NextGen Flying Academy
Two pilots flying together in the cockpit of a NextGen training aircraft on a cross-country flight

Riverside · Redlands · Southern California

Learn to fly in
Southern California.

FAA Part 61 & Part 141 flight training at two Inland Empire airports. Private through ATP, multi-engine, CFI, plus a California-specific high-altitude endorsement track.

Book a discovery flight Explore training programs
280+ VFR days/year 2 airports, one academy PPL → ATP single roadmap
Riverside · KRAL  ·  Redlands · KREI  ·  Southern California

Not ready to call? Drop your contact, we'll reach out.

Two fields, no obligation. Our team will follow up within one business day with whatever you need: pricing, scheduling, financing, or just answers.

Phone or email, your call. One of the two is required.

AOPA Recognition

Distinguished Flight School,
three years running.

AOPA ranks U.S. flight schools each year using direct student feedback. Distinguished in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Voted by the people who train here.

AOPA 2023 Distinguished Flight Training Experience Award
2023
AOPA 2024 Distinguished Flight Training Experience Award
2024
AOPA 2025 Distinguished Flight Training Experience Award
2025
Career-track training aircraft on approach to a major Southern California airport

Career Pilot Program

Zero to airline
pilot.

Private through ATP-eligible CFI/CFII/MEI on one structured track at one school. Private pilot to instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and instructor ratings, sequenced for the fastest credible path into a regional airline first-officer seat.

Part 141 at Riverside (KRAL). Financing through Stratus Financial, Flight Training Finance, and Surv Credit. GI Bill eligible.

Total program cost

$80K–$110K

PPL → ATP-eligible

Training timeline

12–18 MONTHS

Full-time pace

Regulatory framework

PART 141

Riverside · KRAL

Explore the Career Pilot Program → Take the readiness quiz

Financing available through

Stratus Financial flight training loan partner
Flight Training Finance aviation lender
Surv Credit aviation financing partner
GI Bill eligible · Part 141 at KRAL

A day at the academy

Two airports. Real training.

Trainers on the ramp at KRAL. Mountain mornings out of KREI. Real approaches into Southern California airspace, not just the simulator. The airplanes, the airfields, and the people you'll fly with.

Cessna training aircraft lined up on the ramp at Riverside Municipal Airport (KRAL) at sunrise
Fleet lineup, KRAL ramp
CFI and student pilot in flight together over the Los Angeles basin during cross-country training
In flight over the LA basin
Training aircraft in flight over the Riverside Inland Empire during a cross-country lesson
Piper Cherokee Six on the ramp at Redlands Municipal Airport (KREI) prepared for a training flight
Redbird flight simulator used for procedure training and instrument practice at the academy
The Hollywood Sign from the cockpit during a Southern California discovery flight
Student pilot celebrating with friends and family after passing the private pilot checkride
Multi-engine ATP candidate working an instrument approach in the Beechcraft Duchess at Riverside

Learn to Fly in Southern California

Two Inland Empire airports. One academy. Same FAA-approved curriculum, same instructor standards, same maintenance discipline at Riverside (KRAL) and Redlands (KREI).

The view changes. The training doesn’t.

Book a Discovery Flight   |   Explore Training Programs

Why train in the Inland Empire

280+ VFR days per year. Your training calendar doesn’t get held hostage by weather.

Two airports sit under airspace dense with practice areas, Class B transitions, towered fields, and mountains rising past 11,000 feet within 60 NM. That’s a curriculum you can’t replicate in flatter parts of the country.

Part 61 at both airports. Part 141 at Riverside for accelerated syllabus, GI Bill, or a faster path to commercial.

Training programs at a glance

Zero hours to ATP. The full ladder:

Prereqs and prices on the training programs page.

What you’ll fly

Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Piper Warrior, Piper Cherokee Arrow (PA-28R), Beechcraft Duchess (BE-76), plus a Redbird simulator for instrument procedures and multi-engine emergencies.

Two airports, one academy

Riverside Municipal (KRAL)

6951 Flight Road, Suite 106, Riverside, CA 92504 951-590-3572

Towered Class D field, 5,401-foot runway, full Part 141 syllabus, complete fleet including multi-engine. Riverside details →

Redlands Municipal (KREI)

1745 Sessums Drive, Unit 160, Redlands, CA 92374 951-468-9700

Non-towered field, 4,500-foot runway, Part 61. Gateway to the San Bernardino Mountains and the high-altitude endorsement track. Redlands details →

The Inland Empire advantage for career pilots

Two facts matter if you’re aiming at the airlines:

  1. You need 1,500 hours for an ATP (1,250 with Part 141 commercial; 1,000 with a four-year aviation degree). Hours come from consistent flying. We fly six days a week.
  2. You need real airspace variety. Our students fly Class B (Ontario, San Diego, LAX), Class C (March ARB), Class D (Riverside, Redlands, Chino), and uncontrolled mountain fields like Big Bear and Apple Valley.

The 50-mile cross-country requirement isn’t a checkbox here. It’s training.

Discovery flights

From $199. 30 to 60 minutes in the left seat with a CFI.

Fly toward a Southern California landmark of your choice: Catalina Island, the Hollywood Sign, Disneyland’s airspace, Dana Point. Walk away knowing whether this is the career or the hobby you thought it would be.

Pilot and passenger during a discovery flight over the Los Angeles basin in a Cessna
Discovery flight over the LA basin. Wing-strut GoPro optional.

Book a Discovery Flight from $199

Financing and ground school

Pilot training is a real investment. We work with Stratus Financial, Flight Training Finance, and Surv Credit for student loans. Rolling ground school keeps written-test prep from bottlenecking your flying. Contact us for current pricing.

Stratus Financial logo
Flight Training Finance logo
Surv Credit logo

Lending partners.

Get started

Three ways:

  1. Book a discovery flight · fly first, decide second
  2. Call us · Riverside 951-590-3572 · Redlands 951-468-9700
  3. Read the FAQ · costs, timelines, medicals, age, financing

The NextGen Family

Our students love us.

Real reviews from students and discovery flight guests, carried over from the old site. Same people. Same training. New name on the sign.

Leave us a review

For 4.5 years, I have been actively pursuing my instrument rating license. I have been through many institutions, instructors, and programs. However, one terrible experience after another had left me greatly discouraged and with huge losses of time and money. It wasn't until I started at NextGen that I found a place with people who would invest in, cultivate, and add to my already hard-earned knowledge and skills. Brandon, Aleksa, Luis, and the rest of the staff genuinely cared for me, treated me with respect, and didn't take advantage of me as a customer/student.
Sam M. · Instrument Rating Student
It has gotten a little busy (but very workable!) at NextGen, and for good reason. They are professionals, and they go the extra mile to help you. If you want a personable, responsive school that will train you right, address any questions and get you there, you've come to the right place. I've had great experiences with all of the staff and instructors, they always raise the bar and amaze me. The instructors will always level with you, and encourage you, and it's a rare talent to do both consistently. And remember: Anyone named Amanda has got your back. :)
Ryan P. Student Pilot
Unreal experience! Been wanting to fly planes since I was a kid, and man was this an incredible treat. Got to take off, pull some G's, and land a real plane all in my first lesson! Great price for a great experience, with a great instructor!
Matt L. Discovery Flight Guest
Next Gen Flight Academy is a spot I will always recommend!! My kids and I showed up at the Riverside location this afternoon… It was awesome! The flight lasted a little over an hour round trip. And our instructor let us know that we were flying 120 mph on our way back. It was an overall really great experience. I'm definitely doing another 'intro flight' to Catalina Island next time!!!
Roseanna T. Discovery Flight Guest
Had the opportunity to fly today with Nextgen Flight Academy and I must say I'm falling short of words to describe the experience I had. It was just so great and exhilarating. I took the intro flight and simulator program. My flight instructor Mr. Devin was so friendly and helped me all the way from the simulator till the actual flight experience. I was actually surprised to know that not many knew about this cool place.
Gunjan A. Intro Flight + Simulator
I set up a flight experience for my dad, who back in the day, had his pilot's license. I thought it would be a fun experience to celebrate his retirement. The instructor treated my dad like family, gave him a tour of the facility, and made sure he was happy during the flight. My dad had the best experience ever and has sent over a ton of beautiful pictures! I'm definitely going to be sending my dad back for Father's Day or another holiday!
Alexandria M. Gifted a Flight Experience

Ready to start?

A discovery flight is the cheapest way to find out if this is for you.

Forty-five minutes in the left seat with a CFI. Fly to Catalina, the Hollywood Sign, or Disneyland's airspace. From $199.

Book from $199 Read the FAQ

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