Pilot Training System
Pilot Training System offers free FAA-aligned online ground school for Private Pilot and Commercial Drone Pilot exams, and distributes its Professional Aeronautics Certification pathway through 10 partner community colleges and 12 partner flight schools across 7 US states, targeting aspiring pilots, career changers, veterans, and high-school students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Pilot Training System does
Pilot Training System, LLC is a Florida-domiciled, founder-controlled education company founded in 2011 by Dr. Chris Johnson, an Air Force veteran, commercial pilot, CFI/CFII/MEI, and human-factors PhD (University of Wisconsin–Madison). The company operates a web-based Learning Management System that delivers FAA-aligned free ground school content for the Private Pilot written exam (36 video lessons, quizzes, practice exams, regulation cheat sheet, progress gating at 90% score) and for the FAR Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot exam (9 video lessons with similar assessment mechanics). Curriculum is distilled from FAA official publications including the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Remote Pilot Small UAS Study Guide.
Beyond the free eLearning funnel—which has amassed an online community of more than 72,000 students—Pilot Training System's commercial vehicle is the Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC), a non-degree pathway launched in 2023 that integrates community-college classroom instruction with hands-on flight training at approved partner flight schools. The PAC track covers Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot License across three semesters, with optional Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) and Multi-Engine add-on ratings. Programs are distributed through 10 partner colleges across 7 states and 12 partner flight schools, with tuition and flight-training costs varying by site (e.g., under $60,000 at NWTC) and the first cohorts at multiple sites beginning in Fall 2026.
The company employs fewer than 10 people, has not disclosed external funding, and appears to generate revenue through referral or partnership economics with its college and flight-school channel rather than owning the flight-training infrastructure. It targets traditional college students, career changers, military veterans, and high-schoolers using a hybrid product-led/free-eLearning plus channel-partner go-to-market. The company is positioned against a structural pilot shortage—Boeing estimates 119,000 North American pilots will be needed between 2025 and 2044.
Pilot Training System firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pilot Training System
- Legal name
- Pilot Training System, LLC
- Website
- https://pilottrainingsystem.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pilot Training System offers free FAA-aligned online ground school for Private Pilot and Commercial Drone Pilot exams, and distributes its Professional Aeronautics Certification pathway through 10 partner community colleges and 12 partner flight schools across 7 US states, targeting aspiring pilots, career changers, veterans, and high-school students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pilot Training System industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Training & Pilot Education
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)
Keywords
Where Pilot Training System is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Pilot Training System business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Free eLearning (Freemium Lead Generation): PTS offers completely free online ground school for Private Pilot and Commercial Drone Pilot training. This creates a large user base (72,000+ students) that can be funneled toward professional pilot programs through college partners.
- College Partnership Programs: Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) programs offered through partner colleges with tuition and flight-training costs varying by location. PTS connects students with partner institutions and likely receives referral or partnership fees.
- Future Paid Offerings (Reserved): Terms of Service indicate future plans for paid products/services including course completion certificates or premium features, though currently no purchases are required to access educational content.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free eLearning for Private Pilot Ground School |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free eLearning for Commercial Drone Pilot (FAR Part 107) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) - College Programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Pilot Training System product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pilot Training System operates a web-based aviation education platform that delivers free FAA-aligned ground school for Private Pilot (36 training videos with quizzes built on the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge) and Commercial Drone Pilot under FAR Part 107 (9 videos built on the Remote Pilot Study Guide). The company also operates the Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) program through 10 partner colleges, integrating classroom instruction with hands-on flight training to take students from zero experience to commercial pilot certification in 12–16 months part-time.
Product overview
Pilot Training System offers two free eLearning products (Private Pilot Ground School and Commercial Drone Pilot Course) that prepare students for FAA written exams using video lessons, quizzes, and practice exams built on FAA publications. Additionally, the Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) program is a paid, non-degreed career-pathway offered through 10 partner colleges across multiple states, integrating college-based ground instruction with hands-on flight training at partner flight schools to guide students from zero experience to commercial pilot certification in 12-16 months.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FREE Private Pilot Ground School Free eLearning course that prepares students for the FAA Private Pilot written exam. Includes 36 brief training videos with 15-question quizzes, a regulations cheat sheet, practice exams that mimic the actual FAA exam, and a learning management system that tracks progress and requires 90% or higher on every quiz and practice exam. Built on the FAA's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- FREE Commercial Drone Pilot Course — FAR Part 107 Free eLearning course preparing students for the FAR Part 107 written exam to earn the FAA Remote Pilot-in-Command (commercial drone) certification. Includes 9 brief training videos with 15-question quizzes and 60-question practice exams, built on the FAA's Remote Pilot — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide.
- Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) Non-degreed professional pilot career pathway offered through 10 partner colleges, integrating classroom instruction with hands-on flight training at 12 partner flight schools. Includes three required FAA certifications across three semesters — Private Pilot License (PPL), Instrument Rating (IFR), and Commercial Pilot License (CPL) — plus optional Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) and Multi-Engine ratings. Can be completed in 12–16 months part-time (15–20 hours/week) or 6–9 months full-time (30–40 hours/week), with graduates earning 250–300 flight hours. Tuition and flight-training costs vary by partner college (under $60,000 at NWTC).
Quantifiable outcome
- 12-16 months to complete PAC program training part-time (15-20 hours/week); 6-9 months for full-time students (30-40 hours/week)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Pilot Training System
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pilot Training System technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Pilot Training System partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Madison CollegecoreMadison College offers Professional Aeronautics Certificate program with flight training at Wisconsin Dells and locations throughout Wisconsin including Madison, Watertown, Juneau, Waukesha, and Milwaukee. Students complete classroom instruction at the college and hands-on flight training at partner facilities.
- St Johns River State CollegecoreSt Johns River State College in Florida offers PAC program with campus locations in St Augustine, Jacksonville, and Ormond Beach. Program combines college-based ground school with flight training at approved partner flight schools.
- McHenry County CollegecoreMcHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois and Northwest Chicago Suburbs offers Professional Aeronautics Certificate program in partnership with flight training providers.
- Iowa Western Community CollegecoreIowa Western Community College offers PAC program with locations in Council Bluffs and Harlan, Iowa, in partnership with Nebraska Flight Center near Omaha's Eppley Airfield. Two-year accelerated, non-degree program completing training in about 21 months.
- Beaufort County Community CollegecoreBeaufort County Community College in Washington and New Bern, North Carolina offers Professional Aeronautics Certificate program providing direct pathway into pilot careers.
- Black Hawk CollegecoreBlack Hawk College in Moline, Illinois and the Quad Cities region partnered with Quad Cities Aero to launch region’s first Professional Aviation Certification program starting in 2026. Two-year accelerated program combines classroom instruction with hands-on flight training.
- Palm Beach State CollegecorePalm Beach State College partnered with Boca Pilot Flight Training to launch PAC program at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Part-time program (20 hours/week) can take students from zero experience to commercial pilot in 12-16 months, or 6-9 months full-time.
- College for Technical Education (CTE)coreLexington's College for Technical Education in Kentucky partnered with Wings Flight Training to launch region's first Professional Aviation Certification program. Takes students from zero experience to commercial pilot in as little as 12 months. Open to traditional students, veterans, and adult learners.
- Tallahassee State CollegecoreTallahassee State College partnered with Sterling Flight Training to launch Professional Aeronautics Certification Program. Combines classroom instruction, simulator training, and hands-on flight experience. Classes begin fall 2026.
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC)coreNWTC in Green Bay, Wisconsin partnered with Aviate Flight School to launch region's first Professional Aeronautics Certification. Non-degree program combines classroom instruction, simulator training, and flight lessons. Can train up to 80 new pilots annually, program costs under $60,000, begins fall 2026.
- Quad Cities AerocoreQuad Cities Aero is the flight training partner for Black Hawk College's Professional Aviation Certification program. Provides hands-on flight training at Moline, Illinois facility. Open house events held to introduce program to prospective students.
- Boca Pilot Flight TrainingcoreBoca Pilot Flight Training is the flight training partner for Palm Beach State College's PAC program. Provides simulator and aircraft training at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Launch event attended by over 60 interested students and parents.
- Wings Flight TrainingcoreWings Flight Training is the flight training partner for College for Technical Education's PAC program in Kentucky. CEO Dr Adrian Reynolds co-developed the program architecture with PTS Founder Dr Chris Johnson.
- Sterling Flight TrainingcoreSterling Flight Training partners with Tallahassee State College for the Professional Aeronautics Certification Program. Provides classroom instruction, simulator training, and hands-on flight experience at Florida locations.
- Aviate Flight SchoolcoreAviate Flight School is the flight training partner for NWTC's PAC program in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Provides hands-on flight training as part of the accelerated aviation program.
- Nebraska Flight CentercoreNebraska Flight Center is the flight training partner for Iowa Western Community College's PAC program. Located near Omaha's Eppley Airfield, provides simulator work, hands-on flight training, and one-on-one instruction.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pilot Training System competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CAE: Major aviation training provider with a global network of training centers and simulator-based pilot programs; relevant as the broad incumbent benchmark for professional pilot training capacity and quality.
- FlightSafety International: Global flight training leader operating full-motion simulators and professional pilot programs; represents the large-scale, asset-heavy incumbent against which PTS's asset-light, college-channel model must compete for career-track pilots.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Premier aviation/aerospace university offering full degree-based pilot pathways; PTS's founder was a professor here, and the school is the dominant traditional (degree-based) alternative to PTS's non-degree PAC route.
Direct peers
- King Schools: One of the best-known online pilot ground school brands, offering video-based Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and drone (Part 107) courses; closest direct paid competitor to PTS's video-LMS model.
- ATP Flight School: Large, multi-location accelerated professional pilot training school offering structured zero-to-ATP career pathways; directly comparable to PTS's PAC program in target student (career-changers seeking a fast commercial pilot route).
- Gleim Aviation: Provides pilot training materials, test prep, and aviation courses built around FAA subject matter; competes on the same Private Pilot / drone / commercial knowledge prep category that PTS targets for free.
- Pilot Institute: Online pilot and drone training school (Part 107, Private Pilot, etc.); competes on the same free/low-cost online ground school category that PTS has built its community around.
- Sporty's Pilot Shop: Long-standing provider of pilot training courses (including Private Pilot and Part 107 prep) and aviation supplies; competes most directly with PTS's free eLearning catalog on curriculum, price, and pilot-student audience.
- Epic Flight Academy: Part 141 flight school offering accelerated professional pilot programs (private through CFI/multi); competes with PTS's PAC program for career-changer and international students seeking a fast track to commercial pilot.
Emerging players
- Thrust Flight: Growing, multi-base Part 141 flight school with accelerated professional pilot programs; an emerging regional competitor that intersects with PTS's PAC college-channel model in the Texas / multi-state market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pilot Training System social profiles
Digital presencePilot Training System financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pilot Training System leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pilot Training System funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pilot Training System 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 Pilot Training System
What does Pilot Training System do?
Pilot Training System operates a web-based aviation education platform that delivers free FAA-aligned ground school for Private Pilot (36 training videos with quizzes built on the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge) and Commercial Drone Pilot under FAR Part 107 (9 videos built on the Remote Pilot Study Guide). The company also operates the Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) program through 10 partner colleges, integrating classroom instruction with hands-on flight training to take students from zero experience to commercial pilot certification in 12–16 months part-time.
Is Pilot Training System a public or private company?
Pilot Training System is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pilot Training System founded?
Pilot Training System was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pilot Training System based?
Pilot Training System is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pilot Training System make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Free eLearning (Freemium Lead Generation) is the primary driver. The others are college Partnership Programs and future Paid Offerings (Reserved).
Who are Pilot Training System's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CAE, FlightSafety International and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Direct peers are King Schools, ATP Flight School, Gleim Aviation, Pilot Institute, Sporty's Pilot Shop and Epic Flight Academy. Thrust Flight is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pilot Training System have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pilot Training System.
What industry is Pilot Training System in?
Pilot Training System's product category is Aviation Training & Pilot Education. 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 8200.