Five factory-built, glass-cockpit Skycatchers — the largest Cessna 162 training fleet in Los Angeles — flying Sport Pilot and Private Pilot students seven days a week from Van Nuys Airport.
The Cessna 162 Skycatcher is the rare modern airplane designed from a blank page for flight instruction — a side-by-side two-seat, high-wing light-sport aircraft delivered from the factory with a Garmin G300 glass cockpit, Garmin SL40 com radio and GTX327 transponder.
Its Continental O-200-D engine produces 100 horsepower at 2,800 rpm through a two-blade composite propeller — the most proven training powerplant lineage in aviation. The 162 cruises at up to 118 knots, ranges 470 nautical miles on 24 gallons of 100LL, and at just 1,320 lbs gross weight it answers your hands instantly. That immediacy is what builds real stick-and-rudder pilots.
As a certified light-sport aircraft, the Skycatcher is eligible for both the Sport Pilot License — no FAA medical, your driver's license suffices — and the full Private Pilot License. One airframe, two paths into the sky. Rehearse every procedure first in our FAA-approved Redbird full-motion simulator, included in both courses.
For daytime sport flying, a valid U.S. driver's license takes the place of an FAA medical, provided your most recent FAA medical application (if you ever made one) was not denied, your medical certificate was not suspended or revoked, and you know of no condition that would make flying unsafe. Night flying as a sport pilot requires an FAA medical or BasicMed (14 CFR 61.303, 61.329).
PLATE 01 — Skycatchers at dusk · Essence ramp, KVNY
Only 192 Skycatchers were ever built. Five fly here — identically configured, maintained in-house at Van Nuys, available 9 AM – 9 PM, seven days a week.
Photographed on our ramp and from our cockpits over Los Angeles — no stock imagery, just the fleet at work. Click any image to enlarge.
The five-ship Skycatcher line
The walk-around
Side-by-side seats
N7030B · winter sky
The G300, student side
Clamshell doors
Last light, Van Nuys
Pre-flight briefing
Tail study
The classroom, 3,500 ft
Wing to wing
Checklist discipline
Night VFR over LAStudy the Skycatcher before your first lesson — the official Cessna brochure and the complete Pilot Operating Handbook, free to download.
PDF · Official CessnaDesign philosophy, cabin, panel and performance highlights of the Skycatcher — the aircraft story in Cessna's own words.
Download Brochure
PDF · Flight ManualThe complete POH — limitations, normal and emergency procedures, performance charts and systems. What your training is built on.
Download the POHFree · Instant download · No sign-up required
PLATE 02 — Night over the LA basin, from a training flight
In 2025 the FAA finalized MOSAIC, the broadest modernization of light-sport aviation in two decades. Sport pilots gained significant new privileges — including a pathway to night flying with training and an endorsement — and the light-sport aircraft category itself expanded.
The rule was published on July 24, 2025. The new sport pilot privileges took effect on October 22, 2025, and the aircraft rules on July 24, 2026. Night flying as a sport pilot requires 3 hours of night training, 10 night takeoffs and 10 full-stop night landings, a night cross-country, an instructor endorsement, and an FAA medical or BasicMed.
Our Skycatchers were delivered equipped for day and night VFR, so the airplane was ready before the rule was. Begin with the $8,400 Sport Pilot course on a driver's license; every hour counts toward your Private Pilot License when you choose to step up.
Your sport pilot hours count toward the 40 hours of flight time a Private Pilot certificate requires, and training with a CFI counts wherever it meets a private requirement. The upgrade adds night, instrument-reference and longer cross-country training (14 CFR 61.109).
And the 162's story makes it a collector's trainer: Cessna built only 192 aircraft between 2009 and 2013 before closing the program for business — never safety — reasons. A working fleet of five, maintained in-house, is something almost no other school in the country can offer.
Your CFI walks you through the lesson plan, the weather, and the ramp to your aircraft.
You perform the walk-around — fuel, controls, the O-200 engine bay — instructor verifying.
Taxi, take off and fly the San Fernando Valley from the left seat, radios handled beside you.
Review the flight over the G300 data and log your first official hours toward a license.
Aircraft, instructor, FAA-approved Redbird full-motion simulator and ground school — fixed cost, monthly payments, published in writing.
Essence Flight School flies its own fleet of Cessna 162 Skycatchers at Van Nuys Airport, all night VFR equipped. The Cessna 162 (often written C162) is where most of our students log their first hours, and it can carry you much further than a first lesson. Here is what each certificate looks like in this airplane, stated the way the FAA rules read.
| Certificate | What You Do In The Cessna 162 | What Is Flown In Another Airplane |
|---|---|---|
| Sport Pilot | All of your training and your sport pilot checkride. The Skycatcher meets the FAA's sport pilot aircraft limits in 14 CFR 61.316. | Nothing. The whole course can be flown in the Skycatcher. |
| Private Pilot | All of your training, including the 3 hours of night training the FAA requires, and your private pilot checkride. | Nothing required. Our Private Pilot Course is planned around 38 hours in the Cessna 162. |
| Commercial Pilot | Hour building toward the totals in 14 CFR 61.129: time toward the 250-hour total, pilot-in-command time, cross-country time and the 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane. | The 10 hours of training in a complex, turbine or technically advanced airplane. With fixed gear and a fixed-pitch propeller, the Skycatcher is not a complex airplane, so those hours are flown in a complex airplane such as our Piper Arrow. |
| Flight Instructor (CFI) | CFI flight training and practice teaching, with you working from the right seat. | The spin training endorsement required of instructor applicants (14 CFR 61.183(i)), which must be given in an airplane certificated for spins. |
Our 2026 course brochure lists the Skycatcher under Sport and Private because those are the two certificates you can finish entirely in it. For commercial and instructor students it is an economical way to build time, at one of the lowest hourly rates on our line, with the few required items above flown in the right airplane for the job.
Start with the sport pilot license at Van Nuys, or go straight to the full Private Pilot License course. If you are further along, see commercial pilot license training, the flight instructor (CFI) course and the Piper Arrow complex trainer.
Since October 22, 2025, the FAA's MOSAIC rule defines what a sport pilot may fly by performance and design instead of the old light-sport aircraft definition. Under 14 CFR 61.316, the airplane must have met these limits since its original certification. The Cessna 162 specs meet every one of them:
| Sport Pilot Limit (14 CFR 61.316) | Cessna 162 Skycatcher |
|---|---|
| Clean Stall Speed (VS1) Of 59 Knots CAS Or Less At Maximum Weight | Well below 59 knots. The Skycatcher was designed for the original, stricter light-sport limits. |
| Up To Four Seats (One Passenger) | Two seats, side by side, with dual controls |
| Non-Pressurized Cabin | Non-pressurized |
| Fixed Landing Gear (By Default) | Fixed tricycle gear |
| Fixed, Ground-Adjustable Or Automated Controllable-Pitch Propeller (By Default) | Two-blade fixed-pitch propeller |
By default, a sport pilot flies airplanes with fixed landing gear and a fixed, ground-adjustable or automated controllable-pitch propeller. Under 14 CFR 61.316(b), a sport pilot may also fly an airplane with retractable gear or a manual controllable-pitch propeller after additional training and a logbook endorsement under 14 CFR 61.331.
The rest of the numbers are the ones listed above: a Continental O-200-D of 100 hp, cruise up to 118 knots, a Garmin G300 glass cockpit, 1,320 lbs gross weight and 24 gallons of fuel. MOSAIC removed the weight limit for sport pilot aircraft entirely, so the Skycatcher's light weight is now simply part of what makes it responsive, not a rule it has to meet.
Two more points matter for training here. First, the Skycatcher holds a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category, and 14 CFR 91.327 allows these aircraft to be used for flight training, checking and testing. Second, because it can fly faster than 87 knots in level flight, sport pilots receive the training and logbook endorsement in 14 CFR 61.327 before flying it as pilot in command. Your instructor covers that endorsement as part of the course, along with the towered-airport endorsement every sport pilot at Van Nuys needs.
Our Skycatchers are night VFR equipped, so night training happens in the same airplane you already know. What you need depends on the certificate:
| Private Pilot | Sport Pilot Night Privileges | |
|---|---|---|
| Night Flight Training | 3 hours (14 CFR 61.109) | 3 hours (14 CFR 61.329) |
| Night Cross-Country | One flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance | One flight with a landing at an airport at least 25 nautical miles from the departure airport |
| Night Takeoffs And Landings | 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop | 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop |
| Medical | FAA medical certificate or BasicMed | FAA medical certificate or BasicMed; a driver's license alone is not enough at night |
| Endorsement | Part of the private pilot training and checkride | Instructor logbook endorsement for night privileges |
For private pilot students, night training is already part of the course. For sport pilots, night is an add-on you can choose once you hold the certificate. Either way, a night flight over the lights of the San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles basin is one of the most memorable lessons in training, and it builds real skill in reading an airport environment in the dark.
Many people searching for Cessna flight training picture the four-seat Cessna 172, including the 172S Skyhawk. To be clear from the start: Essence Flight School does not operate a Cessna 172. Our Cessna pilot training is flown in the Cessna 162 Skycatcher, and our four-seat trainer is the Piper Warrior. Here is how the three compare.
| Cessna 162 Skycatcher | Cessna 172 | Piper Warrior | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 2, side by side | 4 | 4 |
| Wing | High wing | High wing | Low wing |
| Engine | 100 hp | Larger engine; varies by model | 160 hp |
| Cruise | Up to 118 knots | Varies by model | About 128 knots |
| Certification | Special light-sport aircraft | Standard category | Standard category |
| Sport Pilot Eligible Under MOSAIC | Yes | Only models whose clean stall speed is 59 knots or less at maximum weight (check the POH) | Check the specific airplane's POH |
| At Essence Flight School | In the fleet; $179 per hour package rate | Not in our fleet | In the fleet; $179 per hour package rate |
Under MOSAIC, the test is the 59-knot rule in 14 CFR 61.316: a sport pilot may fly an airplane with up to four seats if its clean stall speed (VS1) is 59 knots CAS or less at maximum takeoff weight and the most critical center of gravity, and it meets the other design limits. Many Cessna 172 models are reported to meet that figure, but it varies by model and year, so check the specific airplane's pilot's operating handbook before you fly it as a sport pilot. You would still carry no more than one passenger.
For learning to fly, the Skycatcher's advantages are its light, immediate handling, a factory Garmin G300 glass cockpit and one of the lowest hourly rates on our line. Its limits are the flip side of being light: two seats and a small useful load. On the specifications above (1,320 lbs gross, 839 lbs empty), about 481 lbs remain for people, bags and fuel, and a full 24 gallons uses roughly 144 lbs of that. Your instructor plans weight and balance before every flight.
If you want four seats, more payload or an IFR-equipped airplane for instrument work, our Piper Warrior four-seat trainer is the airplane to look at. It carries the same package rate as the Skycatcher, and it is the airplane we use for discovery flights for two.
For daytime flying, the driver's license takes the place of a medical if your most recent FAA medical application (if any) was not denied, suspended or revoked; night flying requires an FAA medical or BasicMed. Your logged hours count toward the 40 a Private Pilot certificate requires, and the upgrade adds night, instrument-reference and longer cross-country training (14 CFR 61.303, 61.109).
The rule was published July 24, 2025; the sport pilot changes took effect October 22, 2025 and the aircraft rules July 24, 2026. Night flying as a sport pilot also requires 3 hours of night training, 10 night takeoffs and full-stop landings, a night cross-country, an instructor endorsement, and an FAA medical or BasicMed (14 CFR 61.329).
Yes, for most of the flying. Time you log in the Skycatcher counts toward the requirements of 14 CFR 61.129, including the 250-hour total, the 100 hours of pilot-in-command time, the 50 hours of cross-country pilot-in-command time and the 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane. The exception is the 10 hours of training in a complex, turbine or technically advanced airplane. The Skycatcher has fixed gear and a fixed-pitch propeller, so it is not a complex airplane, and those hours are flown in a complex airplane such as our Piper Arrow.
Yes, for much of it. Flight instructor candidates can use the Skycatcher for CFI flight training and practice teaching from the right seat. The spin training endorsement the FAA requires for instructor applicants (14 CFR 61.183(i)) must be given in an airplane certificated for spins, so that part is flown in a different airplane. Once you are certificated, you can teach sport and private students in the Skycatcher. See our flight instructor course.
Yes. The Skycatcher holds a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category, and it meets the sport pilot aircraft limits in 14 CFR 61.316: a clean stall speed well below 59 knots, two seats, fixed gear, a fixed-pitch propeller and a non-pressurized cabin. 14 CFR 91.327 allows light-sport aircraft to be used for flight training, checking and testing, so you can train for and take your checkride in it.
Yes. Our Skycatchers are night VFR equipped. Private pilot students fly their required 3 hours of night training in them. Sport pilots can add night privileges after 3 hours of night training, a night cross-country, 10 night takeoffs and 10 full-stop night landings, an instructor endorsement, and an FAA medical certificate or BasicMed (14 CFR 61.329).
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
Had a wonderful discovery flight with our pilot, Alex. My son’s 18th birthday wish was to take a private flying lesson. Essence Academy was n amazing experience. Not only did we fly over Universal, the Hollywood sign and downtown LA, I was really impressed with the amount of time Alex turned control over to my son. He had a blast of a time and flight and planes were very smooth.
NEW STUDENT
I recently joined Essence flight school after my consultation with Alex. Their team is very honest about what to expect the pricing and they were extremely helpful. I was quite nervous about choosing which school to go to and if i would get a good instructor or not. After the first couple of sessions which they let me fly with all of their instructors to see which one i felt more comfortable with and trying the different aircraft they had which i loved their Cessna aircrafts! I am extremely happy that I chose to go with Essence Flight school! I definitely recommend them!!!
KIDS FIRST FLIGHT
Had a great experience with this company. My son has been very into airplanes and his flight simulator on the computer so for his 11th birthday treated him to a real flight where he was able to fly the plane himself!
Alex was great with him and we felt very comfortable through the whole experience. Would definitely recommend!
INSTRUMENT RATING
I'm currently working on my instrument rating at essence, and it has been Fantastic so far, my instructor is Alex and he is very knowledgeable and patient with me. Making my training much easier. Their schedule availability is very flexible and I'm grateful for that due to my weird working schedules. And their staff is amazing specially Soofia she's been extremely helpful with the scheduling and any help I might need! I highly recommend essence school!!!
FIRST TIME FLYER
Anthony was an INCREDIBLE instructor and it was SO fun to enjoy my first time on a plane at Essence Flight Academy! The atmosphere was super chill and it was a great introduction to be comfortable in the sky. My partner took over on the controls and I was in the back! She is interested in learning to fly and this would be the place to learn. Anthony, once again, YOU ROCK! (: THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING EXPERIENCE! I’D DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT! 💓
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
Amazing experience for an hr of discovery flight. The flight instructor Alex is very professional throughout the flight and has given me control most of the time. Aircraft itself is very well maintained and fancy. Overall it was a very good experience.
FLYING LESSON
We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a knowledgeable, patient, and professional instructor who creates a comfortable learning environment for students of all experience levels. Thank you again, it was a great experience!
SAFETY FIRST
Very safety and detail oriented. Pre-flight briefing explained everything there was. To my knowledge, this flight school is exceptional in their ability.
LEARN TO FLY
Essence Flight Academy is an outstanding place to learn how to fly. From the start, I felt comfortable and confident thanks to the professionalism and passion of the team. My instructor, Alex, was incredible—patient, knowledgeable, and always focused on safety while still making my experience fun and engaging. He has a great way of explaining concepts in a way that’s easy to understand and really builds your confidence in the cockpit.
PRIVATE PILOT
Me and my sister both got our private pilot license’s in Essence flight academy, my instructor was Alex, one the best instructors! their team was great in assisting me with anything i needed or any questions i had along the way. And they were pretty flexible with scheduling too, they had really good simulators that i was able to use, i flew a lot with diamond airplane and they were maintaining them in very good conditions.
INTRO LESSON
If you are looking for an amazing birthday present for someone, or to truly impress your date, Essence Flight Academy does a fabulous intro flying lesson! My sister has always dreamed of learning to fly and she was thrilled! I was a very excited passenger who got to see amazing Los Angeles sites way closer than you would see in a commercial jet. Our instructor, Adam, explained everything with fabulous detail He let my sister take the controls 3/4 way through and she got to practice turning!! Truly a fabulous afternoon! Excellent choice for an impressive experience!! 😊👍👍
FULL-MOTION SIM
Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of research looking to different flight schools in Los Angeles area, I compared the aircraft and the flight simulators, they have really nice airplanes. Very nicely maintained and the loon and fly amazing.
The most interesting thing about this school is the full motion simulator they have, it cost a lot less to practice your maneuvers and landings, it is brand new and it's very realistic.
Overall the customer service is great and their prices are very fair.
Go see Soofia, she is awesome.
GIFT FLIGHT
Great experience with first ever discovery flight! Would highly recommend! Got it as a gift for my dad and he had a great time flying!
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
An Amazing Experience with Essence Flight Academy and CFI Joseph!!
Flying with them was such a memorable experience! From the moment I arrived, everything was smooth and professional. The CFI Joseph was fantastic—super knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and made the whole flight feel safe and fun.
Getting to fly the Diamond plane was the best part. It’s such a sleek, fun aircraft, and it handled like a dream. The views on the flight over LA, Hollywood, Malibu, the feel of the controls—everything was just awesome.
If you’ve ever thought about flying or just want to try something new and exciting, definitely check out Essence Flight Academy. Ask for Joseph—you won’t regret it!
HANDS-ON FLIGHT
One of the best flight experiences I've ever done! If you're looking for a fun flight, beautiful views, and even taking control of the plane, Essence Flight Academy is incredible. Thank you for the amazing experience!
HONEYMOON SURPRISE
Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew how to make her enjoy her first flight.
Highly recommend flight school.
AIRLINE PROGRAM
Choosing Essence Flight School in Van Nuys has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my aviation career. From the very beginning, the entire team made me feel welcomed, supported, and confident that I was in the right place. I enrolled in their Airline Career Program, and I’ve already completed my Private Pilot License and Instrument Rating, and I’m currently working toward my Multi-Engine rating. The training progression has been smooth, well organized, and clearly designed with airline standards in mind.
One of the standout features of Essence Flight School is their Full Motion Flight Simulator. It is truly impressive and incredibly useful for training. The realism of the simulator makes a huge difference—it allows you to practice complex scenarios, procedures, and decision-making in a safe and controlled environment. Using the full motion simulator has significantly improved my confidence and skills, and it’s an invaluable tool that not every flight school offers.
Another big plus is the aircraft fleet. All of the airplanes are new, modern, and extremely well maintained. Flying well-kept aircraft makes a big difference in training, and it’s clear that Essence takes pride in keeping their planes in excellent condition. It really adds to the professional atmosphere of the school.
What truly sets Essence apart, though, is the customer service and instruction. The staff has been amazing—always responsive, helpful, and genuinely caring about student success. My flight instructor has been outstanding: highly knowledgeable, patient, and motivating. Every lesson feels productive, and my instructor consistently goes above and beyond to make sure I understand not just how to fly, but why things are done a certain way.
If you’re searching for a flight school in Van Nuys that offers high-quality training, modern aircraft, a full motion flight simulator, and a clear path to the airlines, I can’t recommend Essence Flight School enough. It’s a professional, supportive environment that truly prepares you for a successful aviation career.
LA VIEWS
We had such an amazing time! What a cool experience flying over LA and experiencing those views from above! Loved it so much. Highly recommend booking!
FIRST FLIGHT
My experience at Essence Flight School was absolutely incredible! I have to admit, I was super nervous at first because flying in a small plane seemed intimidating, but the owner, Alex, immediately put me at ease. His calm and reassuring presence made me feel safe, comfortable, and genuinely excited for the flight.
The flight itself was breathtaking—seeing downtown LA from above was stunning, and flying past iconic sights like the Hollywood Sign and the Santa Monica Pier was truly unforgettable. I couldn’t believe how beautiful everything looked from the air!
Joe, my Certified Flight Instructor, was equally amazing. He patiently explained everything in detail, answered all my questions, and was incredibly professional and personable throughout. Joe’s skill, passion, and friendly demeanor made the entire flight both educational and a lot of fun!
Thank you so much to Alex, Joe, and everyone at Essence Flight School for an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this amazing team to anyone looking for an incredible flying adventure in Los Angeles!
SIMULATORS
Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
SKY PROPOSAL
Unforgettable private flight with Essence—smooth journey and a magical moment as I proposed to my girl in the skies! Highly recommend!
DISCOVERY → PPL
Discovery flights awesome! Got to see Griffith, dtla, malibu, dodger stadium. Kayla is a great instructor too. PPL LETS GOOOOO
FIRST-TIME FLYER
Flying is my husband’s hobby and I was incredibly anxious and apprehensive about the discovery flight. However, I felt completely safe and at ease once we were up in the air. Alex was a funny, communicative instructor and made sure I had my questions answered.
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the excitement hit me. I’d never been in such close proximity to the controls of an aircraft, and being able to actually feel how a plane moves in the air was surreal. The instructor guided me through the basics, but the highlight was when I got to take the controls myself it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Seeing the world from thousands of feet up, with the ground far below, made me realize just how much I want to pursue this career.
Take the controls of the Cessna 162 on a discovery flight over Los Angeles. Enroll within 24 hours and the full cost is credited toward your training. Open 9 AM – 9 PM, seven days a week.
Essence Flight School · 7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite D3 · Van Nuys, CA 91406 · Since 2007
Courses and exact pricing, the fleet, the full-motion simulator, financing options, and how training actually works at Van Nuys — laid out in a brochure you can read in five minutes and share with your family.
Download the Brochure → ✓ Free · Instant · No spam, everSix aircraft types on one ramp at Van Nuys Airport — from light-sport trainers to the Turbo Cirrus and the twin Seminole.
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