Select Aviation College
Select Aviation College is a Transport Canada-approved flight training institution in Gatineau, Quebec, offering accredited commercial pilot programs, modular training, helicopter tours, and aircraft maintenance to aspiring pilots from over 35 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersDrummondville, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Select Aviation College does
Select Aviation College is a Transport Canada-approved flight training institution headquartered at the Gatineau/Ottawa Executive Airport (CYND) in Quebec, Canada. Founded in 2012 by Daniel Cyr and Patrick Richardson, the college offers four Attestation of College Studies (ACS) programs covering Integrated ATPL (EWA.1F), Commercial Airplane (EWA.16), Bush Pilot (EWA.18), and Commercial Helicopter (EWA.1G), alongside modular self-paced pilot licensing and rating courses. Instruction is delivered using a 100%-owned fleet of 40+ training aircraft (Cessna 150/172/180/185, Piper Seminole PA-44, Robinson R44, Bell 505) and three Transport Canada-approved ALSIM flight simulators (one ALX and two AL-250), supported by an in-house Transport Canada-certified maintenance organization operating as an authorized Robinson Helicopter service center.
The college generates revenue across four streams: ACS program tuition (recognized by government financial aid in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan), modular training fees, tourism and charter services (helicopter tours, pilot introductions, private charters booked via FareHarbor at $189-$870 per package), and aircraft maintenance services. Customer segments include aspiring professional pilots as the primary segment, international students from 35+ countries supported by regional recruitment coordinators in Latin America and Africa, Canadian military veterans using Veterans Affairs Canada benefits (up to $80K), and tourism/experience consumers.
Go-to-market combines sales-led direct admissions (inquiry forms, interviews with the Dean, customized quotes) with event-driven engagement (open houses, webinars, virtual tours) and a multi-channel digital presence. Strategic partnerships include the Porter Airlines Destination Porter mentorship program (graduates receive preferential airline employment consideration), Desjardins student financing (up to $100,000 at preferential rates), and Veterans Affairs Canada. The college is licensed by Quebec's Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur and operates as an independent founder-owned private institution with no disclosed external equity backing.
Select Aviation College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Select Aviation College
- Legal name
- Richcopter inc / Select Aviation College
- Website
- https://selectaviation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Select Aviation College is a Transport Canada-approved flight training institution in Gatineau, Quebec, offering accredited commercial pilot programs, modular training, helicopter tours, and aircraft maintenance to aspiring pilots from over 35 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Select Aviation College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Training and Flight Education
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512), Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)
Keywords
Where Select Aviation College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Drummondville
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Select Aviation College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- College Programs Tuition: Attestation of College Studies (ACS) programs including EWA.1F (Integrated ATPL), EWA.16 (Airplane), EWA.18 (Bush Pilot), and EWA.1G (Helicopter CPL). Tuition recognized by government financial aid programs.
- Modular Training Programs: Self-paced pilot licensing and rating courses including PPL, CPL, seaplane ratings, IFR renewal, and license conversions for both fixed-wing and helicopter.
- Tourism and Charter Services: Helicopter tours (urban, nature, custom), pilot experience introductions, simulator sessions, and private charter flights to destinations including Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City.
- Aircraft Maintenance Services: Transport Canada-approved maintenance organization serving both college fleet and external customers, including ROBINSON authorized service center.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Airplane Training Introduction |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Helicopter Training Introduction |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Simulator Session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Duo Experience (Airplane + Helicopter) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ottawa City Helicopter Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | National Capital Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Deserted Beach Excursion |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mountain Summit Excursion |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Desjardins Student Loan |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Select Aviation College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Select Aviation College delivers Transport Canada-approved flight training through four Attestation of College Studies (ACS) programs covering Integrated ATPL, Airplane, Bush, and Helicopter commercial pilot tracks, alongside flexible modular pilot licensing courses. Instruction is delivered using a 100%-owned fleet of 40+ training aircraft and three ALSIM flight simulators at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport. Complementary revenue services include helicopter tourism tours, private charters, introductory pilot experiences, and aircraft maintenance through its authorized Robinson Helicopter service center.
Product overview
Select Aviation College is an aviation training institution offering a unified portfolio of pilot training programs. The core offering consists of four Attestation of College Studies (ACS) programs: EWA.1F (Integrated ATPL), EWA.16 (Airplane), EWA.18 (Bush/Seaplane), and EWA.1G (Helicopter), supplemented by flexible modular programs for self-paced learning. The college operates a fleet of 40+ training aircraft (Cessna, Piper, Robinson, Bell) and three ALSIM flight simulators for hands-on instruction. Supporting services include helicopter tourism tours, private charter flights, introductory pilot experiences, and an in-house Transport Canada-approved maintenance organization. The products work together to provide a comprehensive pathway from beginner pilot training through commercial airline-ready certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EWA.1F - Commercial Air Transport Pilot - Integrated ATPL
- EWA.16 - Commercial Air Transport Pilot - Airplane
- EWA.18 - Commercial Air Transport Pilot - Bush
- EWA.1G - Commercial Air Transport Pilot - Helicopter
- Modular Pilot Training Programs
- Helicopter Tours
- Private Helicopter Charter
- Pilot Experience / Introduction to Piloting
- Select Aviation Maintenance Organization
Quantifiable outcome
- Success rate above Transport Canada national standard
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Select Aviation College
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Select Aviation College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Select Aviation College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Porter AirlinescorePorter Airlines Destination Porter pilot mentorship program offers graduates insights and mentorship from experienced Porter Airlines pilots, along with preferential consideration for employment opportunities upon graduation.
- Robinson Helicopter CompanycoreSelect Aviation is an authorized ROBINSON service center, providing high-quality helicopter maintenance services at affordable prices with certified mechanics.
- Colibri, Blue Cross, Fondation OLOminorRecommended medical insurance providers for international students required under Quebec regulations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Select Aviation College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Harv's Air: Family-run Canadian flight training school operating in Manitoba and Saskatchewan with a multi-base model. Direct peer in Transport Canada-regulated training, comparable fleet ownership approach, and overlapping recreational/CPL student segments.
- Moncton Flight College: Canadian Transport Canada-approved flight training school in New Brunswick offering integrated and modular pilot programs with a comparable owned/leased fleet model. Closest direct Canadian peer to Select in scope, regulatory basis, and target student.
- Toronto Airways: Ontario-based flight training school offering PPL, CPL, and rating programs on a multi-aircraft fleet at a regional Canadian airport. Direct competitor for Ontario-resident students and overlapping recreational/private pilot demand with Select's modular programs.
Broad incumbents
- CAE Inc. Montreal-based global leader in aviation training, operating flight academies worldwide that compete directly with Select's integrated ATPL and commercial pilot programs. Far larger scale and global footprint, but shares the core Transport Canada-regulated training model.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: World's largest fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, with integrated flight training programs producing airline-bound pilots. Competes for international students and offers degree-credentialed training that Select's college-attestation model does not.
- ATP Flight School: Largest US-based flight training school offering integrated airline career pilot programs with airline partnerships (e.g., regional carriers). Competes with Select for international students considering North American pilot training and offers a similar pathway-to-airline value proposition.
- FlightSafety International: Global leader in professional aviation training with simulator-based advanced pilot, type-rating, and recurrent training. Operates at the high end of the training stack (post-license crew training), making it more of an upmarket adjacent than a direct small-school competitor.
- Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: US aviation college offering pilot and aviation maintenance programs with both degree and diploma pathways. Comparable scope (pilot training + aviation maintenance training), overlapping with Select's combined flight-school + maintenance-organization model.
Emerging players
- Seneca Polytechnic (School of Aviation): Ontario-based public college offering aviation diploma programs with flight training components. Competes for the same Canadian-resident aspiring pilot pool, especially those seeking government-funded pathways.
- Mount Royal University (Aviation Diploma): Calgary-based public university offering aviation diploma programs with flight training at a regional Alberta airport. Targets a similar Canadian and international student demographic and competes for Alberta-funded enrollments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Select Aviation College social profiles
Digital presenceSelect Aviation College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Select Aviation College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Select Aviation College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Select Aviation College subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Select Aviation College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Select Aviation College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Select Aviation College
What does Select Aviation College do?
Select Aviation College delivers Transport Canada-approved flight training through four Attestation of College Studies (ACS) programs covering Integrated ATPL, Airplane, Bush, and Helicopter commercial pilot tracks, alongside flexible modular pilot licensing courses. Instruction is delivered using a 100%-owned fleet of 40+ training aircraft and three ALSIM flight simulators at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport. Complementary revenue services include helicopter tourism tours, private charters, introductory pilot experiences, and aircraft maintenance through its authorized Robinson Helicopter service center.
Is Select Aviation College a public or private company?
Select Aviation College is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Select Aviation College founded?
Select Aviation College was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Select Aviation College based?
Select Aviation College is headquartered in Drummondville, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Select Aviation College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. College Programs Tuition is the primary driver. The others are modular Training Programs, tourism and Charter Services and aircraft Maintenance Services.
Who are Select Aviation College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Harv's Air, Moncton Flight College and Toronto Airways. Broad incumbents are CAE Inc., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, ATP Flight School, FlightSafety International and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. Emerging players are Seneca Polytechnic (School of Aviation) and Mount Royal University (Aviation Diploma).
Does Select Aviation College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Select Aviation College.
What industry is Select Aviation College in?
Select Aviation College's product category is Aviation Training and Flight Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABALAC, Aviation & Aerospace, with a secondary code of EDAOAFAN, Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145). Its NAICS code is 611512 and its SIC code is 8200.