Cross Winds Aviation

What Cross Winds Aviation does

Cross Winds Aviation is a Michigan-based private flight school operating at five airport locations (Howell headquarters, plus Pontiac, Flint, Willow Run, and Lansing) and offering a structured progression of pilot certifications from Private Pilot License through Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) and Multi-Engine Rating. The company serves individual students and career-path pilots through direct-to-consumer training programs, discovery flights, and aircraft rental, with supplementary partnerships feeding students from Howell High School and Ingham ISD into a 4-year Aviation Degree at Eastern Michigan University combined with flight training at Cross Winds.

The school's training platform is built around a Diamond DA20 and DA40 fleet equipped with Garmin G500 TXi integrated glass cockpit avionics, supplemented by an on-site flight simulator for instrument and proficiency training. Operations are run through WordPress-hosted digital properties and the third-party FlightSchedulePro scheduling platform; the business relies on a small core staff (1-10 employees) supplemented by contracted instructors. Recognition includes the 2017 AOPA Distinguished Flight Schools Award, and an extensive online archive of student achievements (solo flights, ratings, certifications) since 2014 functions as ongoing social proof and a low-cost marketing asset.

Revenue is generated from four streams: structured flight training programs (the career pilot path priced at $65,000-$120,000 for 260 hours), usage-based aircraft rental, one-time discovery flights (including promotional $20-off first flight offers), and managed training-financing arrangements via third-party partners. The company was founded around 2014 and remains privately held with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership. Geographic expansion has been entirely intra-Michigan to date, and no technology platform, AI capability, or product line outside the traditional flight-school envelope has been disclosed.

Name

Cross Winds Aviation

Legal name

Crosswinds Aviation

Website

https://crosswindsaviation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cross Winds Aviation is a Michigan-based private flight school operating at five airports, offering structured pilot training from Private Pilot through Certified Flight Instructor, aircraft rental with Garmin-equipped fleet, and high school and college aviation pathway partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Howell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Flight Training Services: Structured pilot training programs from Private Pilot through Certified Flight Instructor ratings, including ground school and flight instruction.
2. Aircraft Rental: Rental of company aircraft to certified pilots for personal or proficiency flying, featuring modern avionics-equipped fleet.
3. Discovery Flights: Introductory flight experiences for new customers, including promotional pricing and event-based offerings for humanitarian and community causes.
4. Financing Programs: Training financing options available to help students fund their pilot education through third-party financial partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cross Winds Aviation is a Michigan-based Part 61 flight school that delivers instructor-led pilot certification training from Private Pilot through Certified Flight Instructor Instrument, using a fleet of Diamond DA20 and DA40 aircraft equipped with Garmin G500 TXi avionics. In addition to structured flight instruction, the company rents aircraft to certified pilots, runs a flight simulator for proficiency work, and offers introductory discovery flights at five Michigan airport locations.

Product overview

Cross Winds Aviation is a flight school offering a comprehensive portfolio of pilot training programs and aircraft rental services. The core offering consists of progressive flight training from zero experience to professional pilot certification, including Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial License, Multi-Engine Rating, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) ratings. The training path follows a structured curriculum leading to career pilot opportunities (260 hours / $65-$120k potential). Supplementary offerings include simulator training for proficiency maintenance, aircraft rental with advanced avionics (Diamond DA20/DA40 with Garmin G500 TXi), and specialized programs for high school students and college students (EMU partnership). The company operates from multiple Michigan locations (Howell, Pontiac, Flint, Willow Run, Lansing) and emphasizes safety, modern aircraft, organized training methodology, and flexible scheduling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Pilot License Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Private pilot license achievable in 3-6 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• North American AerialsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2014Partnership for humanitarian relief discovery flight events. North American Aerials provided in-flight photography/videography services while Crosswinds provided flight operations for ISIS victims relief effort. All proceeds from discovery flights went to humanitarian cause through RUN Ministries.
• Eastern Michigan University (EMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege partnership program offering students a 4-year Aviation Degree from EMU combined with flight training at Crosswinds. Program allows students to reduce hour requirements while earning academic degree and pilot certifications.
• RUN MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian partner for disaster relief discovery flight events. Proceeds from flight experiences were donated through RUN Ministries to support victims of ISIS displacement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ATP Flight School: ATP is the largest U.S. flight training chain operating a Part 141 airline-oriented career pilot program. It directly competes with Cross Winds' zero-to-CFI career pathway but at much greater national scale and with airline partnerships.
• Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: Spartan College is a for-profit aviation school offering pilot training from private through commercial and instructor ratings, very similar in product mix to Cross Winds but operating across multiple U.S. campuses.
• Eastern Michigan University Aviation: EMU is Cross Winds' actual collegiate partner and offers an aviation degree with flight training. It is directly comparable because students can route through EMU for both academic credit and flight hours at Cross Winds.

Broad incumbents

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Embry-Riddle is a leading aviation university offering integrated degree + flight training programs, paralleling Cross Winds' EMU partnership model but at much larger scale and across multiple campuses.
• FlightSafety International: FlightSafety International is a long-established global aviation training organization primarily serving professional pilots and operators. It is comparable as a broader incumbent in advanced/professional pilot training rather than ab-initio consumer training.
• Purdue University – School of Aviation and Transportation Technology: Purdue's aviation school provides degree-combined flight training at a major research university, paralleling Cross Winds' EMU pathway but with a much larger brand and broader alumni network.
• University of North Dakota Aerospace (John D. Odegard School): UND's Odegard School is one of the largest collegiate aviation training programs in the U.S., offering integrated degree plus flight training. It competes for career-track students that Cross Winds also targets through its EMU pipeline.

Others

• Sporty's Pilot Shop: Sporty's is an aviation retailer and pilot training content provider (including online ground school). It is comparable as an ecosystem participant that influences how student pilots select training resources and schools.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/crosswindsaviation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/crosswindsaviation
• Facebookfacebook.com/crosswindsaviation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crosswindsaviation
• Instagraminstagram.com/crosswinds_flyingdoxie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Cross Winds Aviation