Take the Controls of an Aircraft in Cyprus: Where to Try Being a Pilot

You do not have to enrol in flight school or obtain a licence to try yourself in the role of a pilot. In the Republic of Cyprus, you can take a trial flight in a small aircraft with a professional instructor and, after a briefing, take control yourself in the air.

This is not a flight simulator or an ordinary sightseeing flight: the participant takes a seat in the cockpit of a real light aircraft, becomes familiar with its controls, and during the flight the instructor allows them to try flying the aircraft themselves. Naturally, the instructor remains beside the participant at all times and retains full control of the flight.

• Can you really control the aircraft yourself?
• Pilot for a Day by AG Flights
• Trial Flight at Aviation School of Cyprus
• Other trial flights in Cyprus
• How do the offers differ?
• Do you need a pilot's licence and a medical certificate?
• What happens in bad weather?
• Frequently asked questions

Can you really control the aircraft yourself?

Yes. In Cyprus, introductory flights, discovery flights and trial flights are available — familiarisation flights during which a person with no flying experience can try to control a real light aircraft under the supervision of a qualified instructor.

The format depends on the particular flight school. Usually, the first step is a pre-flight briefing: the participant is introduced to the basic principles of flight, shown the instruments and controls, and told about the safety rules.

The participant then takes one of the pilot's seats. Take-off is carried out by a professional pilot or instructor. Once a safe altitude has been reached, control may be handed over to the participant.

Of course, the independence involved is relative. The instructor remains beside the participant at all times, is responsible for the aircraft and can intervene in the controls at any moment. Landing is also carried out by a professional pilot.

Nevertheless, this is a completely real flight: instead of simply observing from a passenger seat, the person gets the opportunity to feel how the aircraft responds to their own actions.

Pilot for a Day by AG Flights

One of the clearest offers for those looking specifically for an experience rather than wanting to start pilot training immediately is called Pilot for a Day. It is offered by AG Flights.

The programme is designed for people with no previous aviation experience. A pilot's licence and an aviation medical certificate are not required.

A separate ground briefing is conducted before the flight. The participant is shown the aircraft, the purpose of the main instruments and controls is explained, and they are told what will happen during the flight.

After take-off, the instructor gives the participant the opportunity to control the aircraft in the air. Everything takes place under the instructor's constant supervision: the instructor remains the pilot in command, determines which manoeuvres are permitted and immediately takes back control if necessary.

How long does the flight last?

The participant spends 60 minutes in the air, with a possible deviation of approximately 5 minutes.

It is important that the pre-flight briefing is conducted separately and is not deducted from this hour. After returning, a discussion of the completed flight with the instructor is also provided.

How much does Pilot for a Day cost?

In 2026, two options are offered:

• €450 — two-seat aircraft: one participant and an instructor;
• €550 — four-seat aircraft: two participants and an instructor.

In the second case, €550 is the price of the entire programme for two participants, which effectively works out at €275 per person.

The specific aircraft model is determined when booking, taking into account aircraft availability and operating conditions.

Where does the flight depart from?

Flights are organised from Larnaca or Paphos. The specific airport is confirmed by the company after receiving the request and depends on aircraft availability and the operational situation.

Age and restrictions

Independent participation is possible from the age of 16.

The maximum passenger weight is 100 kg. Before confirming the flight, the company also checks whether the selected aircraft is suitable for the number of participants, their weight and other operational requirements.

For a person who specifically wants to try handling the aircraft, the participation conditions and the possibility of handing control to a child or teenager should be confirmed separately when booking.

Can you give the flight as a gift?

Yes. Pilot for a Day can be purchased as a gift certificate. At the time of preparing this article, such a certificate is valid for six months.

Cost: €450 / €550
Flight duration: 60 minutes ±5 minutes
Location: Larnaca or Paphos
Experience: not required
Website: ag-flights.com

Trial Flight at Aviation School of Cyprus

A more affordable option is offered by Pigeon Aviation — Aviation School of Cyprus. This is an operating private flight school based directly at Larnaca International Airport and working since 2019.

The school provides full pilot training, including training for the European EASA Private Pilot Licence, but you can also try a flight here without enrolling on a course.

There is a separate service for this: Trial Flight.

Trial flight cost

The school's official website lists the following price for 2026:

€200 + 19% VAT for one hour.

Thus, including VAT, the cost is €238.

The service lasts 1 hour.

This is considerably cheaper than the Pilot for a Day programme by AG Flights. However, the description of the Trial Flight on the Pigeon Aviation website is much less detailed: the school does not specify separately the duration of the ground briefing or the number of minutes during which the participant is given control.

It therefore makes sense to clarify these details directly when booking.

What aircraft are used?

Aviation School of Cyprus uses modern light aircraft made by the Italian manufacturer Tecnam. The school's fleet includes aircraft intended, among other things, for initial pilot training.

These small aircraft are particularly well suited to first lessons: the instructor and student sit next to each other, and the controls are designed for training someone without extensive experience.

Where is the school located?

Aviation School of Cyprus is based directly at Larnaca International Airport.

The website states that the school operates daily from 07:00 to 19:00. The time of the specific flight must be agreed in advance.

Cost: €200 + 19% VAT (€238)
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Larnaca International Airport
Phone: +357 99 671357
Website: asoc.aero

Other trial flights in Cyprus

These two options are not the only ones available. Other flight schools in Cyprus also offer introductory or discovery flights.

Lift Aviation Academy

Lift Aviation Academy offers an Introduction to Flying Lesson / Discovery Flight. This format is already as close as possible to a real first flying lesson.

The participant undergoes a pre-flight briefing, inspects the aircraft together with the instructor, takes a pilot's seat and gets the opportunity to control the aircraft in the air under the supervision of a certified instructor.

An interesting feature of the programme is that the time spent in the air may be logged as the first flight time if the person later decides to continue pilot training.

Cost: €250
Format: introductory flying lesson
Website: lift.cy

Aviator Flight Center

Another option is Aviator Flight Center. The centre also offers an Introductory Flight for people who want to try flying or are considering further training.

The programme includes a pre-flight briefing, an introduction to the aircraft and its controls, and hands-on flying: the participant is allowed to take control under the supervision of a certified instructor.

The current public price is not listed on the official Introductory Flights page, so the cost and duration must be requested directly from the centre.

Phone: +357 99 660876
Website: aviator.com.cy

Which option should you choose?

Despite the similar idea, the offers differ in format.

AG Flights Pilot for a Day is more like an independent experience or an unusual gift. The conditions are set out in detail in advance: one hour actually in the air, a separate briefing, the opportunity to take control after take-off, and a choice of programme for one or two participants.

Pigeon Aviation / Aviation School of Cyprus is a full-fledged flight school. The Trial Flight here costs significantly less and may be particularly interesting for someone who wants to find out whether they enjoy piloting and whether they should obtain a licence in the future.

Lift Aviation Academy falls somewhere between these formats: it is a genuine introductory lesson costing €250, and the flight time obtained may become the first step towards further training.

Do you need a pilot's licence and a medical certificate?

A pilot's licence is not required for an introductory flight — that is precisely the point of such programmes.

The participant does not become the pilot in command. Responsibility for the flight lies with the professional pilot or instructor, who remains nearby and monitors the person's actions at the controls.

For the AG Flights Pilot for a Day programme, it is expressly stated that previous experience, a pilot's licence and an aviation medical certificate are not required.

However, if after the trial flight you want to continue training and obtain a PPL — Private Pilot Licence, the requirements will be completely different and will include full theoretical and practical training.

What happens in bad weather?

Light aviation flights are considerably more dependent on weather conditions than regular passenger flights.

Even in sunny weather, strong winds, low cloud or other conditions that the instructor considers unsuitable for an introductory flight may result in a postponement.

AG Flights expressly states that the schedule depends on the weather. If conditions do not allow the planned flight to take place, the company contacts the client to arrange the next suitable option.

Therefore, it is better not to plan such a flight as an event that must take place at a specific hour on the last day of your holiday.

Frequently asked questions

Is it true that a person without a licence will be allowed to control the aircraft?

Yes. During an introductory flight, the instructor may give the participant control of the aircraft in the air. At the same time, the instructor remains beside the participant, is responsible for the flight and can intervene in the controls at any moment.

Are you allowed to take off and land yourself?

In the AG Flights programme, take-off and landing are performed by the instructor. The conditions offered by other schools should be clarified before the flight. For a person with no flying experience, the main opportunity to work with the controls independently is usually provided after reaching altitude.

Which is the most affordable option?

Among the offers with prices published at the time this article was prepared, the Trial Flight at Aviation School of Cyprus costs €200 + 19% VAT, or €238. Lift Aviation Academy lists €250 all inclusive, while Pilot for a Day by AG Flights starts at €450.

How long does the flight last?

With AG Flights, the flight itself lasts 60 minutes ±5 minutes, while the ground briefing is conducted separately. Aviation School of Cyprus lists the duration of the Trial Flight as one hour. The conditions of other programmes should be clarified when booking.

Can you give such a flight as a gift?

Yes. For example, AG Flights offers gift certificates for Pilot for a Day. At the time this article was prepared, a certificate for this programme was valid for six months.

Can two people fly together?

AG Flights has an option involving a four-seat aircraft for two participants and an instructor at a cost of €550 for the entire programme. The actual number of people on board always depends on the type of aircraft, passenger weight, fuel reserves and other safety requirements.

Where do the flights depart from?

Most offers are concentrated in Larnaca. Aviation School of Cyprus is based directly at Larnaca International Airport. AG Flights organises Pilot for a Day flights from Larnaca or Paphos — the specific departure location is confirmed when booking.

What should you wear for a trial flight?

It is best to choose comfortable everyday clothing and closed shoes without high heels. If a particular school has additional requirements concerning clothing or items that may be taken on board, these will be communicated when the flight is confirmed.

Can you start pilot training afterwards?

Yes. Many flight schools conduct introductory and discovery flights specifically to familiarise people with aviation. If you enjoy your first flight, the next step may be training for a Private Pilot Licence (PPL). At Lift Aviation Academy, the introductory lesson is explicitly positioned as the first step towards a PPL, and the flight time obtained may be logged as part of the training.