LONG BEACH FLYING CLUB AND FLIGHT ACADEMY

Founded in 1980, Long Beach Flying Club and Flight Academy has spent more than four decades building a reputation as one of Southern California's most established pilot training organizations. Operating from Long Beach Airport (LGB) at 2631 E. Spring Street, the academy has trained thousands of pilots across all experience levels, from first-time discovery flight students to those pursuing professional aviation careers.

The academy operates a diverse fleet of nearly twenty IFR-equipped aircraft, including five Cessna 152 trainers, five Cessna 172 variants (including the 172SP and retractable-gear 172RG), five Piper Warriors, a Piper Archer, Piper Arrow, and a twin-engine Piper Seminole — giving students a clear progression path from basic flight training through multi-engine certification. All aircraft are available 24 hours a day for scheduled members, with fuel included in the hourly rate.

Training programs cover Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificates, offered under both Part 61 and Part 141 frameworks. The school requires all flight and ground instruction students to hold current club membership, and maintains structured stage-check milestones for Private Pilot students. Chief CFI Richard Garnett oversees instructor standardization, with all instructors completing a rigorous checkout before teaching and an annual flight review to maintain currency.