Cert Center Canada

What Cert Center Canada does

Cert Center Canada (3C), founded in 2016 and headquartered on the outskirts of Montreal, Quebec, is Canada's first independent flight test, research, development, and certification center serving aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, and government agencies. The company provides end-to-end civil and military aerospace services spanning flight test planning and execution, certification management, systems engineering, human factors engineering, and software development. Its operations are anchored by a Design Approval Organization (DAO) status with Transport Canada and access to Design Approval Representatives (DARs), enabling delegated authority for certification activities.

The company's product portfolio includes proprietary technologies such as CertPro, a web-based certification management tool; the Airfoil Performance Monitor (APM), a wireless aircraft performance monitoring system developed in collaboration with École de technologie supérieure; and Dynamic Non-Linear Displays (DNLD), an innovative cockpit display technology patented in the US and Europe that was integrated into Laminar Research's X-Plane 12.4 simulation platform in August 2025. Cert Center Canada operates a unique adaptive flight test-bed—a modified Piaggio Avanti P-180 aircraft with re-architected avionics enabling rapid testing of novel avionics and unmanned aerial systems without expensive aircraft modifications.

Commercially, Cert Center Canada generates revenue primarily through professional services contracts negotiated individually with aerospace manufacturers and government agencies, with no public pricing disclosed. It operates a B2B consultative sales motion with expertise positioning and industry relationships central to winning work. The company maintains a joint venture with Advanced Aerospace Solutions (AdvAero) and a separately incorporated training joint venture (AerospaceU.com) with KnowledgeOne. Customer base spans enterprise aerospace manufacturers (Bombardier, Gulfstream, Universal Avionics, Jeppesen) and government agencies (NASA, Royal New Zealand Air Force), with emerging exposure to advanced air mobility through partnerships such as Horizon Aircraft's Project HOVR.

Name

Cert Center Canada

Legal name

Cert Center Canada

Website

https://certcentercanada.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cert Center Canada (3C) is an independent Montreal-based flight test, research, and certification center founded in 2016. It provides end-to-end civil and military aerospace services to manufacturers, avionics firms, and government agencies, supported by proprietary tools including CertPro and the Airfoil Performance Monitor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft (3721), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aircraft Inspection, Quality Assurance & Airworthiness (IA Prep) (EDAOAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Certification & Exam Prep eLearning Modules (EDAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Flight test services
• Aerospace certification
• Avionics development
• STC services
• Supplemental type certificate

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Bruno

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Flight Test Services: Comprehensive flight testing services for aerospace manufacturers requiring certification of aircraft, avionics, and systems. Includes research and evaluation, flight test planning, and execution.
2. Aerospace Consulting: Expert consulting services for aerospace certification, systems engineering, and human factors engineering. Includes Design Approval Representative (DAR) services for Transport Canada certification.
3. Training Services: Aviation training including DO-178C and DO-254 certification courses, flight test training, and custom programs for aerospace companies. Delivered through partnerships with educational institutions.
4. Software Development Services: Software development for aerospace applications including certification-related software and tools.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cert Center Canada (3C) is an independent flight test, research, development and certification center providing a wide range of services to the aerospace community in Canada and around the world. The company delivers civil and military aerospace flight testing, certification management, systems engineering, human factors engineering, and avionics development supported by proprietary tools including CertPro, APM, and DNLD display technology.

Product overview

Cert Center Canada (3C) operates as a single, unified independent flight test and certification center offering end-to-end services for the aerospace industry. The core offering is certification consulting and flight testing services, supported by proprietary tools including CertPro for certification management and the Airfoil Performance Monitor (APM) for wireless aircraft monitoring. Key technologies include Dynamic Non-Linear Displays (DNLD), an innovative cockpit display technology now integrated into X-Plane 12.4. Services span civil and military applications with access to Transport Canada Design Approval delegates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cert Center Canada (3C) Flight Test and Certification Services Independent flight test, research, development and certification center providing comprehensive services for civil and military aerospace projects requiring flight test and certification, with proven management, tools, and methods. Includes Design Approval Representative services delegated by Transport Canada.
• CertPro Certification Management Tool Unique web-based software certification management tool used to optimize and manage the certification process. Produces documentation electronically and collects all certification evidence electronically at the time it is produced. Web-based nature makes it ideal for international collaborations on aerospace certification projects.
• Airfoil Performance Monitor (APM) Wireless aircraft performance monitoring system using a small, battery powered mast assembly deployed on aircraft wings with wireless data transmission to cockpit-based receivers. Used to monitor aircraft wing performance.
• Dynamic Non-Linear Displays (DNLD) Innovative cockpit display technology addressing problems with conventional real-time displays requiring high resolution and very large ranges simultaneously. Applied to airspeed and altitude tapes on Head Up Displays (HUD) and Electronic Flight Instrumentation Systems (EFIS). Protected by US and European patents.
• Aerospace Training Services Aviation training services including DO-178C and DO-254 certification courses, flight test training, and custom programs delivered through partnerships with educational institutions and AerospaceU.com joint venture with KnowledgeOne.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully conducted NASA's most extensive and complex general aviation trials under Synthetic Vision System program - approximately 40 sorties flown in three weeks at Reno, Nevada
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Surrey Sensors Ltd (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Joint R&D project enhancing Airfoil Performance Monitor (APM) with additional sensor technology and expertise. Project supported by Innovate UK and National Research Council of Canada.
• Horizon AircraftmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025Partnership on Project CRYSTAL (now Project HOVR) for all-weather eVTOL certification. Cert Center Canada provides flight testing and certification services as part of the second phase. Horizon Aircraft secured $2 million INSAT grant for the project.
• ITPSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2025Partnership to deliver capstone flight test experience for emerging aerospace professionals. Cert Center Canada hosted capstone flight test exercise for ITPS participants.
• Urban AeronauticsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2017Partnership to pave the way toward full FAA Type Certification of Urban Aeronautics' Fancraft vehicle.
• AlizemminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2014MOU regarding software certification aspects of Alizem's Embedded Motor Control Software for Critical Applications.
• GosNIIAS (Russian State Research Institute of Aviation Systems)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2013Strategic MOU signed June 2013 for certification of Russian-produced Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) systems. Multi-year program to gain Western approval of Russian avionics. MOU signed at Joint Session of Russia-Canada Intergovernmental Economic Commission in Moscow.
• CAEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2013DO-178C and DO-254 training contract awarded to Marinvent/Cert Center Canada through CAPE program. Training course opens collaboration line focused on avionics and aircraft systems certification.
• École de technologie supérieure (ETS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2013Joint development of wireless prototyping process for Airfoil Performance Monitor (APM) through Engage project. Collaboration with ETS Laboratory of Specialized Embedded System, Navigation and Avionic (LASSENA).
• Ohio/Indiana UAS Center & Test ComplexminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 April 2013Cert Center Canada (via Marinvent) joined User Advisory Panel along with AdvAero in support of FAA UAS Test Site bid.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2012Partnership with AdvAero for one-stop shop world-class research providing cost-effective R&D alternative for aviation and aerospace industry.
• Jeppesen SandersonmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 1998Long-standing strategic alliance with Jeppesen Sanderson for system engineering, human factors analysis, and software design and development. Joint development of MC3 Vector Graphics Library. Jeppesen acquired the TCL and MC3 VGT technology from Marinvent in 2002.
• Advanced Aerospace Solutions (AdvAero)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based joint venture partner headquartered in Raleigh, NC. AdvAero and Cert Center Canada (through predecessor Marinvent) share expertise, flight test aircraft, and customer relationships. Together they provide comprehensive aerospace R&D test and evaluation services with over 100 combined years of experience. Joint operations include NASA contracts, NextGen technology testing, and shared STC development.
• AerospaceU.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between Marinvent Corporation and KnowledgeOne to provide online aerospace training courses including DO-178 certification programs.
• TG AviationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for aircraft modification engineering, including Meggitt Magic EFIS STC for Piper Cheyenne and ACSS T2CAS STC for Piaggio Avanti.
• Universal AvionicsmajorTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing technology partnership for avionics integration including STC development. AdvAero/Marinvent test aircraft equipped with Universal systems including UNS-1Ew FMS, EFI-890R displays, and Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System.
• Kitchener Aero AvionicsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUpgraded Marinvent's Piper Super-Cheyenne cockpit with Universal EFI-890R Flat-Panel EFIS Display System, TAWS, and Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System.
• Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUniversal Avionics Authorized Dealer that performed Piaggio Avanti upgrade at Toronto Pearson International Airport location.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LDRA: Provider of software quality, testing, and certification tools for safety-critical aerospace, defense, and automotive systems — closely comparable to Cert Center Canada's CertPro certification management software offering.
• AFuzion: Global DO-178/DO-254 training and certification consulting firm offering aviation software certification courses and implementation services — directly comparable to Cert Center Canada's AerospaceU.com DO-178/DO-254 training revenue stream.
• National Test Pilot School (NTPS): Mojave, CA-based flight test training school offering professional flight test engineer and test pilot courses to aerospace industry and government clients — overlapping with 3C's flight test training and DO-178C/DO-254 curriculum.
• Calspan: Independent US-based aerospace flight testing and research facility operating a fleet of modified test aircraft and offering flight test, certification support, and crash testing services to aerospace manufacturers and government agencies — the closest North American analog to Cert Center Canada's independent flight test and certification model.
• ITPS Canada: Canadian branch of International Test Pilot School providing commercial and military flight test training; active partner of Cert Center Canada delivering capstone flight test experiences and joint service offerings in the Canadian market.
• Advanced Aerospace Solutions (AdvAero): Raleigh, NC-based joint venture partner of Cert Center Canada providing complementary US aerospace R&D, flight test, and certification services; shares personnel, test aircraft (Piaggio Avanti, Piper Cheyenne), and joint NASA/STC programs with 3C.

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Montreal-based global leader in aerospace training, simulation, and aviation services — a large incumbent partner of Cert Center Canada through the CAPE DO-178C/DO-254 training program with overlapping certification training offerings.
• QinetiQ: UK-headquartered defense and aerospace technology company with extensive aerospace testing, flight evaluation, and certification services across military and civil programs — a much larger incumbent offering overlapping capabilities as part of a broader portfolio.

Regional players

• National Research Council Canada (Aerospace Research Centre): Canadian federal aerospace research laboratory operating flight test facilities and certification support programs — a government-backed regional player whose mandate and infrastructure overlap with 3C's independent certification services.

Emerging players

• CMC Electronics: Montreal-based avionics integrator designing and certifying flight management systems, displays, and cockpit avionics for civil and military platforms — operates in the same Montreal aerospace cluster as 3C with overlapping avionics certification expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CertCenterCanad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCb61G0cGRqJb4JJ-p4cfCsw
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cert-center-canada
• Instagraminstagram.com/certcentercanada

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cert Center Canada