Flight School Mission Statement

Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school

I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to explore the skies over Los Angeles during a beautiful sunset. Joseph, our pilot, was cool, talented, and friendly - we felt safe and in good hands during the entire experience. Could not recommend Essence more!

This was my first flight at Essence and it will be one I will never forget for several reasons. Joseph was an awesome instructor, demonstrating professionalism and great energy. The aircraft (Diamond) was in great shape and fun to fly. And the views… well just take a look at the photos.

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.

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!!!

Unforgettable private flight with Essence—smooth journey and a magical moment as I proposed to my girl in the skies! Highly recommend!

Discovery flights awesome! Got to see Griffith, dtla, malibu, dodger stadium. Kayla is a great instructor too. PPL LETS GOOOOO

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!

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!

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.

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!! 😊👍👍

I can’t recommend Essence Flight School enough! The staff is awesome, and the whole vibe is just really positive and cool.
Huge shoutout to Anthony, our flight instructor, he’s the best! Super knowledgeable, and explains everything in a way that actually makes sense. You can tell he genuinely cares about teaching and loves flying.
If you’ve ever thought about learning to fly or just go up for a day, checkout Essence Flight School and Anthony made the whole experience fantastic.

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.

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!!!

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.

I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel comfortable and they are not scared he made sure they had the most fun and they took control of the flight with his help. Overall it was an amazing experience I definitely recommend this school! I will definitely go back again. The cirrus airplane was amazing.

There are many flight schools at Van Nuys but Essence stands out. Their aircraft are newer than others which makes it both nicer and safer to fly. My favorite is their diamond aircraft. Most schools only have Cessnas and Pipers. They also have very flexible scheduling with their one on one instructions. Overall, I am very happy.

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.

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! 💓

It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly (Cirrus). Awesome and super convenient and some of the coolest views I’ve ever seen flying. 10/10 would fly with them again!

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!

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!

I enrolled as student at Essence Flight School in July, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. I got my Private Pilot License here, and I’m now working on my Instrument Rating.
My first instructor for my ppl , Joseph, was absolutely amazing. He’s patient, knowledgeable, and a really great teacher who made every lesson easy, safe, and enjoyable. I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor to guide me through the ppl course.

Now, I’m training with Francis for my instrument rating, and I’m just as impressed. He’s incredibly supportive, and always makes sure I understand every detail before moving on to next lesson His teaching style gives me a lot of confidence as I continue my lessons!

I have been flying the Cessna and now the Piper Arrow! Their scheduling has been always amazing, soofia always accommodated to my schedule times and made sure i get as many as lessons possible!
I definitely recommend Essence Flight School to anyone who is interested to get their license!!!!

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.