Welcome to Palo Alto Airport, your neighborhood gateway to the sky!
Perhaps you have taken notice of the small aircraft overhead, or you have always dreamed of flying a plane yourself. If so, you have plenty of company. There are approximately 20,000 people like you in California who followed that dream to earn their FAA private pilot certificate.
You can start learning what you need to know immediately by reading on your own! Some of the best and easiest to understand books are available for free download from the FAA. (Hard copies may also be purchased.)
Learn more about the process of learning to fly generally.
To learn to fly specifically in Palo Alto, the first steps are:
- Choose one of the aircraft rental & training businesses located at Palo Alto Airport (See table below.)
- Choose an instructor.
- If you are 16 or older and aim to fly without an instructor someday, obtain a medical certificate.
If you are uncertain how you would feel flying, before you commit to joining a school or club, you should request a “Discovery Flight”. This is a one time introductory flight lesson.
There are several flight businesses based at Palo Alto Airport. Contact them directly and ask questions or schedule some actual flying. You may wish to consider one of the following clubs first which are supporting members of the Palo Alto Airport Association.
| West Valley Flying Club | Advantage Aviation Training Discovery Flight |
Scholarships
There are several organizations that offer scholarships to assist students with the costs of flight training. See a partial list here at AOPA.
Youth Introductory Flights
Through the EAA Young Eagles program, volunteer pilots provide teens with a free introductory flight from which to experience flight from a pilot’s perspective. On the third Saturday of most months, EAA Chapter 20 hosts a Young Eagles event at San Carlos Airport, and EAA Chapter 63 hosts an event at Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose. Young Eagles flights are not currently offered at Palo Alto Airport but are hoped for beginning in October, 2026.