PILOTSMITH

What PILOTSMITH does

Pilotsmith, Inc. (operating under the trade name CAVU Flight Academy) is a Wisconsin-based FAA-approved flight training organization that delivers pilot certification programs from zero experience through Certified Flight Instructor ratings, with a specialty in Cirrus aircraft training. The company operates three Wisconsin locations — Green Bay (1911 Airport Drive), Appleton (at Platinum Flight Center), and Milwaukee-Timmerman — plus a fourth site in Upper Michigan, and maintains a mixed fleet of Garmin Perspective-equipped Cirrus SR20 and SR22T, Cessna 172, Piper Seminole, and Vans RV-12 aircraft. Curricula are delivered under both FAA Part 141 (with in-house examination authority for the first two courses) and informal Part 61, including a differentiated reduced-hour Commercial Pilot program that saves students 60+ flight hours. Pilotsmith holds Official Cirrus Training Center status at Green Bay and Milwaukee-Timmerman, staffed by CSIP-certified instructors including a Gold Seal CFI/ATP-rated Chief Instructor.

The business generates revenue through five primary streams: per-hour flight training services, per-hour aircraft rental, discovery flight gift certificates, recurring Flying Club subscriptions (Gold $30/month, Platinum $50/month with joining fees), and bundled multi-rating Professional Programs (#1, #2, #3) targeting aspiring airline pilots. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct-to-consumer: prospective students book free in-person or Google Meet consultations, complete enrollment via Google Forms-based document submission and TSA badging, and schedule through Flight Schedule Pro. Channels include the company's website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, EAA AirVenture participation, and a strategic partnership with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Customer segments span professionally minded career-track pilots (primary), recreational flyers, business/executive Cirrus operators, and flying club members. The company is privately held, founder-led (President Charlie Smith), with no external funding rounds identified.

Name

PILOTSMITH

Legal name

Pilotsmith, Inc.

Website

https://pilotsmith.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pilotsmith, Inc. (DBA CAVU Flight Academy) is a Wisconsin-based FAA Part 141/61 flight training school operating four locations with Cirrus, Cessna, and Piper aircraft, serving aspiring professional pilots, recreational flyers, and Cirrus owners through certification programs, aircraft rental, and recurring flying club memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Flight Training

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Flight training services
• Pilot certification
• Professional pilot programs
• Cirrus aircraft training
• Aircraft rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Green Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flight Training Services: Professional pilot programs including Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings under FAA 141 and 61 regulations
2. Aircraft Rental: Hourly rental rates for Cessna 172, Cirrus SR20/SR22T, Seminole, and RV-12 aircraft with club membership discounts
3. Discovery Flights: Introductory flight experiences in Cessna 172 or Cirrus SR20, sold as gift certificates with 1-year expiration
4. Flying Club Membership: Monthly club membership tiers (Gold $30/mo, Platinum $50/mo) providing aircraft rental access and discounted rates with one-time joining fees
5. Cirrus Transition Training: CSIP instructor-led transition and advanced transition training for Cirrus aircraft operators

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pilotsmith delivers FAA-approved flight training (Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, CFI, CFII, MEI) under FAR 61 and FAR 141 at three Wisconsin locations, operating an official Cirrus Training Center with CSIP-certified instructors and Garmin Perspective-equipped SR20/SR22T aircraft. Revenue is generated through bundled professional pilot career programs, hourly aircraft rental (Cessna, Cirrus, Seminole, RV-12), Discovery Flight introductions, and tiered Flying Club memberships.

Product overview

Pilotsmith is a flight school/flight training organization offering a comprehensive suite of aviation training services through multiple delivery mechanisms. The core offering consists of individual pilot certifications (Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot) and instructor ratings (CFI, CFI-I, MEI) available under both FAA Part 61 and Part 141 programs. These are offered as standalone courses, bundled professional programs (Basic, Program #1, #2, #3), or as specialized Cirrus training. Discovery Flights provide introductory experiences as customer-facing products. The business model includes a Flying Club (Gold/Platinum tiers) for aircraft rental access and ongoing student support through consultation and enrollment services. Training is delivered at three Wisconsin locations (Green Bay, Appleton, Milwaukee Timmerman) using a mixed fleet of Cessna 172, Cirrus SR20/SR22T, Piper Seminole, and Vans RV-12 aircraft. Pilotsmith also does business under the name 'CAVU Flight Academy'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Discovery Flights Introductory flight experiences offering 30 or 60 minutes of flight time in Cessna 172 or Cirrus SR20 aircraft, including ground instruction and hands-on flying opportunity for prospective students. Sold as gift certificates with a 1-year expiration at $224-$474 depending on aircraft and duration.
• Private Pilot Certificate Training Foundational flight training covering Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations, aircraft control, and solo flight capabilities, available under both FAA Part 61 and Part 141 curricula for individuals seeking primary pilot certification.
• Instrument Rating Training Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) training enabling pilots to fly using only aircraft instrumentation, delivered as an FAA 141 approved program allowing qualification in fewer hours than standard Part 61 programs.
• Commercial Pilot Certificate Training Professional pilot training enabling compensation for flight operations including aerial surveys, pipeline patrol, and charter work, featuring a reduced-hour Part 141 commercial course that saves students over 60 hours of time building versus standard programs.
• Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Instructor certification enabling pilots to teach others to fly, positioned as the preferred method for building flight hours toward airline careers for aspiring professional pilots.
• Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFI-I) Advanced instructor rating allowing pilots to teach instrument-rated students, expanding instructional capabilities and instrument flight hours for professional pilots.
• Multi-Engine Flight Instructor (MEI) Instructor rating for teaching multi-engine pilot certification, enabling comprehensive flight instruction across all aircraft categories.
• Basic Professional Pilot Program Entry-level career path bundling Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, and Single-Engine Commercial Certificate, designed for pilots seeking initial employment as low-time commercial pilots.
• Professional Program #1 Zero-to-instructor career path including Private, Instrument, Commercial, and CFI certification, marketed as the quickest route to flight instructor position for hour building.
• Professional Program #2 Enhanced career path adding Multi-Engine Commercial Certificate to Program #1, providing broader instructor capabilities and improved resume for employers.
• Professional Program #3 Complete professional pilot program including all instructor ratings (CFI, CFI-I, MEI), enabling instruction across single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument students.
• Cirrus Transition Training Transition training for pilots moving to Cirrus aircraft utilizing Garmin Perspective equipped SR20 or SR22T aircraft with Cirrus approved curriculum, led by CSIP certified instructors.
• Cirrus Initial Training Programs Initial pilot training programs offered for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, or combined Private+Instrument certification in Cirrus aircraft, delivered through the official Cirrus Training Center.
• Private Pilot Written Test Prep Classroom-based FAA knowledge exam preparation course conducted jointly under FAR 61 and FAR 141, including 9 three-hour sessions plus independent study requirements ($300 for Pilotsmith students, $85/hr for make-up sessions).
• Gold Flying Club Membership $30/month recurring membership with a $300 joining fee providing discounted rental access to Cessna 172, LSA, and Redbird/Precise Flight AATD, including club member events.
• Platinum Flying Club Membership $50/month recurring membership with a $500 joining fee providing discounted rental access to all eligible aircraft including the Cirrus fleet, with all Gold tier privileges included.
• Student Consultation Services Free comprehensive consultations for prospective students covering career paths, program options, and enrollment guidance, available in-person, virtual via Google Meet, or by phone.
• Enrollment/Onboarding Services Complete enrollment process including document submission, TSA badging, Flight Schedule Pro account setup, kiosk account creation, and program assignment, accompanied by a one-time $100 enrollment fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% pass rate for Private and Instrument 141 courses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilotsmith partners with NWTC to offer aviation training programs on the NWTC Campus. This includes Private Pilot Written Test Prep classes conducted at NWTC Green Bay Campus at 2740 West Mason Street, Green Bay, WI 54303. Classes follow a structured 9-session curriculum taught by Pilotsmith instructors.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CAE Inc. CAE is a global training systems and aviation services provider operating pilot training centers and simulators; overlaps with Pilotsmith's pilot training category at the broad incumbent level.
• FlightSafety International (a CAE company): FlightSafety is a global pilot training incumbent offering Part 142 advanced training and type ratings for airlines and business aviation; overlaps with Pilotsmith's Cirrus transition training in the advanced/specialized segment.

Regional players

• Aviation Institute of Maintenance: AIM operates aviation maintenance and adjacent training across multiple US campuses with broad aviation workforce focus; comparable as a regional aviation career training provider rather than a strict pilot school peer.

Direct peers

• Epic Flight Academy: Epic is a US Part 141 flight school with multiple locations offering Private through ATP career-track programs, comparable to Pilotsmith's professional pilot program structure.
• Hillsboro Aero Academy: Hillsboro Aero Academy is a multi-location FAA Part 141 flight school in the Pacific Northwest providing integrated professional pilot programs closely analogous to Pilotsmith's zero-to-airline offerings.
• Purdue Polytechnic Institute Aviation Programs: Purdue Polytechnic's aviation flight technology program is a university-based Part 141 flight training provider delivering professional pilot pathways comparable to Pilotsmith's Professional Programs.
• ATP Flight School: ATP is the largest US Part 141 flight training network offering career-track zero-to-airline programs analogous to Pilotsmith's Professional Programs, with FAA-approved curriculum and multi-location delivery.
• Sporty's Academy (Sporty's Pilot Shop): Sporty's Academy is a Part 141 flight school in Batavia, OH offering Private through CFI training analogous to Pilotsmith's core instructor-rating curriculum.

Emerging players

• United Aviate Academy: United Aviate Academy is an airline-sponsored pilot training pipeline (United/flight-school partnership) targeting career-track candidates, representing a category competitor that may reshape career-pilot sourcing for Pilotsmith's students.

Others

• Cirrus Aircraft (training programs): Cirrus Aircraft is the OEM for the SR20/SR22T fleet used by Pilotsmith and operates the global Cirrus Training Center network; Pilotsmith is one of its authorized partners, making this a critical OEM relationship peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGgGBHc-3pyUJ0-RBt4Ee4Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/pilotsmithinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/pilotsmithinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pilotsmith

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 PILOTSMITH