ASA

Aviation Training Materialsasa2fly.com

ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.) is an independently held Kalamazoo-based publisher of FAA-authorized aviation training materials, serving pilots, A&P mechanics, dispatchers, remote pilots, and flight instructors with textbooks, Prepware software, online ground school, and pilot supplies.

Company typePrivate
Founded1940
HeadquartersSeattle, United States
Headcount501–1,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What ASA does

ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.), founded in 1940 and headquartered at 817 Walbridge St., Kalamazoo, Michigan, is an independently held specialty publisher and distributor of FAA-authorized aviation training materials. The company sells printed textbooks, official FAA handbooks, FAR/AIM series, test preparation books, oral exam guides, and pilot supplies (flight bags, plotters, kneeboards, logbooks, flight timers), alongside digital variants of the same content delivered via eBook (PDF and EB formats), Prepware test prep software, and the Online Ground School subscription platform. ASA holds authorized publisher relationships with the FAA that allow it to produce and refresh official handbooks (e.g., Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Aviation Weather Handbook, Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbooks for General/Airframe/Powerplant) and Practical Test Standards on a recurring revision cycle.

ASA's product surface spans five primary customer segments: aspiring and current pilots (private through ATP), aviation maintenance technicians (A&P), aircraft dispatchers, remote pilots (sUAS under Part 107), and certified flight instructors (CFIs). Within each segment, ASA bundles physical books, eBooks, prepware, video, oral exam guides, and test standards into training kits and collections. Distribution runs through asa2fly.com direct e-commerce, authorized dealers and distributors, online retail partners, mobile applications for digital products, and the University Aviation Press academic division serving aviation degree programs. Geographic reach is described as global through dealer and online retail channels, though primary demand is U.S.-anchored.

ASA operates a hybrid revenue model: one-time purchase of physical books and digital downloads (per-unit pricing typically $9.95 to $89.95), recurring subscription access to Prepware Online and Online Ground School, and hardware/merchandise sales of aviation supplies. Marketing is predominantly organic: SEO on asa2fly.com, a Learn to Fly blog, the ENROUTE email newsletter, social channels on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube, aviation trade shows, and community/industry partnerships. The company is privately held with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional ownership, and no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or leadership transitions in the input material.

ASA firmographics

Firmographics

Name: ASA
Legal name: Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.
Website: https://asa2fly.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1940
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 501–1,000 employees
Short description: ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.) is an independently held Kalamazoo-based publisher of FAA-authorized aviation training materials, serving pilots, A&P mechanics, dispatchers, remote pilots, and flight instructors with textbooks, Prepware software, online ground school, and pilot supplies.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

ASA industry classification

Industry

Product category: Aviation Training Materials
NAICS: Flight Training (611512), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)
SIC: Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
akta.pro primary industry: Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

Aviation training materials
FAA test preparation
Pilot study guides
Aviation mechanic textbooks
Flight supplies

Where ASA is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Seattle
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

ASA business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Physical Books and Textbooks: One-time sales of printed FAA handbooks, test prep books, oral exam guides, and aviation textbooks for pilots, mechanics, and dispatchers. Products available in softcover and bundle formats.
Digital Products (eBooks and Downloads): Sale of digital aviation training materials including eBooks in multiple formats (PDF, EB), downloadable study guides, and digital test prep products.
Online Subscriptions and Access: Subscription-based access to Prepware Online and Online Ground School platforms for ongoing test preparation and training.
Aviation Supplies and Equipment: Sale of pilot supplies including headsets, flight bags, plotters, flight computers, kneeboards, logbooks, and other flight equipment.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Individual product purchases for physical and digital formats

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

ASA product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ASA publishes and distributes FAA-authorized aviation training materials and pilot supplies for pilot, aviation mechanic, aircraft dispatcher, and remote pilot certification. Core offerings include test preparation (books and Prepware software), official FAA handbooks and regulations (FAR/AIM series), online ground school, oral exam guides, and flight accessories such as plotters, flight computers, kneeboards, and logbooks, delivered via direct e-commerce, dealer networks, and digital platforms.

Product overview

ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.) is a publisher and distributor of FAA-approved aviation training materials founded in 1940. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of test preparation products (Prepware books and software, ground school, oral exam guides), official FAA publications (handbooks, regulations, test standards), and aviation supplies. The core offering consists of Test Prep materials for pilot and aviation mechanic certification, the FAA Library of official handbooks, and the Pilot Library of textbooks. Products are available in multiple formats including softcover, eBook (PD and EB), and eBundle. The product line covers all pilot certificates from private through airline transport pilot, remote pilot/sUAS, aircraft dispatcher, and aviation mechanic ratings (General, Airframe, Powerplant).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Test Prep Comprehensive test preparation materials for pilot and aviation mechanic certification exams, including books, Prepware software, ground school, video courses, and oral exam guides. Available for pilot, remote pilot, aviation mechanic, and pilot training kit categories.
Prepware Digital test preparation software for FAA knowledge exams covering pilot, remote pilot, and aviation mechanic certifications. Available as a software product and an online subscription (Prepware Online).
Online Ground School Online ground school instruction for pilot training, providing comprehensive coursework for various pilot certificate levels (pilot and remote pilot).
Oral Exam Guides Comprehensive preparation guides for the oral exam portion of practical flight tests for private pilot through flight instructor certificates, plus aviation mechanic oral and practical exam guides.
FAR/AIM Series Federal Aviation Regulations and Aeronautical Information Manual publications including FAR/AIM for pilots, FAR-FC for flight crew, FAR-AMT for aviation mechanics, and the Aviation Dictionary.
Pilot Library Comprehensive collection of aviation textbooks covering aerodynamics, flight skills, aircraft systems, weather, professional pilot development, plus Instructor Library, Flight Skills, Make and Model, and eBook Collections.
FAA Library Authentic FAA handbooks, FAA Test Standards (ACS and PTS), and official guidance publications for pilot and aviation mechanic certification. Includes Pilot Handbooks and Mechanic Handbooks subcategories.
Aviation Mechanic Materials Complete textbooks and test preparation for Part 147 aviation maintenance technician courses covering General, Airframe, and Powerplant ratings, including Aviation Mechanic Series, FAA Handbooks, and FAR-AMT publications.
Aviation Supplies Flight accessories including plotters, flight computers, kneeboards, flight bags, headsets, pilot tools, fuel testers, pitot tube covers, wheel chocks, logbooks, ASA merchandise, and the ASA Flight Timer.

Companies that use ASA

Customer profile

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

ASA technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

ASA partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

ASA competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Gleim Aviation: Gleim is the most direct competitor to ASA, publishing FAA test prep books, study guides, and online courses for pilot, mechanic, and dispatcher certifications with a catalog that mirrors ASA's pilot and A&P coverage.
Sporty's Pilot Shop: Sporty's combines pilot training products (courseware, test prep, video training) with an aviation supplies retail operation, directly overlapping ASA's combined publishing-plus-supplies business model.
King Schools: King Schools produces video-based pilot training courses and test prep for FAA certifications, competing head-to-head with ASA's Prepware and Online Ground School in the private pilot through ATP segments.
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty: Aircraft Spruce is a large pilot supply retailer selling flight bags, headsets, plotters, kneeboards, and accessories, directly overlapping ASA's pilot supplies catalog with broader catalog breadth.
Pilot Mall: Pilot Mall is an online retailer of pilot supplies, training accessories, and aviation training materials, competing with ASA across both training content and supplies categories.

Broad incumbents

Jeppesen (Boeing): Jeppesen, a Boeing subsidiary, produces pilot training materials, manuals, and digital flight materials at a global scale, making it a broader incumbent serving commercial aviation training markets that overlap with ASA's pilot library offerings.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): AOPA is a broad membership and pilot advocacy organization that produces training content, publications, and pilot resources, serving as an authoritative distribution channel and content source comparable to ASA's pilot library.

Others

The Pilot's Manual Series (ASA imprint/line): The Pilot's Manual textbook series is itself a key category within ASA's catalog and competes conceptually with independent aviation textbook authors; included here as a vertical-specific reference point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

ASA financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

ASA leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

ASA funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

ASA M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ASA

What does ASA do?

Is ASA a public or private company?

ASA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was ASA founded?

ASA was founded in 1940. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is ASA based?

ASA is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.

How does ASA make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Physical Books and Textbooks are the primary driver. The others are digital Products (eBooks and Downloads), online Subscriptions and Access and aviation Supplies and Equipment.

Who are ASA's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Gleim Aviation, Sporty's Pilot Shop, King Schools, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty and Pilot Mall. Broad incumbents are Jeppesen (Boeing) and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). The Pilot's Manual Series (ASA imprint/line) is listed as an others.

Does ASA have an API?

No public API is recorded for ASA.

What industry is ASA in?

ASA's product category is Aviation Training Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABALAC, Aviation & Aerospace. Its NAICS code is 611512 and its SIC code is 3728.