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Your fastest path to becoming a pilot in LA

SoCals #1 path to the airlines. Learn to fly in Los Angeles with Ascent Aviation. With the largest uniform fleet in Southern California, flying out of Van Nuys Airport, you’ll always have aircraft ready to go. Become a commercial pilot in as little as 7–12 months.

323-893-6655
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4000+ Pilots Trained

PPL/IFR/CPL/CFI/CFII/MEI

SoCals #1 Path to the Airlines Largest Uniform Fleet in LA
Founded in

2017

Safety Record

100%

SoCal’s Largest

Uniform Fleet

0 to Hero

7-12 Months

Zero to Commercial pilot in 7-12 months

Launch your aviation career in under a year with Ascent Aviation’s accelerated career pilot program. Obtain a private pilot license in 3-5 months and a CFI license in 7-12 months. Designed for efficiency without compromising safety, our structured training takes you from zero experience to airline pilot. With a guaranteed CFI job placement, full financing options, and in-house examiners.

100% Safety record

No incidents or accidents

Fleet of 12 Uniform Aircraft

Identical planes leading to less canceled flights

98% Pass rate

Checkride pass rate

Learn to Fly at LA's Largest Flight School

See the real journeys of Ascent Aviation students, from first flights, solo flights, and license achievements. Your success story could be next.

ascentaviationacademy

Congrats on Earning your PPL today Jon!

CFI: Alejandro

#learntofly #flightschool #aviation

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Aug 27

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Congrats on Earning your PPL today Jon! CFI: Alejandro #learntofly #flightschool #aviation

ascentaviationacademy

Congrats on first solo Haein! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

CFI: Alejandro

#kvny #ksmo #flightschool #learntofly

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Aug 20

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Congrats on first solo Haein! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼 CFI: Alejandro #kvny #ksmo #flightschool #learntofly

ascentaviationacademy

Congrats on earning your PPL today Hailey !! We are very proud of your hard work and dedication.

CFI: Matthew

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Aug 19

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Congrats on earning your PPL today Hailey !! We are very proud of your hard work and dedication. CFI: Matthew

ascentaviationacademy

Congrats on the first solo Alejandro!!

CFI: Joey

#flying #learntofly #kvny #piper #airplane

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Jun 6

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Congrats on the first solo Alejandro!! CFI: Joey #flying #learntofly #kvny #piper #airplane

ascentaviationacademy

Let’s go Lexy! Congrats on the first solo 🤙

#flying #flightschool #piper #learntofly #airplanes

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Jun 4

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Let’s go Lexy! Congrats on the first solo 🤙 #flying #flightschool #piper #learntofly #airplanes

Flight School Courses at Van Nuys Airport

See the real journeys of Ascent Aviation students, from first flights, solo flights, and license achievements. Your success story could be next.

Private Pilot License

3-5 Months

No contracts, pay-as-you-go.

  • Pay-as-you-go 10/20/40 hour blocks
  • 3-5 Month fast-track licensing
  • Train with biggest 4-seater fleet
Learn More
Zero to Career

Pilot Career Package

PPL, IFR, CPL, CFI, CFII, MEI

7-12 Months

  • Zero to career in 7–12 months for $50K–$70K
  • Guaranteed flight instructor job with top industry pay
  • Train in full-size certified aircraft with advanced avionics
  • 0% interest financing with no large upfront commitment
  • Fly 100–150 hours/month once you become a CFI
Enroll today

Discovery Flights

1 Hour intro flight

  • Get hands-on flight time over LA
  • Log flight hours toward your license
  • Bring a friend! We allow backseating.
Learn More

“Ascent Aviation Academy isn’t just a flight school, it’s where aviation careers begin. With a flawless safety record, real-world flight training at Van Nuys Airport, and flexible, student-first programs with pay-as-you-go plans. Ascent is setting a new standard for what flight training in Los Angeles should look like.”

Jon Stojan
LA Weekly Writer
Read the article
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What our students say

Hear directly from the students who trained with us, real reviews, real experiences, and real results from pilots who started their journey at Ascent Aviation Academy.

Amelia Kim profile picture
Amelia Kim
1 year ago
Initially, I had interests in joining aviation school, but was very skeptical. I met the CFI and staff and had a long chat with Seth and before long I’d made up my mind to join and train with ascent. The team changed my view of the doubts and issues I had with my
Medical, and improved my desire to to go forward with things. Since joining Ascent, I’ve learned a ton. Best flight school around for sure!
Chris Wright profile picture
Chris Wright
1 year ago
I’ve had a great experience training with Ascent Aviation. From day one, the atmosphere has been welcoming and relaxed. The owner, Seth, is a solid guy who genuinely seems to care about each student’s success and the overall vibe of the school.

Most of my training was with Joey, and I can’t recommend him enough for anyone working toward their PPL. He’s super knowledgeable, patient, and great at explaining things in a way that actually sticks. I also had the chance to work with 6 or 7 of the other instructors and took away something valuable from each of them. Everyone I met was professional and supportive.

Hyped to be coming back soon to start my Instrument Rating and eventually my Commercial. If you’re looking for a school that actually cares and gives you the tools to succeed, Ascent is it. Couldn’t recommend it more.
Eric Giles profile picture
Eric Giles
1 year ago
I was unsure about what skill to pursue this year until I discovered Ascent Aviation at VNY, CA. Even after enrolling, I struggled with self-doubt and motivation, but a consultation with Seth changed everything—we had a meaningful talk about flying and my goals. Ascent Aviation turned out to be more than just a school; the incredible CFIs, along with Mitch and Dre in the office, offered genuine support and encouragement. They eventually became friends, and I’m truly happy with my decision to train here.
Stanley Reed profile picture
Stanley Reed
1 year ago
Learning at Ascent has been a smooth and rewarding experience. Every day at school brings something new, and it keeps me motivated to come back and continue learning. The guidance and support from Seth and Joey have been exceptional both professionally and personally. I highly recommend Ascent to anyone looking to start their flying journey in Los Angeles
Harvey Hayley profile picture
Harvey Hayley
1 year ago
Love my training here. at ascent aviations training program is smooth and enjoyable. I will forever highly speak of them. Joey took me through landing and maneuvers first that might seem complex, all seemed so simple and manageable. In fact, I became extremely accustomed to flying because of professional approach and concept delivery. This is the place for me 100%.
Carlos Bollo profile picture
Carlos Bollo
2 years ago
Noah provided the best first time experience. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and outgoing. Definitely recommend it and plan to come back soon.
Aman Zakir profile picture
Aman Zakir
2 years ago
An excellent flight school with plenty of trainers and aircraft, ensuring you get all the time and resources you need to succeed. My instructor, Manny Deras, is incredibly skilled and patient, making complex concepts easy to understand while building confidence in every lesson. Highly recommended!
Photo from customer review
Daniel Khachikian profile picture
Daniel Khachikian
2 years ago
My experience at Ascent Aviation was nothing short of exceptional, and I confidently rate it 5 stars. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was professional yet welcoming, creating the perfect environment for learning. My instructor, Joey, was outstanding. His ability to break down complex concepts into clear, manageable steps made every lesson—whether on the ground or in the air—engaging and effective. Joey’s calm, supportive teaching style built my confidence and made the entire process enjoyable and rewarding. I highly recommend Ascent Aviation to anyone looking for high-quality flight training with knowledgeable instructors in a professional and comfortable setting.

The largest Uniform fleet in southern California

Flying out of the Van Nuys airport in Los Angeles, Ascent Aviation maintains and trains students on the largest unified fleet of planes in SoCal. Each aircraft is a full-size, four-seat certified airplane, primarily Piper Warriors and Archers with upgraded 180 horsepower engines, autopilot, and built-in traffic and terrain alert systems. Because the fleet is fully standardized, if you can fly one, you can fly them all – giving you more aircraft availability, less downtime, and a faster path to completing your training.

See our full fleet

“12 Uniform aircraft means less canceled flights because you can fly the full fleet. Consistency is the key to your flight training.”

UNIFORM FLEET

Our graduates get hired

From regional carriers to major airlines and aviation companies, our graduates are flying professionally across the industry. Many pilots starting their careers right here as instructors at Ascent.

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SkyWest’s Cadet Program: Ascent Aviation has sent over 400 of our pilots to SkyWest Airlines. Our students take advantage of SkyWest Cadet Program. This program allows you to start building your seniority while working as an instructor at Ascent Aviation.

We have hired 100% of our career students upon completion and 100% of those students we hired have done their entire 1500 hours needed to go to the airlines as flight instructors with Ascent Aviation. We don’t just offer a CFI job upon completion, we offer one of the best CFI jobs in the country. Once you become a CFI with us you will average 100-150 flight hours a month, which is well above the industry standard – because of this volume we can get you to the airlines faster than anyone else.

A trusted part of the Van Nuys Airport community for over 7 years, Ascent Aviation Academy is known for exceptional training, unmatched structure, and a flawless safety record. Every aircraft is upgraded for maximum situational awareness, and every student is trained under our proven phase training method. With over 4,000 successful pilots trained and stage checks led by our chief instructor, safety and quality are never compromised. Ascent continues to set the standard for flight schools in Southern California.