Enjoy breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay Area from the air! Overfly Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, or the picturesque coastal town of Half Moon Bay at 1,500 feet. Glide above the stunning Pacific Ocean coastline with it's impressive cliffs and sea shore for an experience you'll never forget. Live life to its fullest. Your plane is waiting!
Learn to Fly
Become a Pilot Today
Never flown before? Don't sweat it. Our Private Pilot Course is designed to get you comfortable on an airplane and give you the skills you need to fly with confidence.
Learn to fly in San Carlos, California at the San Carlos Airport. Our Private Pilot Course provides you with expert guidance from experienced FAA Certified Flight Instructors in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In the classroom, you'll get to know the airplane you'll be flying and learn the basics of flying safety skills.
In the air, you'll learn takeoffs and landings, along with maneuvers like turns, climbs, and descents. When you're finished you'll earn an FAA Private Pilot Certificate. Your certificate does not expire and is valid throughout the United States and recognized by most countries around the world.
FREE Membership! Unlike other flying clubs, paid membership is NOT required to learn to fly with us.
Cessna Flight Training System. All of our students are enrolled in the Cessna Pilot Center Online Training Program. This proven online course offered through Cessna/King Schools will ensure you have knowledge and confidence to pass your FAA Written Test and Checkride the first time!
Dedicated Training Airplanes at Competitive Rates. We are a training facility and not just another flying club! We make sure that your training airplane is available for you when you need it.
Professional and Experienced Flight Instructors. We handpick our instructors for their teaching ability and experience. Our instructors are NOT independent contractors! We monitor the quality of their teaching so you get the most out of your time and money.
Train based on YOUR schedule and availability. You will be assigned a Primary Instructor, but every one of our instructors follows the Cessna Pilot syllabus. This means that if your primary instructor is not available, you can fly with ANY of our instructors when YOU are available. This will help to keep you on track to finish your license in a reasonable time frame!
Online Syllabus Tracker: We are one of the only flight schools to offer Online Tracking for your Training. No more paper and pencil and binders that don’t get filled out properly! You and your instructors will know EXACTLY where you fall in your training. Each flight AND ground lesson is graded online so you know the areas you need to focus on! No more wondering, “When am I going to finish?”
For those serious about learning to fly, here's your chance to try an actual flight lesson with an FAA Certified Flight Instructor.
For one person only, no passengers allowed on our flight lessons (unless under 18 years old may be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
Does not include sightseeing, touring, or additional passengers. If you would like to book a Tour and Fly the Airplane, please choose our U-Fly with Friends option.
The Basic Intro Flight Lesson Includes:
Approximately 40 minutes of flight time in a Cessna 172SP G1000.
Approximately 20 minutes of ground training, including preflight and postflight briefings.
Introduction to the four fundamentals of flight such as straight and level, turns, climbs, and descents.
Pilot Logbook.
Our Deluxe Introductory Flight Lesson includes a 1.5 hr. flight with a Certified Flight Instructor, and gives you and the instructor more flexibility in what you can cover on that first lesson. You will be able to fly further away from the airport and practice maneuvers further away from our home airport.
For one person only, no passengers allowed on our flight lessons (unless under 18 years old may be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
Does not include sightseeing, touring, or additional passengers. If you would like to book a Tour and Fly the Airplane, please choose our U-Fly with Friends option.
The Deluxe Intro Flight Lesson Includes:
Approximately 90 minutes of flight time in a Cessna 172SP G1000.
Approximately 30 minutes of ground training, including preflight and postflight briefings.
Introduction to the four fundamentals of flight such as straight and level, turns, climbs, and descents.
Pilot Logbook.
Cessna all new scenario-based flight training course, developed exclusively for Cessna by the experts at King Schools.
Web-based course provides everything you need to obtain your Sport or Private Pilot Certificate. Designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to embrace your future in aviation.
Save time & money—become an expert before you fly
The advanced technology of the Garmin G1000 is an absolute dream when you know how to use it. Now you can turn that dream into your reality.
Now includes interactive questions!
7 hours
Lifetime Access
FAA Wings Credit
We estimate the cost to earn your Private Pilot's Certificate to be approximately $19,700.00 based on 70 hours of total flight time in a Cessna 152 (approximately $22,640 in a C172 G1000). This is the estimated cost for a Premium Member flying a C152 and training with one of our Professional Level Instructors. To finish in 70 hours you will need to demonstrate above average ability and be dedicated to studying outside of your scheduled lessons. The final cost will vary depending on a number of factors including pilot ability, training frequency, weather, airspace congestion, and the complexity of the aircraft used for the training. We do not sell pre-packaged training programs, we train to proficiency with the goal of safe flying and you meeting all FAA certification standards prior to signing you off for your FAA Checkride.
For a part-time student training 1-2 days a week on weekend who is juggling a career and/or family, we plan on approximately a 6-12 month training program. If you can train 3-5 days a week we can accelerate your training and aim to be completed in as little as 3 to 6 months.
You will need proof of U.S. Citizenship or TSA Final Approval Letter prior to commencing your training. Prior to your first flight alone in the airplane (first solo flight) you will need to pass a physical examination with an aeromedical examiner to obtain your medical certificate. You will also need to show proof of non-owned aircraft insurance at the start of your training.
With our Cessna Pilot kit you will get a flight bag to keep all your things, including an aviation headset, charts, airport directories, flight computer, plotter, and FAA textbooks and the Cessna Pilot Center Ground School materials. The costs of these materials are extra.
You will be flying either a Cessna 152 or a Cessna 172SP G1000 during your initial training. You will need to select one of those airplanes when you learn to fly and we don’t recommend jumping back and forth between each plane as each have different performance characteristics and operating procedures.
Aside from the aircraft and instructor fees, you can join FlyBayArea as a paid member to obtain lower rates. Paid membership options range from $49 to $149/month. The cost of the FAA checkride, Phase Checks, and pilot supplies, are not included in the estimate. Supplies are approximately $1000, and checkrides are typically $500-$700.
No! Just come ready with a positive attitude and willingness to learn and we’ll help you get there!
U-Fly Tours
Where You fly the plane!
An exciting, scenic flight tour over the Bay Area in a two-seater Cessna or four-seater Piper single-engine airplane.
Choose from one of our four standard tours: Peninsula, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco & Golden Gate, or the Ultimate SkyTour.
A hands-on aircraft orientation and preflight demonstration.
An introduction to how an airplane is controlled on the ground and in the air.
Flying the airplane! Under the guidance of a professional pilot you will experience what it feels like to fly a real airplane.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay Area from the air!
You can also purchase an In-Flight Digital Photo of you behind the controls!
Air Tours
Relax & Enjoy Spectacular Views!
from $299.00/ person
Enjoy breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay Area from the air! Overfly Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, or the picturesque coastal town of Half Moon Bay at 1,500 feet. Glide above the stunning Pacific Ocean coastline with it's impressive cliffs and sea shore for an experience you'll never forget. Live life to its fullest. Your plane is waiting.
Testimonials
Hear what others had to say!
“Overall the Introductory Flight experience was phenomenal! The instructor was very thorough with explaining the functions of the plane. As well as very enthusiastic, and it shows he has passion for flying. It was especially nice how he pointed and showed areas of the bay area. I would most definitely recommend this to all friends and family for a great experience and a friendly flight instructor.””
“FlyBayArea is a perfect match for me. They are relaxed and low key so I have never felt pressured or nervous, even in the beginning. The instructors will get you flying immediately from day one and will be hands off as soon as you demonstrate your proficiency, which will be sooner than you realize. FlyBayArea will keep you informed about where you are in the process and what needs to be accomplished next so you always have a goal to work on during your training. With FlyBayArea, you will be in good hands. Happy flying!””
“The freedom you experience when you grab the controls for the first time is life altering. The fastest you’ve ever travelled in a car suddenly feels slow, the distances you’ve driven seem small, and your perspective of the world literally zooms out a good ten notches. A Flight Instructor from FlyBayArea right there with you, will make it safe & easy to become a top-notch pilot.””
