Rockcliffe Flying Club

What Rockcliffe Flying Club does

Rockcliffe Flying Club is a non-profit aviation organization and Ontario Career College headquartered at the Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport (CYRO) in Ottawa, Canada. It delivers Transport Canada approved flight training from Student Pilot Permit through Commercial Pilot Licence, including Night, Multi-Engine, Instrument, and Instructor ratings, delivered in English and French by a team of qualified instructors. The club maintains a fleet of seven Cessna 172 single-engine aircraft and a Redbird flight simulator, and operates M1-licensed aircraft maintenance services for both internal and external light aircraft owners under Transport Canada certification.

The business operates a hybrid membership and pay-as-you-go model. Recurring annual membership fees for Social and Flying tiers grant access to aircraft rentals, simulator time, workshops, events, and voting rights after one year. Usage-based pricing covers flight instruction from $88.50 per hour, simulator rentals at $88 per hour, and solo Cessna 172 rentals at $259 per hour. Multi-stage training programs are priced as ranges, with Private Pilot Licence packages between $22,122 and $34,025 and Commercial Pilot Licence packages between $43,162 and $55,013. Consumer-facing entry products include sightseeing flights from $178.99, simulator experiences from $99.99, and discovery lessons from $339.99.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Andrew Loschmann and Vice President Alain Hamelin, with day-to-day operations managed by General Manager Davis Appels and Operations Manager Alex Frey. Distribution is regional, primarily Eastern Ontario, with a refreshed website launched April 2026, a planned phase-two members portal, and a Transport Canada authorized exam facility in development. Growth levers include community events such as the CYRO Summer Concert Series and Girls Fly Day partnerships with the Ninety-Nines Eastern Ontario Chapter and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, with no external institutional investors and no publicly disclosed financials.

Name

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Legal name

Rockcliffe Flying Club

Website

https://rfc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rockcliffe Flying Club is a non-profit Ontario Career College and Transport Canada approved flight training unit at Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport, offering pilot licence training, aircraft and simulator rentals, M1 maintenance services, and aviation experiences to members and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerial Adventure & Flight Schools (Paragliding, Hang Gliding, Paramotoring) (THAAAKAA)

Keywords

• Flight training programs
• Aircraft rental services
• Pilot licensing services
• Aircraft maintenance services
• Aviation experience flights

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to community, events, workshops, aircraft rentals, and flight training. Two tiers: Social Membership and Flying Membership with different access levels.
2. Flight Training: Professional pilot training from Student Permit through Commercial Pilot Licence. Revenue from instructor fees, aircraft rental (dual and solo), ground school, and examination fees. Programs include Recreational Pilot Permit, Private Pilot Licence, Night Rating, Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine Rating, Instrument Rating, and Instructor Rating.
3. Aircraft Rentals: Rental of Cessna 172 aircraft to club members at hourly rates. Solo flying rates available for licensed pilots. Fleet of seven aircraft.
4. Simulator Rentals: Redbird simulator rental available to both club members and the public at hourly rates for training and experience purposes.
5. Aviational Experiences: Sightseeing flights, simulator experiences, and discovery introductory lessons sold directly to consumers. Provides entry point into the aviation journey and potential future training/membership.
6. Aircraft Maintenance Services: M1-licensed aircraft maintenance services for light aircraft including routine inspections, maintenance, and repairs. Transport Canada certified maintenance engineers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rockcliffe Flying Club is a non-profit aviation organization and Ontario Career College that delivers Transport Canada-approved flight training from Student Pilot Permit through Commercial Pilot Licence. It supplements training with a fleet of seven Cessna 172 aircraft rentals, Redbird simulator sessions, M1-rated aircraft maintenance services, and consumer aviation experiences (sightseeing, simulator, and discovery flights), all anchored in a member community at Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport.

Product overview

Rockcliffe Flying Club operates as a non-profit organization and Ontario Career College offering a comprehensive suite of aviation services centered around flight training, aircraft operations, and community engagement. The core offering consists of Transport Canada-approved flight training programs spanning from Student Pilot Permit through Commercial Pilot Licence, complemented by ratings programs (Night, Instrument, Multi-Engine, Flight Instructor). The club maintains a fleet of seven Cessna 172 aircraft for rentals and a Redbird flight simulator for training. Supporting services include M1-licensed aircraft maintenance, aviation experiences (sightseeing, simulator sessions, discovery flights), and membership programs (Social and Flying tiers). An authorized Transport Canada exam facility is under development. All services are designed to support the club's mission of advancing safe, modern general aviation in a welcoming community environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flight Training Programs Transport Canada approved flight training from Student Pilot Permit through Commercial Pilot Licence, including Night, Multi-Engine, Instrument, and Flight Instructor ratings. Delivered by qualified instructors with ground school, flight instruction, and examination support.
• Aircraft Rentals Rental of a fleet of seven Cessna 172 single-engine aircraft to club members for flight training, short trips, and recreational use, starting at $259 per hour solo.
• Simulator Rentals Certified Redbird flight simulator rental for training and skill development, available to club members and the public, starting at $88 per hour.
• M1-Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Services Professional M1-rated aircraft maintenance engineers providing certified maintenance, inspections, and repairs on light aircraft in accordance with Transport Canada standards.
• Sightseeing Experience Scenic sightseeing flights over Ottawa offering views of Parliament Hill, Ottawa River, and surrounding landmarks, starting at $178.99.
• Simulator Experience Immersive simulator sessions with professional instructor guidance in a safe, controlled environment, suitable for introductory aviation experiences, priced at $99.99.
• Discovery Experience Introductory flight lesson including full ground briefing and hands-on flight with controls alongside a professional instructor, priced at $339.99.
• Social Membership Casual membership providing community access, membership rates, and access to events and workshops for non-pilot members.
• Flying Membership Pilot and student membership with long-term aircraft parking, fleet aircraft access, flight training, and voting rights after one year of membership.
• Transport Canada Authorized Exam Facility Transport Canada approved exam facility providing a secure, professional environment for aviation knowledge exams with streamlined booking and on-site support. Status: Coming Soon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates have enviable reputation throughout the industry
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CYRO (Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport)coreOthersCYRO is the Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport where the club is located. The partnership includes airport park facilities used for community events including the Summer Concert Series. The club operates from this airport and coordinates with airport management for operations and events.
• Eastern Ontario Chapter of the Ninety-NinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ninety-Nines (international organization of women pilots) Eastern Ontario Chapter co-hosts the Girls Fly Day event with RFC, providing free flights to girls and women who have never flown in a small airplane. The club provides aircraft and volunteer pilots for this initiative.
• Canada Aviation and Space MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the Girls Take Flight event, part of the Girls Fly Day initiative welcoming girls and women to experience aviation. Museum provides venue and promotion for the event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Island Air Flight Training: BC-based Transport Canada-approved flight training school with fleet rentals. Comparable on Canadian regulatory positioning and tiered pilot licence program structure.
• Toronto Airways: Ontario-based flight training and aircraft rental operator serving aspiring pilots with similar program offerings. Comparable on flight school + rental business model and Canadian regulatory environment.
• Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre: Ontario flight training unit offering Private and Commercial pilot training, aircraft rental, and simulator access. Closely comparable community-focused flight school with similar target customer profile.
• Calgary Flying Club: Western Canadian member flying club offering flight training, aircraft rentals, and social/community programming. Closely comparable on member-driven club model and integrated flight school offering.
• Brampton Flight Centre: Long-established Transport Canada-approved flight training school in Ontario offering a comparable menu from Private through Commercial Pilot Licence plus advanced ratings. Most directly comparable peer on training program structure and fleet-based rental model in the same province.
• Pacific Flying Club: Member-based flying club in British Columbia providing flight training, aircraft rental, and community events. Most direct structural peer — member-owned flying club combining flight school and rental operations with community programming.
• Harv's Air: Manitoba flight training school offering recreational through commercial pilot programs and aircraft rentals. Comparable on Transport Canada approved curriculum and single-engine fleet training model.
• Montreal Flying Club: Quebec-based member flying club with flight training and aircraft rentals. Direct peer on bilingual Canadian market presence and member-owned flying club structure.

Broad incumbents

• Seneca College Aviation Program: Ontario career college with aviation flight training programs. Comparable on Ontario Career College regulatory status and pilot training curriculum, though broader institution with multiple programs.

Others

• Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA): National association representing Canadian pilots and flying club interests. Adjacent ecosystem organization that influences RFC's member base and aviation community engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/therfc
• Facebookfacebook.com/rockcliffeflyingclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rockcliffe-flying-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Rockcliffe Flying Club