Van Nuys Airport · KVNY · Los Angeles

Flight lessons at Van Nuys Airport

I'm Jack, an independent flight instructor at Van Nuys. I teach in my own 2024 Pipistrel Alpha Trainer. It's got a full-airplane parachute and a Garmin glass panel, and it's honestly one of the easiest airplanes to learn in. Got your own plane? We can fly that too. I genuinely love teaching, so you'll have me every lesson, on a schedule built around your life, and at a price that beats the big flight schools and their crazy rates.

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Call or text (917) 946-3565 · I usually reply the same day

Whole-airplane parachute Glass cockpit + autopilot $150 discovery flight
Jack Govic, flight instructor, in the cockpit of N390EA at Van Nuys
Jack Govic · CFI · CFII · MEI
CFI · CFII · MEI AGI · IGI 1,000+ hours Zero failed checkrides Parachute-equipped aircraft

$150 discovery flight

We'll walk around the airplane together, then head out over the Valley and you'll fly it yourself. It's about an hour, and if you decide to keep going, it counts toward your training.

Book yours
The airplane

Aircraft

N390EA

A 2024 Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, hangared at the Prop Park at Van Nuys. I own it, I fly it constantly, and I know it inside and out. It was designed from the ground up as a trainer, and it's one of the easiest airplanes there is to learn in: gentle, forgiving, and packed with tech that makes your training easier.

Pipistrel Alpha Trainer N390EA on the ramp with Mount Shasta behind it

Whole-airplane parachute

N390EA carries a ballistic rescue parachute that lowers the entire airplane, with both of us inside, to the ground. Most training airplanes have nothing like it. It's the kind of safety backup that lets nervous first-timers and their families relax.

The avionics panel in N390EA with a Garmin G3X Touch, G5 backup, GNX 375 and GMC 507 autopilot
The panel: Garmin G3X Touch, G5 backup display, GNX 375 GPS, GMC 507 autopilot and two radios.

Garmin G3X Touch

A big touchscreen flight display with attitude, airspeed, altitude and a moving map all in one place.

Garmin GNX 375

A WAAS GPS navigator for flight planning and GPS approaches, the same unit you'll see in a lot of newer airplanes.

GMC 507 autopilot

Learn to hand-fly first, then learn to manage automation the way modern pilots really fly.

ADS-B traffic & weather

See nearby traffic on screen. A real advantage in some of the busiest airspace in the country.

Gentle, forgiving handling

Stalls at just 42 knots with flaps and has benign stall behavior, so slow flight and landings click faster.

Night & instrument training

Approved for night flying, so you can knock out your private pilot night requirements in the same airplane. It's also set up for instrument training, with GPS approaches flown under the hood in visual conditions.

Engine
Rotax 912 UL, 80 hp
Cruise
104 KTAS
Stall (flaps)
42 kts
Endurance
2.5 hrs + 30 min
Seats
2, side by side
Rate
$145/hr wet

Own an airplane? I'll fly with you in it. Types I've flown include:

  • Cessna 172
  • Cirrus SR20
  • Cirrus SR22T
  • Beechcraft Bonanza BE33
  • Diamond DA42
  • Super Decathlon
  • Pipistrel Alpha Trainer
Straight pricing

Rates

Rates · KVNY
Discovery flightAirplane and instructor, about an hour
$150
Pipistrel Alpha TrainerWet, fuel included
$145/hr
Flight or ground instructionIn my airplane or yours
$45/hr
Your instructor

Jack Govic

Hello, I'm Jack. I have over 1,000 hours of total time and hold my CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI and IGI certificates, with no failed checkrides.

I genuinely enjoy instructing. If I didn't, I'd just keep building time on my own. After doing so much solo flying, I'd much rather spend that time teaching, helping someone progress, and passing on what I've learned.

I work only as an independent instructor. That means you're not a number at a big school. You fly with me every lesson, in my own airplane, on a schedule we set together.

Work in aviation?

If you're a line tech, mechanic, dispatcher, ramp agent or anyone else working around airplanes and want to make the switch to flying, reach out. If cost is the main thing holding you back, I'd be happy to hear your situation and see if we can make something work.

Total time
1,000+ hrs
Flight instructor
CFI · CFII · MEI
Ground instructor
AGI · IGI
What I teach

Flight training

Whether you're taking your first lesson or getting back in the air, every lesson starts with a briefing and ends with a debrief. Training follows the FAA's Airman Certification Standards, so there are no surprises on checkride day.

N390EA

Sport pilot

The quickest path to flying yourself and a friend in light sport aircraft.

  • 20 hours minimum
  • 15 hours dual, 5 solo
  • Driver's license can serve as your medical
14 CFR 61.313
N390EA or your aircraft

Private pilot

The full private pilot license. Start in the Alpha and finish in it or in your own airplane.

  • 40 hours minimum (20 dual, 10 solo)
  • 3 hrs cross-country, 3 hrs night
  • 3 hrs instrument reference
14 CFR 61.109
N390EA or your aircraft

Instrument rating

Fly through LA's marine layer instead of waiting for it to burn off. Train on the same kind of glass panel and GPS approaches you'll use for real.

  • 40 hrs actual or simulated instrument
  • 15 hrs with a CFII
  • 250 nm IFR cross-country, 3 approaches
14 CFR 61.65
N390EA or your aircraft

Commercial pilot

Maneuvers, complex or TAA time, and cross-countries that build toward 250 hours with a purpose.

14 CFR 61.129
Your twin

Multi-engine

Multi-engine add-on rating, checkouts, and recurrent engine-out training.

14 CFR 61.63
N390EA or your aircraft

Flight review

Due every 24 calendar months. At least an hour of ground and an hour of flight, built around how you actually fly.

14 CFR 61.56
N390EA or your aircraft

IPC

Instrument currency lapsed? An Instrument Proficiency Check gets you legal and sharp again: holds, approaches, partial panel.

14 CFR 61.57(d)
In person or online

Ground school

One-on-one ground lessons for the written test, checkride oral prep, or any topic that isn't clicking yet.

AGI · IGI
Your aircraft

Owner training

Transition training, checkouts and proficiency flying in the airplane you own.

Based at KVNY
Where we fly

Location

Van Nuys Airport (KVNY)

One of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, with parallel runways 16R/34L and 16L/34R at 802 feet elevation. You'll be sharp on the radio from day one.

Practice areas

The valley, the Santa Susana Pass and the open country north toward the high desert give us room for maneuvers and quick access to nearby airports.

Serving

Students from Van Nuys, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Burbank, Northridge, Woodland Hills and across Los Angeles. All training is based at Van Nuys Airport.

Common questions

FAQ

How much does it cost to get a pilot license in Los Angeles?

It depends mostly on how often you fly. With the Alpha at $145/hr and instruction at $45/hr, each hour of flying with me runs about $190, which is well under typical LA flight school rates. Flying at least twice a week keeps your total hours, and your total cost, down.

How long does it take to get a private pilot license?

The FAA minimum is 40 hours, and most people finish around 60 to 70. Consistency makes the biggest difference. Students who fly twice a week usually finish in a few months.

Do I need a medical to start?

Not to start. You'll need at least a third-class medical before you solo, so it's smart to get it done early in your training.

What should I bring to a discovery flight?

Just bring sunglasses and some water. I'll take care of the rest.

Is the Pipistrel Alpha safe to learn in?

Yes, and safety is a big reason why I chose it. Here's what makes it a great airplane to learn in:

  • Whole-airplane parachute. If something ever went seriously wrong, the ballistic parachute brings the entire airplane down with both of us in it. Most training airplanes don't have one.
  • Built as a trainer. Pipistrel designed it from the start for students. It stalls at just 42 knots with flaps and has gentle, predictable stall behavior.
  • Traffic on the screen. ADS-B shows nearby airplanes on the display, which is a big help in LA's busy airspace.
  • Modern Garmin avionics. The G3X Touch and GNX 375 give you a clear picture of where you are, and the autopilot cuts your workload when things get busy.
  • I know this airplane. I own it and fly it all the time, so I know exactly how it's been flown and maintained.
Are there weight limits?

Yes. The Alpha has a max seat weight of 242 lbs, and you'll need to weigh at least 121 lbs to fly it solo. If you're close to either number, just mention it when you reach out and we'll figure it out.

Can you train me in my own airplane?

Absolutely. I've flown a bunch of different airplanes, from Cessnas and Cirruses to a Bonanza BE33, a DA42 twin and a Super Decathlon. Whether you need a checkout, a flight review or just want to get sharper in your own plane, give me a call or text and tell me what you fly.

What if the weather is bad?

We'll make the call together before you head to the airport. A low ceiling is often a great day for a ground lesson instead.

Ready to fly?

Book a flight

Call or text me directly. Tell me what you're interested in and when you're free, and we'll get you on the schedule.

(917) 946-3565
Call now Send a text
Instructor
Jack Govic, CFI/CFII/MEI
Location
Prop Park, Van Nuys Airport (KVNY)