Aeros

What Aeros does

Aeros is a UK-based, privately held flight training organisation founded in 1986, operating as Aeros Global Ltd (trading as Aeros Flight Training). It is regulated as both an EASA and UK CAA Approved Training Organisation (EASA.ATO.0062 and GBR.ATO.0105), delivering modular pilot training from zero-hour beginners through to airline-ready commercial pilots. The company operates five training academies across the UK (Cardiff, Gloucester, Coventry HQ, Leeds, Wellesbourne), with a modern fleet comprising Diamond DA40/DA42 aircraft with G1000 glass cockpit avionics, Tecnam P-Mentor trainers, Piper and Cessna types, and Alsim AL42 full-motion simulators. The core commercial offering is the Fastrack Modular Commercial Pilot Training Programme, priced from £94,995 under a pay-as-you-learn model that contrasts with traditional full-time integrated courses, supported by ATPL Theory via the wholly-owned Cat3C ground school subsidiary and an in-house Aeros Aircraft Maintenance operation.

Aeros serves a primarily direct-to-consumer customer base comprising career changers, aspiring commercial pilots, school leavers, military pilots undertaking licence conversion, and recreational flyers, with average full-programme tuition in the £95,000-£120,000 range. Revenue streams include one-time tuition fees for PPL/CPL/ATPL/MEIR modules, hourly aircraft hire, £175 simulator experience sessions, third-party maintenance services, and EASA exam centre fees. Distribution is through direct academy sales, online booking, and a strategic channel partnership with the British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy, which is funding up to 160 aspiring pilots at a programme value of £18 million.

The business model is asset-heavy and operationally intensive, with capital deployed into fleet renewal (eight Tecnam aircraft planned by Spring 2027), instructor training (over £250,000 invested since COVID), and ground school infrastructure. A 2025 leadership transition saw founder Tom Dunn MBE step aside as Chair, with Nick Dunn continuing as CEO, Martin Lynch moving into the COO role, and Neil Doherty appointed COO and subsequently Group Business Development Director. The company reports a 97% graduate placement rate into airline employment as its primary outcome metric, positioning the modular, flexible-payment model as an accessible alternative to integrated flight training schemes.

Name

Aeros

Legal name

Aeros Global Ltd T/A Aeros Flight Training

Website

https://aeros.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aeros is a UK-based EASA and CAA approved flight training organisation operating five academies, delivering modular commercial pilot training on a pay-as-you-learn basis to career changers, aspiring airline pilots, and sponsored British Airways Speedbird Academy candidates, supported by its own ground school and maintenance subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Commercial pilot training
• Modular flight training
• Aviation training services
• Pilot licensing courses
• Aircraft maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheltenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flight Training Courses: Modular commercial pilot training program (Fastrack) with pay-as-you-learn pricing model. Revenue generated through course fees, hourly aircraft hire, and module-by-module payments for Private Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot Licence, ATPL theory, instrument ratings, and other aviation qualifications.
2. Aircraft Hire: Self-fly hire, block hire, and hourly aircraft hire services for trained pilots.
3. Simulator Experience Sessions: Paid simulator experience sessions at £175 per session for aspiring pilots to experience flying the Alsim AL42 simulator.
4. Aircraft Maintenance Services: Maintenance services for private aircraft owners, flying clubs, and training organisations at Gloucester base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Aeros is a UK-based flight training organisation that delivers modular commercial pilot training through its Fastrack programme, taking students from zero hours to airline employment-ready via pay-as-you-learn modular pricing. The portfolio spans Private Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot Licence, ATPL theory, multi-engine and instrument ratings, MCC/JOC, flight instructor training, simulator experiences, trial flights, and licence conversions, delivered across five UK academies. The group also operates Cat3C ground school/EASA exam centre services and an Aeros Aircraft Maintenance division.

Product overview

Aeros Flight Training is the UK's leading modular pilot training organisation offering a comprehensive portfolio of flight training products and services. The core offering is the Fastrack Modular Commercial Pilot Training Programme, a structured pathway from beginner to airline-ready pilot featuring pay-as-you-learn pricing (from £94,995). The portfolio includes Private Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot Licence, ATPL Theory, and various ratings (MEP, MEIR, IRR, Night Rating, UPRT, Flight Instructor). Supporting services include Simulator Experience (£175), Trial Flights, EASA Exam Centre, and Discovery Sessions. The subsidiary Cat3C provides theoretical knowledge instruction while Aeros Aircraft Maintenance offers full-service engineering support. Training is delivered across five UK bases using a fleet of Diamond, Tecnam, Piper, and Cessna aircraft plus Alsim AL42 simulators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cat3C: Part of the Aeros Group, provides ground school PPL & ATPL theoretical knowledge instruction and EASA exam centre services.
• Fastrack

Products and services

• Fastrack Modular Commercial Pilot Training Programme Complete modular commercial pilot training programme with Phase 1 (PPL, ATPL Theory, hours building, IRR, Night Rating) and Phase 2 (CPL, MEP, MEIR, UPRT), priced from £94,995 with pay-as-you-learn model. Designed for ambitious beginners targeting airline employment.
• Private Pilot Licence (PPL) Entry-level pilot licence course combining 45 hours of flight training with theoretical knowledge required to fly light aeroplanes; the first step toward a professional aviation career.
• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Professional pilot licence enabling holders to fly commercially, including 15 hours in single or multi-engine piston aircraft as part of the Fastrack programme.
• ATPL Theory Air Transport Pilot Licence theoretical knowledge training covering 14 theory subjects, delivered via ATPL TKI ground school with both classroom and distance learning self-study formats, taught by experienced airline pilot instructors.
• Multi-Engine Piston (MEP) Rating Multi-engine piston rating requiring 6 hours in a Diamond DA42 aircraft and 7 hours of ground school as part of the Fastrack Phase 2 training pathway.
• Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) Multi-engine instrument rating combining 15 hours in a Diamond DA42 and 20 hours in the Alsim AL42 simulator, enabling flight in instrument meteorological conditions.
• Flight Instructor Training Training programme qualifying pilots as flight instructors to build hours and gain instructional experience, supported by over £90,000 in live instructor training sponsorship from Aeros.
• MCC/JOC (Multi-Crew Cooperation/Jet Orientation Course) Multi-crew cooperation and jet orientation course preparing pilots for airline operations in multi-crew aircraft environments.
• Aeros Aircraft Maintenance UK-based aircraft maintenance organisation delivering engineering support from the Gloucester base, providing routine maintenance, defect rectification, continuing airworthiness management, and airworthiness reviews for the Aeros fleet and privately owned G-registered aircraft.
• Licence Conversion Conversion programmes for pilots holding licences from other jurisdictions to obtain UK CAA commercial pilot qualifications.
• Military Training Specialised training programmes for military personnel seeking to convert their military pilot qualifications to civilian commercial pilot licences.
• ELCAS Training Enhanced Learning Credits Administration and Services (ELCAS) supported training for armed forces personnel and veterans accessing funded training pathways.
• EASA Exam Centre EASA examination centre operated in conjunction with Austro Control, delivering official EASA examinations throughout the year and open to candidates from any EASA approved ATO.
• PPL Theoretical Knowledge Instruction (Cat3C) Bespoke 1:1 instructor-led PPL theoretical knowledge instruction delivered by Cat3C within the Aeros Group, available remotely via video or in person at Gloucester HQ, covering all PPL subject areas including air law, human performance, meteorology, navigation, and aircraft general knowledge.
• Trial Flights Introductory flight experiences in Aeros aircraft allowing prospective students to experience flying, with flight time loggable toward the 45 hours required for a PPL.
• Simulator Experience Paid Alsim AL42 simulator experience sessions at £175 each, allowing aspiring pilots to experience commercial-grade flight simulation under instructor supervision in a ground-based environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% graduate placement rate into airline employment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• British Airways Speedbird Pilot AcademycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2025Aeros is a selected training partner for the British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy, delivering Fast-Track and Flexi-Track training approaches to fully-funded pilot candidates. British Airways commits £18 million to fund up to 160 aspiring pilots through the programme. Successful candidates progress to flying roles with British Airways upon completion.
• Planespeak LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2021Strategic partnership where Planespeak provides all Aeros student pilots with fully qualified CAA and EASA instructors for Radiotelephony (RTF) courses and FRTOL examinations. Additionally provides English Language Proficiency (ELP) testing for ICAO Level 4, 5, and 6 for both EASA and UK CAA. Training and testing conducted at Aeros Coventry and Gloucester academies.
• Cat3C LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2021Cat3C Ltd was fully acquired by Aeros Group in July 2021. Cat3C provides ground school training including PPL and ATPL theoretical knowledge instruction, examination services, and 737 avionics trainer facilities. Based at Gloucester Airport, Cat3C operates as a subsidiary within the Aeros Group.
• Tayside AviationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 October 2020Tayside Aviation partnered with Cat3C (part of Aeros Group) for ground school components of their pilot training programmes. Students attend Cat3C for theoretical knowledge training as part of their overall training pathway with Tayside Aviation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CAE (formerly CAE Oxford Aviation Academy): CAE Oxford is one of Europe's largest integrated ATPL training providers, directly competing with Aeros for aspiring commercial pilots in the UK. Both schools deliver modular and integrated pathways with modern glass-cockpit fleets and airline placement partnerships, though CAE operates at significantly larger scale globally.
• L3Harris Airline Academy (formerly CTC Aviation): L3Harris Airline Academy is a major UK- and globally-based integrated pilot training organisation offering cadet programmes and ATPL pathways. It competes directly with Aeros for airline-sponsored cohorts and is referenced in Aeros student testimonials as one of the integrated alternatives.
• Skyborne Airline Academy (formerly Skyborne/Solent): Skyborne is a UK-based integrated ATPL academy offering ab-initio commercial pilot training with airline partnerships. It targets the same career-changer and cadet segments as Aeros, with comparable fleet and simulator investment, and is a primary integrated-school competitor cited in Aeros's own marketing comparison.
• Airways Aviation: Airways Aviation is a UK/European flight training organisation offering modular and integrated pilot training, degree programmes, and airline partnerships. It directly overlaps with Aeros's modular ATPL pathway and career-changer positioning.
• Tayside Aviation: Tayside Aviation is a Scotland-based modular flight training school offering PPL, CPL, ATPL theory, and instructor courses. It directly competes with Aeros for UK modular students and is already connected to Aeros via the Cat3C ground school partnership.
• Flight Training Europe: Flight Training Europe (FTE) is a European integrated ATPL academy that competes with Aeros for international and UK students seeking a structured airline cadet pathway. Comparable offering in fleet, simulator technology, and airline placement.

Regional players

• BAA Training: BAA Training is a Lithuania-headquartered integrated ATPL school recruiting across Europe and globally. It is comparable to Aeros in business model but primarily serves a different geographic catchment, with English-language programmes that compete for the same international career-changer pool.
• FTEJerez: FTEJerez is a Spain-based integrated pilot training school offering ATPL courses to international students. It competes with Aeros for European and UK students seeking warm-weather year-round training conditions, operating on a similar airline-sponsored cadet model.

Emerging players

• Epic Flight Academy: Epic Flight Academy is a US-headquartered flight training provider offering PPL through ATPL pathways with international student recruitment. Comparable modular-style progression with modern fleet, and competes for non-UK international students who might otherwise consider UK schools like Aeros.

Broad incumbents

• FlightSafety International: FlightSafety International is a global aviation training conglomerate offering pilot, maintenance, and crew training across multiple aircraft types. While not a direct modular ATPL competitor, it represents the broader incumbent training-services landscape and competes for airline training budgets that Aeros's airline partners allocate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCH6h88_Ya3llGRodv3X2eUg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AerosFlightTraining
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aeros-engineering-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/aeros_flight_training
• Xx.com/flyaeros

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Aeros