NexGen Aviation
NexGen Aviation is a privately held, Jeppesen Part 141 Certified Flight School in Lexington, Kentucky, founded in 2010. It delivers Private through CFI/CFII pilot training on a six-aircraft Diamond DA-40 fleet with Garmin G1000 avionics and a Redbird FMX simulator, serving individual students and Liberty University aviation degree candidates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLexington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What NexGen Aviation does
NexGen Aviation is a privately held, Jeppesen Part 141 Certified Flight School headquartered at WestLex General Aviation Services in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 2010 by co-owners Dale Gillispie and Brandon, both professional pilots with 40+ years of combined charter and airline experience, the school delivers a full certification ladder from Private Pilot through Instrument, Commercial, and CFI/CFII ratings. Its core technology stack is a standardized fleet of six Diamond DA-40 aircraft (including a FADEC-equipped DA-40 NG) all equipped with Garmin G1000 glass cockpits, augmented by an FAA-approved Redbird FMX full-motion simulator whose hours count toward FAA license logging. Curricula are delivered through the Boeing-partnered Jeppesen Part 141 syllabus, which enables hour reductions toward advanced certificates.
The business runs a usage-based revenue model with all-inclusive hourly pricing: $230/hr for the standard DA-40, $290/hr for the DA-40 NG, and $90/hr for simulator time (with fuel, maintenance, and taxes bundled in). A secondary affiliate revenue stream comes from the exclusive Stratus Financial financing partnership, which also lowers the upfront capital barrier for students. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer, combining website/phone lead capture with student referrals and a mid-funnel channel partnership with Liberty University's School of Aeronautics that supplies college-credit aviation students. Customer segments span aspiring private pilots, instrument-rated pilots seeking add-ons, commercial candidates building hours, instructor candidates, and university aviation students. Operations are confined to a single Lexington, KY facility with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors; the business remains founder-owned and organically financed.
NexGen Aviation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NexGen Aviation
- Legal name
- NexGen Aviation
- Website
- https://flynexgen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NexGen Aviation is a privately held, Jeppesen Part 141 Certified Flight School in Lexington, Kentucky, founded in 2010. It delivers Private through CFI/CFII pilot training on a six-aircraft Diamond DA-40 fleet with Garmin G1000 avionics and a Redbird FMX simulator, serving individual students and Liberty University aviation degree candidates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NexGen Aviation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flight Training Services
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)
Keywords
Where NexGen Aviation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lexington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
NexGen Aviation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Flight Training Hours: Hourly billing for aircraft rental including flight instruction. Students pay per flight hour for aircraft use, with transparent all-inclusive rates covering fuel, maintenance, and taxes.
- Simulator Time: Hourly billing for Redbird FMX full-motion simulator usage, both in-air and ground instruction modes.
- Financing Referral: Partnership with Stratus Financial for flight training loans, generating referral revenue when students utilize financing options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Diamond DA-40 (Diamond Star) - $230/hr |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Diamond DA-40 NG (The Flagship) - $290/hr |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Redbird FMX Full Motion Simulator - $90/hr (air), $50/hr (ground) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
NexGen Aviation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NexGen Aviation is a Jeppesen Part 141 Certified Flight School that delivers pilot certification training (Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI/CFII) through hourly aircraft rental of a standardized Diamond DA-40 fleet equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics, supplemented by Redbird FMX full-motion simulator time. Training is delivered by experienced instructors at the WestLex FBO facility in Lexington, Kentucky.
Product overview
NexGen Aviation operates as a Jeppesen Part 141 Certified Flight School offering a unified suite of pilot training programs. Its portfolio spans five core certification tracks: Private Pilot, Instrument Add-On, Commercial Pilot, and CFI/CFII ratings, all delivered through a standardized Diamond DA-40 fleet equipped with Garmin G1000 glass cockpits. Training is augmented by a Redbird FMX full-motion simulator for FAA-approved ground-based flight hours. An all-inclusive pricing model covers fuel, maintenance, and taxes across both aircraft rental ($230–$290/hr) and simulator use ($90/hr). Financing is available through an exclusive Stratus Financial partnership. Programs are designed for both career-bound pilots and hobbyists, with accelerated course options available for select ratings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Private Pilot Certification Foundational flight training program certifying pilots to fly single-engine aircraft. Offered as an accelerated course option for individuals pursuing personal or recreational pilot certification.
- Instrument Add-On Rating Advanced training enabling licensed pilots to navigate using instruments alone, mastering flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Offered as an accelerated course option.
- Commercial Pilot Certification Professional-level certification enabling pilots to be compensated for flying. NexGen provides time-splitting opportunities to help students build commercial hours more efficiently and affordably.
- CFI & CFII Certification Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) ratings training commercial pilots to teach others while gaining valuable professional experience. Accelerated courses are available.
- Diamond DA-40 Aircraft Rental Flight training aircraft rental at $230/hr, featuring lightweight composite design, fuel-efficient engine, and Garmin G1000 glass cockpit. Fleet includes multiple tail numbers (N232BB, N571DS, N614DS, N624DS, N655NA).
- Diamond DA-40 NG Aircraft Rental Flagship training aircraft at $290/hr with FADEC-controlled engine, advanced glass cockpit, and high automation for reduced pilot workload. Brand new aircraft (N524LA).
- Redbird FMX Full-Motion Simulator FAA-approved full-motion flight simulator at $90/hr, enabling realistic flight practice, emergency scenario training, and instrument approach refinement. Simulator hours count toward FAA license logging.
- Stratus Financial Financing Referral Flexible loan financing for flight training, offered exclusively through NexGen's partnership with Stratus Financial, a lender founded by pilots providing funding options tailored to the pilot training journey.
Quantifiable outcome
- Lower accident rate - Diamonds have lowest accident rate in their class
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use NexGen Aviation
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
NexGen Aviation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
NexGen Aviation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Liberty University School of AeronauticscoreOfficial flight training partner of Liberty University's School of Aeronautics. NexGen offers students a path to earn college credit while learning to fly, combining academic education with practical flight training at NexGen's Lexington facility.
- WestLex General Aviation ServicescoreNexGen is based at WestLex General Aviation Services, a full-service FBO. WestLex provides aircraft fueling, positioning, and ground support services, minimizing wait times and keeping operations running smoothly.
- Jeppesen (Boeing)coreJeppesen Part 141 certified curriculum developed in partnership with Boeing. This certification provides NexGen students with streamlined training paths, hour reductions toward advanced certificates, and professional-grade learning materials.
- Thoroughbred MaintenanceminorExpert maintenance partner providing in-house and external maintenance support for the aircraft fleet. Industry-leading reliability and fast turnaround times minimize cancellations and keep training on schedule.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
NexGen Aviation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ATP Flight School: Largest U.S. Part 141 flight school network with a multi-location accelerated pilot training model directly comparable to NexGen's Part 141 approach, standardized fleet, and career-track student focus.
- Liberty University School of Aeronautics: Academic aviation program and NexGen's official university partner; offers integrated flight training pathways awarding college credit, directly comparable to NexGen's Private through CFI/CFII program.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Premier U.S. aviation university operating integrated flight training at Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses; competes with NexGen for career-track pilot aspirants through similar structured curriculum and modern fleet.
- University of North Dakota Aerospace: Major aviation training institution (John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences) producing hundreds of professional pilots annually through structured academic + flight pathways, paralleling NexGen's full spectrum of pilot certifications.
- Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: Career-focused aviation college in Tulsa offering pilot training and avionics programs with Part 141 curricula; comparable in target student (career-track adults) and structured-part 141 delivery to NexGen.
- Purdue University Polytechnic Institute - Aviation: Purdue's aviation program trains professional pilots and aviation operators through an integrated academic-and-flight model; comparable in offering a Private-through-CFI pathway and competing for career-track pilot candidates.
Broad incumbents
- FlightSafety International: Global aviation training powerhouse (now part of CAE) providing professional pilot, maintenance, and simulator training to airlines and corporate operators; broader incumbent that overlaps with NexGen's pilot training category at significantly larger scope.
- CAE Inc. World's largest civil aviation training company with an extensive pilot simulator network serving airlines, business aviation, and defense; a broad incumbent that touches NexGen's category at much greater scale and global footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NexGen Aviation social profiles
Digital presenceNexGen Aviation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
NexGen Aviation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NexGen Aviation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
NexGen Aviation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NexGen Aviation 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 NexGen Aviation
What does NexGen Aviation do?
NexGen Aviation is a Jeppesen Part 141 Certified Flight School that delivers pilot certification training (Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI/CFII) through hourly aircraft rental of a standardized Diamond DA-40 fleet equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics, supplemented by Redbird FMX full-motion simulator time. Training is delivered by experienced instructors at the WestLex FBO facility in Lexington, Kentucky.
Is NexGen Aviation a public or private company?
NexGen Aviation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NexGen Aviation founded?
NexGen Aviation was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NexGen Aviation based?
NexGen Aviation is headquartered in Lexington, United States, in the North America region.
How does NexGen Aviation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Flight Training Hours are the primary driver. The others are simulator Time and financing Referral.
Who are NexGen Aviation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ATP Flight School, Liberty University School of Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of North Dakota Aerospace, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology and Purdue University Polytechnic Institute - Aviation. Broad incumbents are FlightSafety International and CAE Inc..
Does NexGen Aviation have an API?
No public API is recorded for NexGen Aviation.
What industry is NexGen Aviation in?
NexGen Aviation's product category is Flight Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAFAJ, Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services, with a secondary code of EDABALAC, Aviation & Aerospace. Its NAICS code is 611512 and its SIC code is 4522.