Straight answers before you book.
Everything students ask us most — costs, the aircraft, the location, and how to start. If your question isn't here, call (626) 605-2800 and ask a person.
More questions
Do I need any previous experience to start?
No. On day one you need a photo ID and the wish to fly it yourself; the rest comes later, and we help with each step.
What happens on a Discovery Flight in a Cirrus?
You fly the SR20 yourself, with an instructor beside you the whole time. About an hour, the controls are yours in the air, and it counts toward your certificate.
Is it safe?
Yes. Every Cirrus carries CAPS, a parachute for the whole airplane, and your instructor has a full set of controls. We cancel for weather without apology. Our 2026 SR20 G7+ also has Safe Return, Garmin’s emergency autoland.
How long does it take — and can it fit around work?
Three to four months is typical at two lessons a week. Flight operations run 7 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week, so lessons fit around your business.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Not to start. You need an FAA medical before you fly solo. It is an appointment with an FAA-designated doctor, and we can tell you how it works.
Which airplane will I train in?
A Cirrus SR20. We fly three, from a G6 to a 2026 G7+. Multi-engine training is in our Beechcraft Duchess.
Are you a Part 61 or Part 141 school?
We train under Part 61, which lets us build every lesson around your schedule.
Where are you located?
At Brackett Field (KPOC) in La Verne, California: 2015 McKinley Ave, Suite F3, La Verne, CA 91750.
Can flight training be a career?
It can. We train through Commercial, multi-engine and CFI, CFII and MEI, and our founder flew for SkyWest Airlines. If a career is the goal, tell us and we will plan for it.
Why learn to fly in a Cirrus instead of a basic trainer?
Because it is the airplane you will fly afterwards. Every hour in the SR is an hour in type: the parachute, the panel and the procedures are already yours on the day you own one. It is more per hour than a basic trainer, and nobody here pretends otherwise.
How do I get started?
Book a Discovery Flight. It is a real first lesson in the Cirrus with an instructor beside you, it counts toward your certificate, and it tells you in an hour whether this is for you.
What is a Cirrus Training Center?
A school Cirrus has authorized to teach in its airplanes. Lipson Aviation is Cirrus Authorized.
What is a CSIP?
A Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot: an instructor trained and evaluated to Cirrus’s standard. Our founder, Benjamin Lipson, is one.
What is CAPS?
The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. One handle deploys a parachute that lowers the whole airplane to the ground. Every Cirrus has one.
How old are the airplanes, and how are they maintained?
Our newest SR20 is a 2026 G7+, and the line runs back to a G6. Students tell us in their reviews that the airplanes are kept clean and that issues get fixed right away.
How many aircraft do you have?
Four: three Cirrus SR20s and a Beechcraft Duchess.
What avionics are in the aircraft?
Garmin Perspective avionics in every Cirrus: Perspective Touch+ on the G7s. Our 2026 G7+ adds Safe Return. The Duchess has upgraded avionics with an Aspen display.
Where do I go on my first visit?
Come to 2015 McKinley Ave, Suite F3, at Brackett Field. If you have trouble finding us, call (626) 605-2800.
Which airport do you fly out of?
Brackett Field (KPOC) in La Verne, in the foothills east of Los Angeles.
Take your time with it.
There is no rush and no wrong question. Work through the list above — then call, and a person will answer the rest.
N460LA · Brackett Field at golden hour Still have a question?
Reach out through the contact page — or just call. We'll help you determine the best next step.
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