Flying Academy
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Flying Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Flying Academy
- Legal name
- Flying Academy
- Website
- https://flycorona.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Flying Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Flight Training
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)
Keywords
Flying Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Flight Training Programs: Core revenue from structured pilot training programs including Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot License, and Certified Flight Instructor certificates under Part 141 FAA regulations. Programs offered at multiple US locations with various completion timelines.
- Aircraft Rental: Hourly rental of training aircraft including Cessna 152 ($289/hour), Cessna 172 ($359/hour), and Piper Arrow ($379/hour). Revenue generated through flight hours logged during training and time-building programs.
- Accelerated Training Programs: Fast-track intensive courses for PPL, IR, CPL, and CFI with one-on-one instruction. Hybrid model combining online theory with in-person flight training. Complete in 2-6 weeks depending on program.
- Time Building Packages: Specialized time-building programs with free accommodation, competitive hourly rental rates, and airport transportation. Targets students needing flight hours for career advancement.
- Discovery Flights: Introductory 60-minute flight experiences in Cessna 152 at Corona location for $289. Serves as customer acquisition funnel for full training programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Flight - Cessna 152 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Flight - Cessna 172 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Flight - Piper Arrow |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Private Pilot Program - Part 141 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial Pilot Program - Part 141 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Flying Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flying Academy is a global pilot training institute operating FAA Part 141 certified flight training programs since 1987. The company delivers Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and Certified Flight Instructor courses using a fleet of 40+ aircraft across six training bases in the United States and Europe, targeting aspiring pilots who want structured, regulator-approved certification pathways.
Product overview
Flying Academy is a global flight training institute with 37+ years of experience offering comprehensive FAA Part 141 and FAR-61 flight training programs. The core product portfolio spans from introductory Discovery Flights through professional pilot certifications including Private Pilot License (PPL), Instrument Rating (IR), Commercial Pilot License (CPL), and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) certificates. The training ecosystem includes accelerated programs (PPL, IR, CPL, CFI) for time-compressed completion, a Zero-to-CPL pathway for students with no prior experience, and a Zero-to-1500-Hours program for airline career preparation. Supporting infrastructure includes an online e-learning platform for FAA written exam preparation (PPL Online, IFR Online, CPL Online, Flight Instructor Online) with live broadcasting and question banks, and Part 141 on-site ground school covering 9 aviation theory subjects. The organization operates over 40 aircraft including Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Cessna 172 G1000, Piper Warrior, and Piper Arrow from bases in Miami, Corona (Los Angeles), and Van Nuys (Los Angeles).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Private Pilot License (PPL) Training FAA Part 141 certified training program that takes students from no flight experience to a Private Pilot License. Delivered across Flying Academy's US and European bases using the company's training fleet, targeting aspiring pilots who want a foundational recreational or pre-professional certification.
- Instrument Rating (IR) Training FAA-approved Instrument Rating course that trains PPL holders to fly under instrument flight rules. Targeted at pilots progressing toward commercial certification and airline employment.
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Training FAA Part 141 Commercial Pilot License program that qualifies pilots for paid flight duties. Built for students advancing from PPL/IR toward an airline or professional aviation career.
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Training FAA CFI certification course for licensed pilots who want to instruct and build flight hours toward airline minimums. Offered to CPL holders as the next step in the professional pilot pipeline.
- Accelerated Pilot Training Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 190 total flight hours minimum under Part 141 (vs 250 under Part 61)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Flying Academy
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Flying Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Flying Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Flying Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- FlightSafety International: Long-established aviation training organization (now part of BST) focused primarily on advanced/professional pilot and recurrent training. Comparable regulatory standing and Part 142/141 training but at higher tier (airline pilot recurrent training) rather than ab-initio career training.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Premier aviation university offering FAA-certified flight training alongside degree programs at Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses. Comparable Part 141 training for career-track pilots but with a much broader university-based value proposition including accredited degrees and broader name recognition.
- CAE: Publicly listed global aviation training leader operating pilot training academies, simulator centers, and airline crew resourcing. Comparable pilot training delivery with substantially larger scale, financial resources, and integrated airline partnerships.
- L3Harris Airline Academy: UK-based integrated pilot training program (formerly L3 Airline Academy) offering integrated ATPL courses with airline partnership pathways. Comparable career-track pilot training, particularly for European/international student capture, but with European regulatory orientation.
Direct peers
- Aerosim Flight Academy: US Part 141 flight academy formerly known as Delta Connection Academy, based in Florida with focus on professional pilot career pathways. Direct comparable in program structure, fleet composition, and target customer segment (career-track and international students).
- Epic Flight Academy: US Part 141 flight school operating in Florida and other locations with international student focus similar to Flying Academy. Directly comparable in target market (aspiring career pilots, international students), program structure (PPL through CPL), and discovery-flight customer acquisition.
- Hillsboro Aero Academy: Part 141 flight academy based in Oregon offering integrated professional pilot programs and time building. Direct comparable with similar fleet scale, Part 141 structure, and career-track pilot pathway focus.
- Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: Aviation training school in Tulsa offering FAA-approved flight training programs alongside aviation maintenance and technician degrees. Comparable Part 141 pilot training delivery with similar career-track curriculum and accelerated pathways.
- ATP Flight School: Largest US Part 141 flight training operator with a national network of bases offering private, instrument, commercial, and CFI programs — directly comparable in curriculum structure, fleet scale, and accelerated-program focus, but with materially larger scale and private-equity backing.
Regional players
- Lufthansa Aviation Training: European aviation training provider affiliated with Lufthansa Group operating flight schools and type-rating centers across Europe. Comparable in offering EASA-aligned flight training with strong European geographic presence, but operates primarily in European regulatory and customer context versus Flying Academy's US-centric Part 141 focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Flying Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Flying Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Flying Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Flying Academy 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 Flying Academy
What does Flying Academy do?
Flying Academy is a global pilot training institute operating FAA Part 141 certified flight training programs since 1987. The company delivers Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and Certified Flight Instructor courses using a fleet of 40+ aircraft across six training bases in the United States and Europe, targeting aspiring pilots who want structured, regulator-approved certification pathways.
Is Flying Academy a public or private company?
Flying Academy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Flying Academy founded?
Flying Academy was founded in 1987.
How does Flying Academy make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Flight Training Programs are the primary driver. The others are aircraft Rental, accelerated Training Programs, time Building Packages and discovery Flights.
Who are Flying Academy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FlightSafety International, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, CAE and L3Harris Airline Academy. Direct peers are Aerosim Flight Academy, Epic Flight Academy, Hillsboro Aero Academy, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology and ATP Flight School. Lufthansa Aviation Training is listed as a regional player.
Does Flying Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Flying Academy.
What industry is Flying Academy in?
Flying Academy's product category is Aviation Flight Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABALAC, Aviation & Aerospace. Its NAICS code is 611512 and its SIC code is 8200.