Flight Lesson in Los Angeles: Fly Your Own Helicopter

About this experience

Experience the excitement of piloting a helicopter with personalized, one-on-one instruction. Whether it’s your first time in the air or you’re training toward a private pilot certificate, this is your opportunity to take the controls and fly over the breathtaking Southern California landscape. In order to provide you with an authentic helicopter pilot experience, we have combined a mini simulation course with a hands-on helicopter flight. Our simulation course utilizes the Elite TH100 Helicopter Advanced Aircraft Training Device (AATD), the only simulator in the area, with real life helicopter flight training.

At a glance

• Duration: 45 min
• Private experience

Itinerary and highlights

Learn the Fundamentals of Helicopter Control!

In this experience you will first spend time in our advanced simulator to learn the basics of helicopter control and safety. You will become familiar with the individual controls and get to know your instructor pilot. You will learn the fundamentals of helicopter control, including straight and level flight, climbs and descents, and turns.

Your instructor will then take you to the aircraft where you will put into practice all that you have learned in the simulator and apply it in your own dual-control helicopter with your attentive instructor guiding you through every basic stage of helicopter flight. You will get to experience the thrill of piloting a helicopter while soaring 700-1,000 feet above the Port of Long Beach and Downtown Long Beach. The duration you choose is the duration of the flight time not including simulator.

See the overview, available options and booking details for the experience schedule.

Languages and tickets

• English — Guide
• Mobile Only

Tour operator

• Anthelion Helicopters

Accessibility and practical details

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• For our R44 Experience, 1 student pilot may be accompanied by 2 passengers (3 total customers) so long as the weight limit is adhered to
• For our R22 Experience, a maximum of 1 passenger is allowed as the helicopter only has 2 seats
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Check In Process - please arrive 15 minutes prior to flight for proper check-in. If a customer arrives late the tour/activity may be cut short or you can reschedule for another date
• Flight Etiquette- We ask all customers to please understand that though your flight is meant to be fun and exciting, safety is always Anthelion Helicopters' first priority. For this reason, we do not allow: Drunk and/or high customers, screaming and/or arguing in the helicopter, Removing seatbelts, attempting to stand or stick out arms and legs whilst in the helicopter, or speaking over the Pilot. Please know that should the pilot feel that the flight has become unsafe due to customer conditions, the pilot has the right to end the tour early. In this event, we will NOT be able to provide a refund or accommodation for the shortened flight
• Per FAA Regulation, should customers arrive inebriated, they will NOT be allowed to fly. We will NOT provide a refund should you choose to cancel, but you may rebook your tour to another date.
• Weight Limitation Policy - Our R44 Tour Helicopter seat limit is 300 lb and the group limit must be under 580 lb. Our R22 limit is 220 lb. Customers who are over the weight limit upon weight verification on arrival will NOT be allowed to fly and will NOT be eligible for a refund. You may reschedule for another date
• Liability waiver must be signed on arrival. Failure to sign the waiver will result in your tour being cancelled. If you choose not to fly due to not signing the waiver you will not be eligible for a refund.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.