance from AssuredPartners Aerospace or Skywatch and make sure to choose coverage that meets or exceeds Santa Monica Flyer’s minimum coverage specified above. A copy of your approved policy must be sent to reception@santamonicaflyers.com before rental or solo flight may occur.
Your safety and the maintenance of our fleet is our highest priority. Our aircraft are regularly maintained every 50 hours of operation. FAA mandated 100-hour, annual inspections, as well as non-mandated 50-hour inspections are performed at or before they are due. Our aircraft are maintained by some of the most experienced establishments on the field: Bill’s Air Center & Kim Davidson Aviation. Maintenance issues are dealt with expediently to ensure aircraft availability.
Flying from Santa Monica Airport means flying in one of the busiest regions in the country: the LAX/Burbank/Orange County area. This allows students to learn in a highly challenging environment and develop their ability to fly in any situation. World-renowned aviation experts and pilots cite Southern California as being an airspace that, if mastered, prepares a pilot to fly in any other airspace in the world. Catalina Island, Big Bear Lake and the California High Desert also provide excellent aviation challenges, just a short hop from Santa Monica. Certificated pilots wishing to travel to these higher-level aviation destinations will require a “checkout” from a Certified Flight Instructor.
We encourage most students, who are just beginning their flight training, to start in our LSA SportCruisers. Because of their aerodynamic stability and low wing design, SportCruisers offer the perfect mix of challenge to a pilot’s skills and safe stability to begin the course of training for Sport or Private certificates. Once certificated, pilots usually wish to “graduate” to larger Cessna 172s, our Cirrus SR20, or the “complex” 172RG.
One benefit of training with us are the low rental rates of our SportCruisers. We include the cost of fuel in our rental rates and because our SportCruisers are so fuel efficient, we can offer them at only $169/hr. with a block rate deposit. Our instructor rate is $110/hr.
Sport Cruisers (LSA), Cessna Skyhawk 172s (including one that is G1000 equipped), Cirrus SR20, Cessna Cutlass 172RG. Please see our aircraft fleet section for more information.
Foreign students can begin flight training in the US only after getting Final Approval from the TSA Flight Training Security Program (FTSP). There is a non-refundable application fee of $130. Step 1 is to register. From there, you will need to start a new training request. There will be specific questions asked during the training request stage. For that, please email reception@santamonicaflyers.com or call us at 310-800-8050 and we can coordinate with you on how best to fill that out.
Once you set up the training request and upload the documents the TSA asks of you, you will receive instructions for fingerprinting. You will have to make an appointment with a fingerprinting agency (there are several in the LA area). Your fingerprints are then uploaded to the federal database, and upon completion, if all is satisfactory, the TSA will issue a Final Approval, which is what you need to begin flight training.
The entire process will take 30-45 days from start to your receiving approval. Once approved, the last step is for you to come into our school and for us to take a photo of you in the flight school, which is then uploaded into your training request. Your training request will be valid for 1 year, after which you will need to submit another training request if flight training has not yet been completed.
The process outlined above is applicable to individuals whose training events are for an initial airman’s certificate and/or instrument rating. Each requires a separate training request regardless of expirations.
We require all pilots have renter’s insurance. Pilots will need to sign a renter’s agreement and present our front desk staff with their certificates and endorsements, medical, passport and photo ID. The checkout will consist of: Aircraft Familiarity, Preflight, Maneuvers and Procedures, and Post-Flight Procedures. You may also wish to combine your aircraft checkout with a flight review.
Yes! Santa Monica Flyers offers a quick escape from the busy lives of hard-working Southern Californians who wish to achieve their highest goals and life-long aviation dreams. Learning to fly is no small feat, but the rewards are endless and the process can be extremely enjoyable. We hope you’ll see for yourself how much fun you can have in our airplanes.
You can start training to fly at any age, however, the generally shorter height of a young pre-teen can make it difficult to reach the controls. Our students have been as young as 10 years old and as old as 75. The FAA requires that a checkride applicant be at least 17 years old. Student pilots must be at least 16 years old before they can fly an aircraft solo.
Yes. We require all students under the age of 18 to have a waiver of liability form signed by their legal guardian(s).
An Introductory Flight is an introduction to General Aviation. Start by making an appointment with an instructor. On the day of your flight, arrive at our school about 5-10 minutes early. Your instructor will talk with you about General Aviation, your goals, & what drew you to aviation. This is an opportunity for you to ask any question you may have. You and your instructor will then “pre-flight” your airplane — which is a procedure used to do a thorough check of the airplane before flight. Once complete, you and your instructor will take off from Santa Monica Airport and fly to Malibu for approximately 45 minutes, during which time you’ll be able to do some basic maneuvers with your instructor, so you can see how the airplane performs in flight. Alternatively, you may choose the more scenic option of flying near the Hollywood Sign; that flight would not include maneuvers. After landing, you and your instructor will debrief the flight, log the flight in a logbook, should you chose to purchase one, and answer any questions.
Introductory flight costs:
• $199.00 in a SportCruiser
• $299.00 in a standard Cessna 172
• $449 in a Cirrus SR20.
Please note for Cessnas: only one extra person per flight (max two passengers).
Please note for SportCruisers: there is a maximum 200 pound weight limit.
The Intro Flight is also a great way to introduce a friend or loved one who has “always wanted to try it”; it also makes a great gift! Please allow about 2 hours for your intro lesson, and it’s a good idea to make your reservation 1 week in advance to make sure you’ll be able to get the day and time you want. Please be aware that payment for the intro flight must be received 24 hours before the start of the lesson or else it automatically is canceled.
We offer Gift Certificates for any dollar amount you wish. Gift certificates can be purchased in person, or over the phone. These certificates never expire and can be used anytime.
Absolutely! If you know someone that is currently in flight training, or is a renter at Santa Monica Flyers, you can purchase more time for them by simply adding any dollar amount you wish to their account. If you prefer, we can even provide you with a Gift Certificate to present to the pilot/student. Give us a call or email us to set up the purchase.
Okay, here you go:
1. COURSE ID #: 001
2. COURSE NAME: Sport (or Private) Pilots License
3. COURSE DESCRIPTION: VFR License
4. AIRCRAFT TYPE: Czaw Sport Cruiser
5. START&END DATE: Today – 1 year from today.
It used to be so easy, but the rules have changed when it comes to renting aircraft in the U.S. for foreign pilots. Pilots must now get a special clearance from the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) before the FAA can issue a VFR license based on your foreign one. Check out the FAAs’ page on Foreign License Verification for more details.
Once you receive your FAA license, contact us for a Biennial Flight Review (BFR)–that will count as your checkout–and then, provided you have renter’s insurance, you will be allowed to rent our aircraft. If you plan on visiting us, you must plan ahead.
These are the biggest differences:
1. Sport Pilot may only fly “Light Sport Aircraft.” A Private Pilot may fly larger aircraft.
2. Sport Pilot may not fly at night.
3. Sport Pilot may not fly at an altitude of over 10,000 feet above mean sea level.
Come in for a Personal Training Plan for help determining which license is best for you.
YES! You can get a Private Pilot Certificate (a “license” to fly is called a “certificate.”) The Private Pilot Course includes everything in the Sport Pilot Course with the addition of more cross country navigation training, night flight, and basic instrument flight. The national average of flight time for earning a Sport Pilot certificate is about 30 hours of flight time while the Private Pilot certificate is in the 60’s.
A 3rd Class Medical certificate is required for private pilot training and above. Because of the new “Basic Med” program offered by the FAA, pilots who hold a 3rd Class Medical need only renew their medical every 10 years, provided they fulfill the other “Basic Med” requirements. See the FAA’s page on Basic Med for more information.
If you are interested in a sport pilot license only, a valid U.S. driver’s license is required to show proof of medical fitness to fly.
Flight training does not expire. Students can resume flight training at any time, and, with the exception of a few minor “recency/currency” requirements, all flight training “counts” towards a pilot certificate. It is important to note, however, as in all education, students will forget a certain amount of information between lessons. The longer the time between lessons, the more is forgotten. Therefore, Santa Monica Flyers instructors recommend students fly 3 to 4 times per week. This will result in the least amount of time and cost of flight training. We have successfully helped hundreds of students complete their flight training, even those students who have been able to train far less often than 3-4 times per week. We believe work and other obligations should NEVER discourage a student from fulfilling their dream of becoming a certificated pilot!
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) created the sport aircraft category in 2004 to make it easier for people to get their pilot license and sport aircraft and light sport sea. A light sport aircraft, or LSA, is a small, single-engine plane designed for recreational flying. They are typically made from composite materials and have a maximum takeoff weight of no more than 1,320 pounds (600 KG).
An aircraft must meet specific requirements to be classified as a light sport aircraft. A light sport aircraft must meet the following:
The SportCruiser and the Velis Electro are forgiving airplanes and are perfect for someone new to flying or with limited flight time.
The rental process is simple. You must complete the required paperwork, including a renter’s agreement and a credit card authorization form. You will also need to provide your driver’s license and proof of aircraft rental insurance.
After completing the paperwork, you can schedule a checkout with a CFI from our school. The front desk can happily arrange scheduling your checkout.
To be eligible to rent our SportCruisers or the Velis Electro, you must have at least a sport pilot certificate and complete the checkout which requires and consists of:
After successfully completing a checkout with a CFI, we will upload your checkout form to your account and give you access to rent the SportCruiser / Velis Electro on your own. If need be, a flight review endorsement can be provided if requirements are met. If 3 months pass without you renting an aircraft with us (whether on your own or with an instructor), an additional brief checkout flight with a CFI will be needed to ensure you are still current in the airplane.
A pilot must have at least a sport pilot certificate to operate a light sport aircraft. This license differs from a private pilot license and only allows you to fly light sport aircraft. To obtain a sport pilot license, you must:
The rental rate at Santa Monica Flyers is $169 per hour (wet) for the SportCruiser and $179/hr for the Velis Electro.
The hourly rate for a light sport aircraft rental is the same for both residents and non-residents of California. There is no sales tax on light sport aircraft rentals in California.
Aside for the Velis, many sport pilots choose to fly nearby KSMO. This includes, but is not limited to, the following airports:
If you’re looking for an exciting way to get into the air without spending hours in flight training, light sport aircraft rentals at Santa Monica Flyers are a great option! Our SportCruiser is easy to fly, and our instructors offer comprehensive light sport airplane training courses that is perfect for beginners!
Contact the experienced team at Santa Monica Flyers today by calling (310) 800-8050
With a Private Pilot Certificate, you can fly alone or with friends and family and share in the aircraft rental expense. Certain weather minimums must be met if you do not have an instrument rating
Your Private Pilot training will involve flight and ground instruction. You can lessen the hours spent doing ground training with your instructor by studying the material at home. Remember, ground training is not required, but you will need it to pass your written and oral exams
You may start your training at any point during the application process, however you will need to pay for your training out of pocket until the funds have been applied to your account with VFA
Renting a Cessna from Santa Monica Flyers is a great way to get your flying fix at the best rate without buying your own plane. Cessna Skyhawks start at $195/hour wet. “Wet” means the cost of fuel is included in the rate.
You can also rent Cessnas for weekend getaways or longer trips with approval from management. Prices vary depending on the duration and destination of your journey.
Cessna 172S is approved for international flights under the Cessna Aircraft Company’s STC SA00420SW.
It’s easy to rent Cessnas from Santa Monica Flyers if you meet the following requirements:
Cessna rentals are the perfect choice if you’re looking for an aircraft with a roomier cockpit and a more powerful engine! Cessnas are also known for their easy handling and excellent stability in air at a reasonable rate.
Renting a Cessna from Santa Monica Flyers is the perfect way to experience all that general aviation offers. With our wide variety of Cessna aircraft available, we’re sure you’ll find the ideal Cessna rental for your needs with Garmin.
If you rent Cessna 172S aircraft from Santa Monica Flyers, there’s no need to worry about how far it can fly. Cessnas are known for their long range and ability to travel great distances! The Cessna 172S has a maximum gross takeoff weight (GTOW) of 2,550 pounds and an endurance time of up to six hours with full fuel tanks.
Cessna 172RGs also feature a long range with maximum endurance times of more than seven hours! If you have questions about Cessna rental or would like a quote, please don’t hesitate to contact Santa Monica Flyers today!
Yes, insurance is required to rent any aircraft, including Cessnas, from Santa Monica Flyers. Please navigate to our FAQ page and scroll down to see insurance requirements. The renter is responsible for the total value of the aircraft in case of damage or loss.
There are many benefits to renting an airplane, including the following:
Cessna rental from Santa Monica Flyers comes with the best safety equipment in the industry, including:
When you rent Cessnas from Santa Monica Flyers, there’s no need to worry about expensive upkeep or maintenance. Cessna rental saves money and time while providing the same high level of safety and quality that you would expect if you had your own!
If you’re interested in learning more about Cessna rentals or any of the other aircraft we have available, please get in touch with us today! We’re happy to answer any questions you may have. 310-800-8050
A Cirrus Authorized Training Center, or CTC, is authorized by Cirrus Aircraft to provide Cirrus training. Our CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot) and TCI (Training Center Instructor) are Cirrus-certified instructors with extensive experience flying and teaching in Cirrus aircraft.
Santa Monica Flyers is a Cirrus Authorized Training Center and offers the latest Cirrus training. We offer a variety of courses, from Private Pilot certification to Cirrus Transition Training. We also provide Cirrus-specific safety courses available at cirrusapproach.com
The Cirrus rental process is similar to our other aircraft with one extra step outlined in the next paragraphs. You’ll need to be 18 years old or older with at least a private pilot certificate and current FAA medical certificate. Rental of our SR20 G6 (N333YY) or SR22s require a high-performance endorsement.
Additionally, the PIC of any Cirrus on our fleet is required to have an appropriate Cirrus Transition Course Certificate on file at our school. The transition course raises the bar ten fold on pilot training. It consists of online videos accessible through Cirrus LMS–the online program used for Cirrus training–in addition to actual hands-on training with your flight instructor that is aligned with the online course. Many of our students who have graduated/obtained a Cirrus transition course certificate rave about how much safer and confident they feel in operating the Cirrus. This is largely thanks to the unrivaled design and bite-sized video modules from the online course. We will be happy to work with you on obtaining all the necessary endorsements and the transition course certificate needed to operate our Cirrus’ if you do not already have one.
It’s best to give us a call so we can inform you on the transition course process including information on time, costs, and scheduling. Typically, the average certified private pilot can expect a minimum of 10 and up to about 20 hours to successfully complete a transition course from scratch. The curriculum is specifically outlined and is conducted in accordance with the purchased course on cirrusapproach.com in conjunction with your flight instructor here at SMF. A VFR transition course from Cirrus’ LMS website in the SR20 costs $550. This course and its up-front, one-time cost is independent/separate of the instruction and aircraft rental rates/costs offered at SMF which are necessary to complete the course.
Once the online course is completed (all of the videos have been watched), all of the ground and flight lessons outlined in the course successfully completed, and the final lesson, known as the stage check, successfully completed, you will earn the transition certificate which means you can rent the airplane solo.
The transition course certificate acts as a foundation, meaning you only ever need to get one transition course certificate. Should you wish or want to operate other Cirrus models such as the SR22 or SR22T or the same model with a different avionics package, you would only need the appropriate differences course (which is much shorter, easier, and cheaper to obtain). For example, our SR20 G3 with Garmin Perspective Avionics is different than our SR20 G6 Garmin Perspective+ Avionics (one has a + and the other does not). A short differences course is required if you don’t have a certificate with one or the other avionics type. Additionally, since the SR20 G3 and SR20 G6 have different engines, another short differences course is needed to safely operate either model that you don’t already have a transition certificate in.
If you already have a transition course and/or appropriate differences course from Cirrus, then at least one checkout flight will be required prior to rental. More than one flight may be necessary if the pilot receiving the checkout does not consistently conform to Cirrus’ Flight Operation Manual (FOM).
Cirrus aircraft are perfect for various purposes, from sightseeing to business travel. The Cirrus SR20 is ideal for travel if you want comfort and style. Cirrus Aircraft has created an airplane that can cruise at 175 knots while burning just nine gallons of fuel per hour, with a maximum range of over 900 miles.
Cirrus’s advanced avionics systems make flying safer and more accessible. Cirrus rental gives you access to Cirrus’s unique Cirrus Perspective cockpit. The Cirrus Perspective system integrates GPS, terrain mapping, traffic information, and more into a single display. This system can give you the peace of mind to fly in any condition.
Cirrus has built its reputation on flight safety, and they continue that tradition. The Cirrus is perfect for those looking for a little more performance and luxury out of their rental experience. The Cirrus is equipped with a Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), which allows pilots to make a safe, controlled descent in an emergency.
Rental of any aircraft at SMF is subject to the same insurance requirements. Please navigate to our FAQ page and scroll down to see insurance requirements. Additionally, all pilots who wish to rent a Cirrus at SMF must have an appropriate Cirrus Transition Course Certificate and/or appropriate difference course certificate(s).
Cirrus aircraft rental rates vary depending on the particular Cirrus model and include the fuel used (wet rate). “Dry” means the price of fuel is not included in the rental, meaning you would pay for fuel in addition to the rental sort of how you would while renting a car. You will pay the going rate for 100LL fuel at KSMO if you bring the airplane back with less fuel than it was dispatched with. To get the most accurate quote for training in our Cirrus, please get in touch with us by calling 310-800-8050. We will be happy to provide a detailed estimate based on your needs and requirements.
Yes! Cirrus aircraft are considered to be some of the best single-engine airplanes in existence. Cirrus rental provides an excellent opportunity for new pilots to get their foot in the door with a high-quality, safe flying experience. We even have a handful of student pilots who have started training and only fly the Cirrus. Even their first solo flight was in a Cirrus.
The Cirrus SR20 is ideal for first-time renters and experienced Cirrus flyers.
Cirrus aircraft are easy to fly, and Cirrus rental is an excellent way for any new or experienced pilot to get their feet wet. Cirrus Aircraft has created an airplane that can be accessed by nearly every type of pilot to make flying safe and accessible for everyone.
With advanced safety features like Cirrus’ Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), Cirrus rental provides peace of mind for pilots and passengers alike. Cirrus Aircraft is the only aircraft manufacturer that offers a full-plane parachute system as standard equipment on all of its airplanes.
There are many benefits to Cirrus aircraft rental. First and foremost, Cirrus renters have access to Cirrus’s unique Cirrus Perspective cockpit system, which provides a wealth of information for pilots. Additionally, Cirrus Aircraft is known for its high safety and quality. With a Cirrus rental, you can be assured that you’re flying in a safe and reliable aircraft. Cirrus also offers excellent value for your flying dollar, with fuel-efficient Cirrus aircraft that provide a high performance-to-cost ratio.
There are several benefits to Cirrus aircraft rental instead of owning an airplane. First, Cirrus renters have access to the latest Cirrus technology and safety features. Additionally, Cirrus Aircraft offers a wide variety of support services to its renters, from maintenance and avionics service to insurance.
Cirrus also offers excellent value for your flying dollar, with Cirrus aircraft that provide a high performance-to-cost ratio. Renting a Cirrus also eliminates the need for expensive hangar space and storage fees.
Cirrus Aircraft was launched in 1994 by brothers Dale and Alan Klapmeier. The pair were aviation enthusiasts who dreamed of building the perfect aircraft. As Cirrus Aircraft has evolved, so too has its plane. Cirrus’s first aircraft, the SR20, was introduced in 1997 and became an instant success. Cirrus has continued to build high-quality aircraft, including the SR20 GTS and Cirrus Vision SF50 jet.
Cirrus Aircraft has also entered the training market with Cirrus Training International or CTI. Their aircraft are some of the safest and most technologically advanced on the planet. Cirrus is known for its industry-leading safety record, including a perfect fatal accident record since 2002, which no other aviation manufacturer can claim. Cirrus aircraft are at the forefront of safety and technology, which is why Cirrus has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted aviation brands.
