Aircraft Rental At Van Nuys: Rates, Checkouts And Requirements
Certificated pilots can rent six aircraft types from Essence Flight School at Van Nuys Airport, from the Cessna 162 Skycatcher to the Cirrus SR22 Turbo. Here is what each airplane costs per hour, what you need before you rent, and how the checkout works.
Aircraft rental at Van Nuys Airport costs $179 to $449 an hour at Essence Flight School’s package rates, or $269 to $649 an hour at standard rates. Every rate is wet, which means fuel is included.
To rent, you need a pilot certificate, a current medical (or BasicMed where it applies), a flight review within the last 24 calendar months, and a checkout flight with one of our instructors in the aircraft you want to fly. Complex, high-performance and multi-engine airplanes also need the matching FAA endorsement or rating.
Aircraft Rental Rates At Van Nuys
These are the 2026 hourly rates from the Essence Flight School rate sheet. All rates are wet, so fuel is included in the hourly price. Package rates apply to hours flown under a training or hour-building package; standard rates apply to pay-as-you-go flying.
| Aircraft | Seats | Standard | Package | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 162 Skycatcher | 2 | $269 | $179 | Sport and private training, low-cost hour building |
| Piper Warrior | 4 | $269 | $179 | Flying with passengers, instrument practice |
| Diamond DA20-C1 | 2 | $329 | $229 | Sporty handling, bubble-canopy views |
| Piper Arrow | 4 | $349 | $229 | Complex time for the commercial certificate |
| Cirrus SR22 Turbo | 4 | $649 | $449 | Glass cockpit, high-performance travel |
| Piper Seminole | 4 | $649 | $449 | Multi-engine time and training |
Flight instruction for checkouts and endorsements starts at $110 an hour. Prices can change, so confirm the current rate sheet before you book. For course prices, see how much flight school costs.
Not Sure About The DA20 Yet?
Try The Diamond First
Before you rent the Diamond DA20 or train in it, fly it. The Sporty Discovery Flight puts you at the center stick of the DA20 with an FAA-certified instructor beside you, for 60, 90 or 120 minutes. It is for one person, so the whole flight is yours.
$349All-In · 60 Min · For One
Weight limit 180 lbs (FAA aircraft limit). Next: a quick weight check, then the live booking calendar.
Requirements To Rent An Airplane
| Requirement | What It Means | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot Certificate | Sport, private or higher, with the category and class for the airplane. A student pilot flies solo only with an instructor’s endorsement. | 14 CFR 61.3, 61.87 |
| Medical | A current FAA medical certificate, or BasicMed where it applies. Sport pilots may use a valid U.S. driver’s license. | 14 CFR 61.23 |
| Flight Review | A flight review with an instructor within the previous 24 calendar months. | 14 CFR 61.56 |
| Passenger Currency | Three takeoffs and landings in the same category and class within 90 days to carry passengers; full-stop landings at night for night passengers. | 14 CFR 61.57 |
| Complex Endorsement | Needed for the Piper Arrow (retractable gear and constant-speed propeller). | 14 CFR 61.31(e) |
| High-Performance Endorsement | Needed for the Cirrus SR22 Turbo (more than 200 horsepower). | 14 CFR 61.31(f) |
| Multi-Engine Rating | Needed to fly the Piper Seminole as pilot in command. | 14 CFR 61.63 |
Insurance and checkout minimums vary by aircraft. Call (818) 960-1285 for the current requirements for the airplane you want to fly.
How The Rental Checkout Works
Every new renter flies a checkout with one of our instructors in the aircraft type before renting it. Plan on a short ground session on the airplane’s systems, weight and balance and our local procedures, followed by a flight that covers takeoffs and landings, slow flight, stalls and emergency procedures.
The checkout also covers Van Nuys itself. VNY is a busy towered airport with two parallel runways, close to the Burbank Class C and the LAX Class B. Your instructor will fly the local departure and arrival routes with you so you know what to expect from the tower. Our guide to Class B airspace explains the LAX shelves and the VFR routes over the city.
Need an endorsement first? The Piper Arrow checkout includes systems ground school and the FAA complex endorsement, and pilots adding the Seminole can take our Multi-Engine course for $5,100.
Why Rent From Essence Flight School
We have trained pilots at Van Nuys Airport since 2007 and keep a large, in-house maintained fleet on the field, so there is usually an airplane available when you want to fly. You reserve online, fuel is always included, and our office is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 9 PM.
Van Nuys puts you minutes from Catalina, Santa Barbara, the Channel Islands and the high desert. Renting from a towered airport in busy airspace also keeps your radio and airspace skills sharp. Want to try the airplane before you commit? A discovery flight starts at $229, and pilots returning to flying can practice in our FAA-approved simulators. Coming back after a break? Start with our return-to-flying checklist.
What Sets Our Van Nuys Flight School Apart
4.9 on 600+ reviews · 98% first-time pass rate · since 2007 · open 9 AM–9 PM, 7 days
We Own Every Airplane In Our Van Nuys Training Fleet
All 20 aircraft are owned by the school, with no leasebacks and no borrowed planes. One standardized, well maintained fleet takes you from your first flight to multi-engine and the Cirrus, so each step up feels familiar.
- Cessna 162Primary Trainer
- Piper WarriorPrimary Trainer
- Diamond DA20Primary Trainer
- Piper ArrowComplex
- Cirrus SR22 TurboHigh Performance
- Piper SeminoleMulti-Engine
Rent The Same Airplanes You Train In
After your checkride, keep flying the fleet you already know. Licensed pilots can rent from Essence Flight School at Van Nuys Airport once they complete a checkout flight with one of our instructors.
- From $179/hrFuel included in every rate
- Who Can RentLicensed pilots, including our graduates
- Before You RentA checkout flight is required
Full-Motion Flight Simulator In Los Angeles
The FAA-approved Redbird MCX banks and pitches like the real airplane. Fly any weather at any airport, and log the time toward your training. A Redbird TD2 desktop trainer is on site too.
- FAA-ApprovedRedbird MCX
- Full MotionBanks and pitches
- LoggableCounts toward training
- Any WeatherAny airport
Your Training In Our Own Student App
The free Essence Flight School app for iPhone and iPad keeps your training in one place. After you fly, your hours and signed instruction tickets appear automatically, and study guides save your place as you go.
- HoursLogged automatically after each flight
- Signed TicketsSaved as PDF with both signatures
- Study GuidesCourses with chapter quizzes and final exams
Aircraft Rental FAQs
How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Plane At Van Nuys Airport?
At Essence Flight School, aircraft rental costs $179 to $449 an hour at package rates, or $269 to $649 an hour at standard rates. All rates are wet, so fuel is included. The Cessna 162 Skycatcher and Piper Warrior are the lowest-cost options.
Can I Rent A Plane With A Private Pilot License?
Yes. With a private pilot certificate, a current medical or BasicMed, a flight review within 24 calendar months and a checkout flight with one of our instructors, you can rent our aircraft. Complex, high-performance and multi-engine airplanes also need the matching endorsement or rating.
Is Fuel Included In The Rental Rate?
Yes. Every Essence Flight School rental rate is wet, which means fuel is included in the hourly price.
Do I Need A Checkout To Rent An Airplane?
Yes. Every new renter flies a checkout with one of our instructors in the aircraft type before renting it. Instruction starts at $110 an hour.
Can Sport Pilots Rent Aircraft At Essence?
Sport pilots can fly aircraft that meet the sport pilot rules for their privileges, such as the Cessna 162 Skycatcher, after a checkout. Call us to confirm which aircraft fit your certificate.
Can I Build Hours Toward My Commercial Certificate By Renting?
Yes. Many pilots build time in the Cessna 162 Skycatcher at the $179 package rate, and fly complex time for the commercial certificate in the Piper Arrow.
Ready To Fly From Van Nuys?
Call us to schedule your checkout, or stop by our office at 7900 Balboa Blvd., Suite D3, Van Nuys, CA 91406. Free parking on site.
Sources: 14 CFR 61.3, 61.23, 61.31, 61.56, 61.57, 61.63 and 61.87 via eCFR. Rates from the Essence Flight School 2026 rate sheet. Checked September 26, 2026.
