Mountain Lion Aviation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersTruckee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Mountain Lion Aviation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mountain Lion Aviation
- Legal name
- Sierra Skyport Ltd
- Website
- https://mountainlion.aero
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mountain Lion Aviation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Aviation Charter and Flight Training Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Flight Training (611512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group & ACMI Charter Airlines (Ad-hoc/Wet Lease) (TLAFABAC)
Keywords
Where Mountain Lion Aviation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Truckee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Mountain Lion Aviation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Private Charter Services: On-demand private aviation charter services providing personalized travel experiences. Revenue generated from flight hours and distance-based pricing. Services available from Truckee, CA and Fort Worth, TX bases.
- Flight Training Services: Cirrus Certified Training center providing flight training programs. Revenue from flight instruction, simulator time, and aircraft rental for training purposes.
- Aircraft Management: Part 135 charter operations including aircraft management services for fleet operations at Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Customized charter solutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Mountain Lion Aviation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mountain Lion Aviation operates an on-demand Part 135 private charter service using Cirrus SR-22 Turbo, Pilatus PC-12NG, and Socata TBM 940 aircraft out of bases in Truckee, CA and Fort Worth, TX. It also runs a Certified Cirrus Training Center providing standardized pilot training in Cirrus aircraft using full-motion flight simulators. Additional offerings include aircraft management services under Part 135 for fleet operators.
Product overview
Mountain Lion Aviation operates as a dual-service aviation company combining private charter aircraft services with a certified flight training operation. The core offerings include elite private charter services using a fleet of aircraft (Pilatus PC-12NG, Cirrus SR-22 Turbo, and Socata TBM 940) and a Cirrus Certified Training Center providing flight training with full-motion simulators. The company was founded in 2017 in Truckee, CA and expanded to Texas in 2021, serving business travelers and families seeking flexible, personalized air travel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Private Charter Service Part 135 on-demand private charter flights operated for individuals and families from bases in Truckee, CA and Fort Worth, TX, providing point-to-point travel with 24/7 concierge service.
- Cirrus Certified Training Center (Flight School) Certified pilot training program using Cirrus aircraft and full-motion flight simulators, with all instructors being factory-trained Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilots (CSIP), for students pursuing private pilot license, instrument rating, commercial pilot training, and type ratings.
- Aircraft Management Services Part 135 aircraft management services supporting fleet operations for aircraft owners at the Fort Worth Alliance Airport base.
- Flight School Scheduling Service Online flight school scheduling system used for booking training sessions with Cirrus aircraft and instructors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Pilatus PC-12 range up to 1,765 nautical miles with 9 passengers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mountain Lion Aviation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mountain Lion Aviation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Mountain Lion Aviation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tahoe FundcoreEnvironmental partnership where Mountain Lion Aviation donates money for every hour flown to the Tahoe Fund. Funds support environmental improvement projects in the Tahoe Basin focusing on forest health (wildfire risk reduction and carbon sequestration), transportation (reducing vehicle miles traveled), and wetlands restoration (carbon sequestration and ecological benefits). This partnership demonstrates community commitment to preserving the Lake Tahoe environment.
- Fort Worth Alliance AirportcoreWorld-class Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) serves as the base of operations for Mountain Lion Aviation's Texas charter service. Mountain Lion Aviation was the first Part 135 charter company to offer private aircraft charters at AFW. The airport provides customer facilities, central location, and proximity to mid-market population of executives and families. Part of AllianceTexas, a 27,000-acre master-planned community.
- Truckee Tahoe Airport DistrictminorPartnership for COVID-19 community response. Truckee Tahoe Airport District donated fuel for emergency medical delivery flights. Worked with Mountain Lion Aviation to organize flights delivering Remdesivir from Stanford Medical Center to Tahoe Forest Hospital.
- Tahoe Forest HospitalminorHealthcare provider partnership for emergency medical supply delivery. Tahoe Forest Hospital coordinated with Mountain Lion Aviation for delivery of Remdesivir COVID-19 treatment during the pandemic.
- Canine Companions For IndependenceminorAssistance with special delivery of future service dogs for the organization. Demonstrates community involvement and willingness to support charitable causes.
- Sonoma Jet CenterminorPartner that donated fuel for service dog delivery mission. Collaboration on community service initiatives.
- Sierra AerocoreStrategic merger between Sierra Aero and Mountain Lion Aviation combining maintenance services with charter and training operations. Chris Barbera (CEO of Mountain Lion Aviation) took on role as CEO of combined entities. Jessica Fay named COO, Sharie Lewis as Director of Daily Operations, Max Ilizarov as shop manager. The partnership creates a more seamless solution for all aviation needs including maintenance, annual inspections, pre-buys, flight training, and alternate travel solutions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mountain Lion Aviation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wheels Up: Large private aviation membership and charter platform backed by institutional capital. Competes for the same executive and family customer base with broader fleet, more destinations, and deeper marketing — a scaled incumbent against which Mountain Lion's concierge niche must differentiate.
- NetJets: Industry-leading fractional jet ownership provider owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Operates the largest private aviation fleet globally and competes at the high end for the same ultra-high-net-worth and corporate customers Mountain Lion targets.
- XOJET Aviation: National on-demand private jet charter operator with a super-mid and large-cabin fleet. Overlaps with Mountain Lion's charter customer base at the upper end, particularly in California.
Direct peers
- PlaneSense: Fractional ownership and charter operator specializing in the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24 fleet. Directly comparable to Mountain Lion's PC-12NG-led charter model, with similar mission profile and customer type (regional business travelers and families).
- Airshare: Fractional aircraft ownership and charter provider with a Phenom 300 and King Air fleet. Comparable mid-market private aviation model with a focus on regional business travelers, similar in customer profile and revenue model to Mountain Lion.
- Surf Air Mobility: Membership-based regional private aviation platform serving West Coast and other metro pairs. Comparable in targeting time-sensitive executive and family travelers with a concierge-style value proposition similar to Mountain Lion's elite charter positioning.
- JSX: Semi-private scheduled air carrier operating Embraer ERJs from private terminals. Targets the same executive and family segment seeking to avoid commercial airports, with a similar point-to-point convenience proposition.
- flyExclusive: Private jet charter and fractional operator with a sizable Cessna Citation fleet. Competes in the same on-demand charter market for executive customers, offering a comparable mix of jet-card and ad-hoc charter products.
- Tradewind Aviation: East Coast-based private charter operator with a PC-12-heavy fleet, offering scheduled shuttle and on-demand charter to leisure destinations (e.g., Caribbean, Nantucket). Closely matches Mountain Lion's Pilatus-centric charter offering and short-runway operational capability.
Others
- Cirrus Aircraft: Manufacturer of the SR-20, SR-22, and SF50 Vision Jet, and the certifying body for Mountain Lion's Cirrus Training Center. Not a competitor but a critical ecosystem partner whose product roadmap and training program structure directly shape Mountain Lion's flight school economics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Mountain Lion Aviation social profiles
Digital presenceMountain Lion Aviation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mountain Lion Aviation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Mountain Lion Aviation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mountain Lion Aviation 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 Mountain Lion Aviation
What does Mountain Lion Aviation do?
Mountain Lion Aviation operates an on-demand Part 135 private charter service using Cirrus SR-22 Turbo, Pilatus PC-12NG, and Socata TBM 940 aircraft out of bases in Truckee, CA and Fort Worth, TX. It also runs a Certified Cirrus Training Center providing standardized pilot training in Cirrus aircraft using full-motion flight simulators. Additional offerings include aircraft management services under Part 135 for fleet operators.
Is Mountain Lion Aviation a public or private company?
Mountain Lion Aviation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mountain Lion Aviation founded?
Mountain Lion Aviation was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mountain Lion Aviation based?
Mountain Lion Aviation is headquartered in Truckee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mountain Lion Aviation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Private Charter Services are the primary driver. The others are flight Training Services and aircraft Management.
Who are Mountain Lion Aviation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wheels Up, NetJets and XOJET Aviation. Direct peers are PlaneSense, Airshare, Surf Air Mobility, JSX, flyExclusive and Tradewind Aviation. Cirrus Aircraft is listed as an others.
Does Mountain Lion Aviation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mountain Lion Aviation.
What industry is Mountain Lion Aviation in?
Mountain Lion Aviation's product category is Private Aviation Charter and Flight Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFABAC, Group & ACMI Charter Airlines (Ad-hoc/Wet Lease). Its NAICS code is 481211.