Book an 'Airline Pilot for a Day' package and this is what you get...

Privileged, behind-the-scenes access inside a professional airline training centre at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester or Southampton.
Private hire of a £10-million Airbus or Boeing full-motion flight simulator, normally reserved for training commercial pilots.
An experienced airline pilot as your own personal instructor.
A truly incredible experience that you’ll never forget.

And there’s more... you can also take up to three guests into the cockpit with you - either to share the flying time, or simply sit back and watch you fly.

Book the 'Ultimate Package' and get a free Airbus or Boeing jet!

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The most advanced simulators

From the tiniest bump on the runway, to the sinking feeling in your stomach as you take off, you'll be amazed by the realism, and convinced you're really flying. Worth around £10-million each, and certified by the Civil Aviation Authority to Level-D (the highest level there is), flight simulators don't get any more realistic than this. With access to Europe's largest fleet of Airbus and Boeing full-motion flight simulators, you'll be spoilt for choice.

A world of possibilities

Perform as many take-offs and landings as possible, or fly a real-world route in real time - the choice is yours. You could take-off from Paris at night, island hop in the Caribbean, or try a tricky approach into Innsbruck in a snowstorm. And maybe some turbulence or an engine failure to see if you really can stay calm under pressure? It's up to you. You're the Captain and it can be as thrilling and challenging as you want.

Feel the power

Imagine yourself on the flightdeck… one hand on the controls, the other on the thrust levers, bumping over the runway lights as you taxi into the take-off position. Feel the immense power pushing you into your seat as your jet airliner tears down the runway, and the adrenaline rush as you raise the nose and lift your huge aircraft into the air. Take one last glance at the ground falling away beneath you as you cut through the clouds into the clear blue sky above.

Fly with the professionals

No previous flying experience necessary! Modern airliners are designed to be easy to fly, and you'll have an experienced airline pilot as your own personal instructor. Your instructor is there to provide hands-on guidance and make sure you get the maximum possible enjoyment from your simulator flight, It all starts with a pre-flight briefing in 'ground school', before you board the flight simulator and strap yourself in at the controls.

The Perfect Gift

The perfect gift

Our open-dated Gift Vouchers make excellent gifts. They are valid for 12 months, and can be redeemed at any location. They allow the recipient to choose their preferred date, location and simulator type.

Redeem a Voucher

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An experienced team on hand to assist you

When you deal with us you can expect small-company service and attention to detail. We're passionate about what we do, and about making sure your experience with us is an incredible one. So if you want advice on which aircraft type you might enjoy the most, where you can fly and what you can do, just ask. Our friendly, specialist team are just a phone call away.

Mark Green

Mark joined us in 2006 after a 20-year flying career. Mark flew jet aircraft across Europe, first with Air UK and most recently with Ryanair. Mark now flies his own microlight.

Jay Dowse

Jay joined the team in 2011, having previously worked for Virgin Atlantic for several years. In her spare time, Jay studies Marketing and she has also recently founded a local charity.

What our customers say

“What a fantastic piece of kit.”

Absolutely wonderful. A brilliant experience. Very professional as one would expect. Worked very punctually and handled expertly by pilot Ben. Made to feel welcome and relaxed, no pressure. As for the simulator – what a fantastic piece of kit. One could easily have been on the flightdeck of an Airbus for real. Take off and landing were the best. I was that pilot we all dream of being, albeit for a short period of time. Would do it again tomorrow given the opportunity; everyone should try it. Guaranteed satisfaction. Many thanks to all at Virtual Aviation.

—ROBERT ALEXANDER

“I realised my dream.”

We all have dreams... one of mine was to be an airline pilot, but life took me down another path. Until now. I have just spent an amazing hour at the controls of an Airbus A320, an experience I will never forget. For an hour, I realised my dream. I was in control, and with the excellent instruction provided by a real-world pilot, I was able to take-off, fly and land this incredible machine. A simulator it may have been, but it is as close as any of us mere mortals will get to the real thing. This truly is one of those 'once-in-a-lifetime' experiences, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

—DAVID BEST

“Exceeded all our expectations.”

The experience exceeded all our expectations. I took three friends and we were unanimous in our praise for the quality of the simulation. The professionalism of your staff, from first contact to follow-up, was excellent. In particular, the enthusiasm for flying shown by Ben Boness, our trainer pilot, was infectious. Ben's skill in setting and guiding us through each challenge was pure genius. We will be back!

—LAURIE YU

“Unbelievable experience.”

Unbelievable experience! Actually that should say very believable experience! Had a fantastic time, a dream come true after about twenty years. It was just all over too quickly. Thanks to all the staff at VA for making this possible for us wannabe pilots. And thanks to my wife Clare, for the best 40th birthday present.

—STEVE HOLLAND

“Worth every penny.”

A thrilling couple of hours, worth every penny. So realistic that I expected to see passengers when I left the controls (with some looking ill after my flying). My instructor Mark was very good, injecting a little light comedy alongside the serious stuff. All in all, A1+. Looking forward to doing it again.

—DAVE WARD

More testimonials

Press testimonials

More reasons to book with us

A choice of locations

We operate from modern, professional airline training centres at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester & Southampton. Please see the Locations & Simulators page for a detailed listing.

A range of aircraft types

With unrivalled access to more full flight simulators than any other company in the UK, we operate more than forty Airbus & Boeing simulators - giving you maximum choice and flexibility.

Expert guidance

Our team of instructors are on hand to help you to maximise your performance. You can practice without the pressure of examiner scrutiny, in the knowledge that advice will be given in a positive and constructive way.

Dates to suit you

We run over 200 simulator sessions each month, and you may find a suitable date in our online schedules. If not, we'll arrange a date and time specially for you that fits your schedule, even at the very last minute.

A proven track record

With a 14-year history, we're the UK market leader for providing simulator preparation and training to individual commercial pilots, and we have hundreds of regular clients.

A specialist team

When you deal with us you can expect small-company service, expertise and attention to detail. Our full-time Training Co-ordinators are on hand to assist you from your initial enquiry.

Price List

Experience	Duration	Locations	Aircraft	Price	Options
Discover	30-min briefing 1hr simulator	Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Southampton	A320, A330, A340, B737-300, B737-800, B747-400, B757, B767	£550.00 plus £110.00 VAT = £660.00	Book Now Buy Voucher
Explore	30-min briefing 2hrs simulator	Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Southampton	A320, A330, A340, B737-300, B737-800, B747-400, B757, B767	£1050.00 plus £210.00 VAT = £1260.00	Book Now Buy Voucher
Escape	30-min briefing 3hrs simulator	Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Southampton	A320, A330, A340, B737-300, B737-800, B747-400, B757, B767	£1550.00 plus £310.00 VAT = £1860.00	Book Now Buy Voucher
Ultimate	30-min briefing 4hrs simulator	Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Southampton	A320, A330, A340, B737-300, B737-800, B747-400, B757, B767	£2050.00 plus £410.00 VAT = £2460.00	Book Now Buy Voucher