One Day Pilot Experience in Kuala Lumpur – Review

Some people are born with that natural urge to try to drive anything that moves — cars, motorbikes, boats, airplanes…

I’ve never been one of those people. Uber works just fine for me.

So, I actually didn’t find the idea of learning to fly a plane all that appealing. Still, I decided to do it anyway because it’s good to push myself out of my comfortable bubble sometimes.

Also, it was my 30th birthday, and I needed something to brag about.

The next time someone makes fun of me for not knowing how to drive, I can clap back with, “At least I can fly a plane.” Ha!

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Table of Contents

What is the one-day pilot experience?

After a quick Google search, I came across Oxbold, a company that offers all sorts of adventure experiences in Malaysia, from drifting cars to paragliding and watersports.

One of their more unusual offerings is a one-day pilot experience at Subang Airport, located just outside Kuala Lumpur.

The concept is pretty simple: even with zero flying experience, you can learn the basics of piloting a real aircraft and fly it over Kuala Lumpur alongside a licensed pilot.

And no, this is not one of those flight simulator games you can find in mall arcades.

This is an actual plane. In actual airspace. Over actual Kuala Lumpur.

The experience is open to beginners, including teenagers, so if you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to sit in a cockpit and take control of an aircraft, this is probably the closest most of us can get.

How to book the experience

I booked directly through the Oxbold website, though similar flying experiences occasionally appear on travel platforms like Klook too.

How much does it cost?

At the time of writing, there were two flight duration options available at Oxbold:

30-minute flight: RM800
60-minute flight: RM1,300

Both packages included a short ground briefing, basic introduction to aircraft controls and radio communication, and the flight itself with an instructor pilot.

You also have the option to bring up to 2 guests as passengers, seated in the back seats, for an additional fee.

Rates do not include insurance, meals, or transportation to/from the airport.

Since pricing and policies may change over time, it’s best to confirm the latest details directly with the provider before making a booking.

Where does the flight take place?

The experience takes place at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, better known as Subang Airport or SkyPark.

It’s actually much closer to Kuala Lumpur city center than Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which makes getting there fairly convenient.

The easiest way to get to Subang Airport from Kuala Lumpur is by Grab or car. If you’re driving, there’s paid parking available at the airport.

What to bring

IC or passport is mandatory to enter the restricted airport areas.
Smart casual attire. No singlets or shorts.
Closed-toe shoes. No sandals, slippers or flip-flops.
Hangar access fee of RM15 per person (subject to change).
Water and snacks if you want, in case of flight delays.
Camera

The aircraft I flew in was not air-conditioned, so airy lightweight clothing definitely helped.

Most importantly, bring a sense of humour. You’ll need it if your pilot enjoys teasing nervous passengers.

What to expect

I initially booked the flight for my birthday, but it had to be postponed twice due to bad haze (thanks, Indonesia).

When flight day finally arrived, I met my instructor, Captain Andreas, shortly before takeoff.

Done with registration and signing the usual indemnity forms, we checked in for our flight and went through security. It was just like boarding a commercial flight. We had to go through the metal detector and all that.

Then, we made our way to the hangar, where rows of light aircrafts were kept. One was already waiting outside. That was the one we were going to fly in.

Captain Andreas gave me a quick introduction to the aircraft and explained the basic controls. Then we climbed into the cockpit and buckled up.

First came taxiing the aircraft on the ground, which immediately reminded me of the driving tests I took many, many moons ago (and failed, twice).

Apparently I taxied “quite well”, although Andreas joked that the control tower might report us as suspected drunk drivers.

Comforting.

For safety reasons, he handled the takeoff. Once we reached cruising altitude, he handed control over to me.

And just like that, I was flying a plane over Kuala Lumpur.

We flew past landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers, the KL Tower, and Batu Caves. From above, the famous golden statue at Batu Caves looked tiny. Like something you’d find inside a Kinder Joy egg.

At one point, Andreas jokingly dipped the aircraft to scare me a little.

In my panic, I randomly grabbed something to hold on to and accidentally pushed the controls the wrong way, not realizing that by doing so, I was making the plane dip even more.

So, for a split second, we nosedived while I screamed loud enough to communicate directly with nearby satellites.

He recovered the plane immediately. But I’m fairly sure my soul briefly left my body and hovered somewhere in the clouds.

The rest of the flight was smooth and peaceful. Flying over Kuala Lumpur in a small aircraft gives you a completely different perspective of the city. Everything looks oddly calm from above, even the traffic.

Before I knew it, 30 minutes had gone by, and we had to prepare for landing. The instructor took over again for the approach and touchdown, which I was more than happy about. We even did a wheelie on the runway.

After landing, I helped him push the aircraft back into the hangar. Two persons could easily push it without much effort. It’s probably not even as heavy as a car.

Then, we took a few more photos together and said goodbye.

Final thoughts

So, can I really fly a plane now? No, but people don’t have to know that.

I booked this experience as a birthday gift to myself, and I couldn’t have asked for a better present.

Even as someone with zero interest in vehicles, engines, or aviation, I genuinely enjoyed it. A huge part of that was thanks to Captain Andreas, who somehow managed to make the experience feel exciting without making me feel completely terrified.

If you’re looking for an unusual activity in Kuala Lumpur, this makes a fun bucket-list experience, birthday gift, or group activity with friends, family, or someone special (well, it’d better be someone special, because it’s certainly not cheap!).