At AviaSim USA, fly a full-scale commercial jet cockpit with an instructor at your side. No experience needed. Just step in, take the controls, and feel what only captains feel.
Our most popular gift: take the controls of an airliner and fly it yourself, from takeoff to touchdown.
Share the cockpit for an experience to remember. Make it a date, a challenge between friends, or an unforgettable moment with your kid.
More time in the air means more fun. Master advanced maneuvers and fly the whole journey, nose to tail.
Ever dreamed of piloting an airliner? Stop imagining and take the captain's seat! At AviaSim USA, step into a realistic cockpit and experience the true thrill of flight. Grip the throttle, feel the acceleration, and take off toward any city you choose. Enjoy the panoramic views and the freedom of the skies. But stay focused—the landing is approaching fast!
Since 2012, AviaSim has welcomed more than 200,000 pilots for a day — across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Step into the captain's seat of a full-scale airliner cockpit and fly a real flight from takeoff to landing, with a professional instructor right beside you. Our immersive adventures are built for aviation fans, future pilots, adrenaline seekers, anyone ready to conquer a fear of flying, and companies chasing a team-building experience they'll actually remember. No experience needed — just you, the controls, and the thrill of the skies. Born from founder Thomas Gasser's lifelong passion for aviation, AviaSim exists to make the magic of flight accessible to everyone and create unforgettable "sky-high" adventures.
“Awesome experience. Wife and I had an absolute blast. We haven't stopped talking about it since we did the sim a few days ago. We'll definitely do this again.”
“The simulation cockpit is exactly like a real one and the pilot explains the instruments, knobs, levers, and dials. You can also pick anywhere in the world to fly around!”
“This was a birthday present for my father (over 70). It was a great surprise and a great chance for the two of us to do something different. Highly recommend the experience.”
“My son just turned 10 and did this to celebrate his birthday with one of his friends. It was incredible. The pilot was patient and friendly, and the boys loved every minute.”
It's your chance to become a pilot for a day. In an airliner flight simulator, a full-size cockpit replica, you take the captain's seat and fly the plane yourself, with a flight instructor beside you the whole time. No experience is needed: you choose your destination among 24,000 airports worldwide, and your instructor guides you at every step. It's a great outing for families, friends and couples, and a gift people remember: your loved ones can watch from the sofa behind the cockpit, and the Duo Package lets two people share the controls. More than 200,000 people have already flown with AviaSim. Packages range from a one-hour first flight to longer sessions with more advanced challenges.
Not at all. No experience required. A short briefing covers the basics, and your instructor guides you step by step, adapting the session to your level. First-timers and aviation fans fly in the same cockpit, just with different challenges.
There's no strict minimum age. What matters is height: about 3 ft 7 in, so you can see outside and reach the controls comfortably. For a younger child, the Duo Package is a great fit: they can share the cockpit with a parent, a sibling or a friend.
No. Our simulators are fixed-base, a deliberate choice for your comfort. Full-motion simulators are very costly, mostly built for airline training, and can cause motion sickness. Keeping the cockpit fixed means the experience stays comfortable and affordable, while the full-size cockpit, panoramic visuals and realistic sound do the rest.
Yes, and it's one of the easiest gifts to give, because it works for just about anyone on your list: a friend, a partner, the whole family or a colleague. You don't need the person's name, contact details or schedule: choose a package and a center, check out, and the boarding pass lands in your inbox right away. It shows no name, date or price and stays valid for three years. They pick their own date and time whenever they're free. Zero hassle gifting.
Right after you buy. Your boarding pass unlocks our online booking platform, where you pick the date and time that suit you, now or later. Why after purchase? Picture this: someone buys a flight as a gift and books a date without knowing the recipient's plans. That slot stays blocked, while another flyer was ready to go. Opening the calendar after purchase keeps availability reliable for everyone. Have a special date in mind? We get it. Contact our team before you buy and they'll check the schedule with you. For the Pilot Introductory Program, the Pro Package and the Fear of Flying Course, our team books your sessions with you over the phone.
Yes. Up to three guests can join the Discovery, Duo, Escape and Extra packages for free. They sit on the sofa at the back of the cockpit, watch the whole flight and can take photos and videos. The Fear of Flying Course, the Pilot Introductory Program and the Pro Package are the exceptions: they're one-on-one with your instructor.
AviaSim has flight simulator centers across the US. You'll find every address and the opening hours on our Find us page.
