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“Unwaveringly committed to efficiently shaping empowered airplane pilots so they can change their stars and expand their horizons.”

I’m a Flight and Ground Instructor.
También hablo Español
“Fielmente comprometido a formar con eficiencia a pilotos capaces, para que tomen las riendas de su destino y expandan sus horizontes.”

Fly with me

I’ve seen my share and I’m eager to pass it on.
An enthusiastic flight companion, always ready to assist!

Commercial Pilot – Multi-Engine Land (+50 hrs)
Commercial Pilot, CFI, CFI-I – Single Engine (+800 hrs).
Ldgs day and night, BFR and Instrument current.
Qualified and familiar with a variety of avionics. About me
I am alsoavailable for:
  • Airplane pilot for voluntary missions, aircraft ferry, & post-maintenance test flights.
  • Flight companion / Safety pilot for your VFR and IFR xCountry, simulated instrument time, and VFR maneuver practices.
  • Flight Instruction in your airplane, rental aircraft, and flight simulators.
I’m professional, patient, structured, flexible and open to connecting with students, flight schools, or individuals in need of my services.
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Combined syllabus:
Instrument Rating focused xC PIC Time-Building

Log instrument (hood) time FAR – (d)(2) while building xC PIC experience to meet the IR (& CPL) test requirements. (d)(1)

Stop wasting your “time-building” flight hours under the conventional path!!
Mindfully pick up the joy of IFR instead.
Avoid learning gaps in your IR training and prevent bad habits from locking in.


Streamline your IR training and save $$$ money $$$
– ask about reduced safety pilot rates for hour bundles.

Ease into your Instrument Rating!

Programs & costs
Article: Training Efficiency
SMS Chuck
What We Achieve Together in the Cockpit:
  • Enhance the safety of your VFR flights by incorporating IFR hacks
  • Gain sharp control of the aircraft by correlating
    • instrument xCheck
    • instrument interpretation
    • aerodynamics and principles of flight
    • illusions
  • Manage our cockpit and master our installed avionics
  • Have fun picking up navigation skills from the Classic VOR Era that will help you master easily the modern moving maps and autopilots
  • Make perfect sense of new IFR jargon in our radio communications.
  • Expose ourselves to IFR procedures and gain confidence flying them
    • ODPs / SIDs
    • TEC routes
    • different types of approaches
      • precision / non-precision guidance
      • ground / satellite based navAids
      • classic, modern
  • Real world IFR under VFR xC scenarios where to excersise your decision making skills
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Discovery Flights

Watch a simulated mid-length discovery flight out of Long Beach Airport, KLGB in a 2-seater.
See the PilotEdge Tracker for this simulated flight.
Schedule your discovery flight today!
Let’s fly a real airplane, day / night…
Or a full motion flight simulator…
Or both..!!

You’ll experience what it’s like to sit in the cockpit and take control of an aircraft, guided by a passionate flight instructor.
Fly out of the San Fernando Valley (Van Nuys – KVNY), Long Beach (KLGB) or San Gabriel Valley (El Monte – KEMT) Airports.

We will be flying in actual airplanes, either your own or rentals. See Fleet.
We may also be flying in full-motion flight simulators, from your favorite facility,
Ane we could even be flying home simulators remotely.
Optional pre-req
Better understand everything going on to maximize your first hands-on flight with the Discovery Flight Preparation Course.

The natural next steps
Conquer the air by taking the First Solo Flight program!

And get certified by the FAA as a Private Pilot.
Under programs and costs, look for the PPL Instructional Bundle.
Download printable brochure in PDF format
SMS Chuck

Proposed Routes

– Each route varies in length / hobbs time, which is multiplied by both rates, aircraft rental and instruction.
– All routes can be adapted to safely overfly particular points of interest
– All routes are subject to changes due to weather, traffic, safety considerations

* Departure airports differ in size and traffic congestion, affecting hobbs time from engine start until takeoff, and from landing to engine shutdown.
** We will deposit the plane rental fee calculated from our  projected   hobbs time directly to the operator prior taking the plane.

From   KVNY – Van Nuys Airport   at the San Fernando Valley
Expedite ~ 57 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA

~ 1.2 hobbs time     ~ 30 minutes airborne


Endure ~ 86 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA     ✓ LAX Overfly

Intro to flight maneuvers
– slow flight

~ 1.7 hobbs time     ~ 60 minutes airborne
Extended ~ 115 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA     ✓ LAX Overfly
✓ Shorelines:     * Malibu | or | Angels’ Gate

Intro to flight maneuvers :     – slow flight
    – steep turns     – turns around the point

~ 2.2 hobbs time     ~ 90 minutes airborne

From   KEMT – El Monte Airport   at the San Gabriel Valley
Expedite ~ 57 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA

~ 1.2 hobbs time     ~ 30 minutes airborne


Endure ~ 86 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA     ✓ LAX Overfly

Intro to flight maneuvers
– slow flight

~ 1.7 hobbs time     ~ 60 minutes airborne
Extended ~ 115 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA     ✓ LAX Overfly
✓ Shorelines:     * Malibu | or | Angels’ Gate

Intro to flight maneuvers :     – slow flight
    – steep turns     – turns around the point

~ 2.2 hobbs time     ~ 90 minutes airborne

From   KLGB – Long Beach Airport
Expedite ~ 57 miles

✓ Palos Verdes
✓ Angels’ Gate

~ 1.2 hobbs time
~ 30 minutes airborne


Well rounded ~ 69 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA     ✓ LAX Overfly

Intro to flight maneuvers
– slow flight

~ 1.4 hobbs time
~ 45 minutes airborne
Endure ~ 98 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA
✓ LAX Overfly
✓ Palos Verdes – Angels’ Gate

Intro to flight maneuvers :
    – slow flight     – steep turns

~ 1.8 hobbs time
~ 70 minutes airborne
Extended ~ 115 miles

✓ Hollywood Sign     ✓ DTLA
✓ LAX Overfly x 2
✓ Malibu – Santa Monica Peer
✓ Palos Verdes – Angels’ Gate

Intro to flight maneuvers :
    – slow flight     – steep turns
    – turns around the point

~ 2.2 hobbs time
~ 90 minutes airborne
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Flying Lessons

Fleet

I’m ready to instruct in your airplane or in rental aircraft, from airports within and in the vicinity of the greater LA area; and I am open to joining your flying club.

I have access to the following aircraft:

  • Out of KVNY – Van Nuys airport – San Fernando Valley   ~ 185 / hr
    • PA28-161, PA28-181
    • C172-N, C172-P, C172-S
  • out of KEMT – El Monte Airport – San Gabriel Valley   ~ 205 / hr
    • C172-M, C172-N, C172-P
  • out of KLGB – Long Beach Airport
  • out of KCRQ – Mc Clellan – Palomar Airport

And to the following
FAA approved Flight Simulators:

  • KCCB – Cable Airport – Upland – C172 steam, Full motion.
    This one has a highly recommended package deal   ~ 20 / hr
  • KCMA – Waypoint Cafe – Camarillo – Redbird MCX – C182 G1000 / 6pack+G530W, BE36, and BE58.   ~ 70 / hr
    • Also…
  • KEMT – San Gabriel Valley – PFC DCX Pro motion
    & GTX G1000/N/Xi   ~ 60 / hr
  • KVNY – San Fernando Valley –
    Virtual Fly Solo Pro – C172 6pack+G430W   ~ 90 / hr
  • KCPM – Compton Municipal Airport –
    Redbird C172-G1000   ~ 50 / hr

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Programs & Costs

Not only do I help my trainees pass a check-ride, but I strive to build their confidence and instill good habits that will come in handy in every aspect of their lives.

I make it a point to:

  • start our relationship with an assessment

  • plan your training for success

  • continue to adapt the syllabus as we progress

  • always meeting your specific needs.



To ensure our flight time is safe, productive and fun, we will have pre-and post flight briefings for every session in the aircraft or the simulator. When necessary, I will be prioritizing simulator-based training over flight.

I am passionate about building strong fundamentals from the start -—I regard the VOR-era instrument skills as the cornerstone for mastering moving maps and autopilots—-, and really enjoy doing pre-Solo training and teaching VFR maneuvers.

List of services:

  • Pilot certificates:
    PPL Private

CPL Commercial
clic on the images for estimated costs and other expenses
clic on the images for estimated costs and other expenses
  • IR – Instrument Ratings
      & CFII


clic on the images for estimated costs and other expenses
  • Aircraft transition

  • Instrument panel & Avionics transition — Steam gauges | Glass cockpit | Hybrid / RetroFit panel

  • Mock Check Rides (oral / flight portion)

  • Practical Test Retraining

  • Recurrent training

  • ICAO License Conversion / Convalidaciones de licencias OACI –> FAA
    article: Training Efficiency

  • BFR and IPC Biennial Flight Reviews and Instrument Proficiency Checks (ground / flight portion)
    in accordance with AC 61-98E, as tailored to your kinds of operations.
    For the IPC, the tasks specified in the A1, on pg 29, of the FAA-S-ACS-8C

  • Instrument Proficiency course, for rusty instrument pilots and instructors – includes IPC
  • Progress Checks, in collaboration with your Instructor (ground, simulator, in-flight)
SMS Chuck
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Base syllabus

Tailored to match the learner’s needs and rates of progress.

FAA standards must be met for all required piloting exercises before a Practical Test recommendation (Endorsement) can be issued.

Program Duration:

Private Pilot

Total flight time  – 46.1 hrs
Solo                          – 12.2 hrs
Solo XC                      – 5.5 hrs
Dual IFR training    – 3.9 hrs
Dual night training – 3.6 hrs

Recommended Syllabus by Rod Machado

Instrument Rating

~ 37.5 flight hrs

Recommended Syllabus by Rod Machado

Commercial Pilot

~ 10 flight hrs

Commercial Maneuvers by Chuck A.

* Times are for reference only and rely on the learner’s rate of progress.
** We will be working with the syllabi of your choice, and tailoring it on the go to your specific needs.
*** For an estimate of the program cost, see my hourly rate. Ask about the Full Journey instructional bundles!

Minimum booking per session:
One 3 hr block

Minimum weekly commitment:
Book at least 2 blocks.
Devote at least 2 hours of self-study for each hour of flight time.
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