Aero Club Torino

What Aero Club Torino does

Aero Club Torino is one of Italy's oldest aviation associations, founded in 1908 and operating as a nonprofit amateur sports association (Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica) recognized by CONI. It is the official operator of Torino-Aeritalia Airport (LIMA) at Strada della Berlia 500 in Turin and functions as an ENAC-certified Declared Training Organisation (DTO IT.033), delivering a full pipeline of pilot licensing courses (PPL, ATPL modular in partnership with Aero Club Biella, SPL sailplane, VDS ultralight) plus introductory flights, specialized ratings (IFR, night VFR, mountain flying, acrobacy, glider towing), and an ENAC-certified FNPT II MCC simulator. The club serves aspiring pilots, currently licensed pilots, and academic partners, with roughly 90 active students and approximately 50 new pilot licenses issued annually, and reports that ATPL graduates find employment at European airlines.

The organization operates a 19-aircraft fleet (Piper PA-28 trainers, Mudry CAP 10B acrobatic, Robin DR400, DG/ASK/LS gliders, Diamond motor glider, Pawnee and Rallye tow planes, plus a Pioneer 300 ultralight) and was the first aero club in Italy to fully digitalize its operations using TrustFlight, ForeFlight, and FlyForm for scheduling, flight ops, and form management. Revenue is generated through five streams: recurring membership fees (€200–€1,200/year, with 50% Under-25 discounts), usage-based aircraft rental (€42–€306/hour), one-time training course fees, glider towing (€18–€82 per tow), and AVGAS/MOGAS fuel sales.

Go-to-market is event-driven, structured around twice-yearly course cohorts (ALFA in February, BRAVO in September), the annual Open Day at LIMA (2026 edition drew thousands of visitors, 20+ exhibitors, 80+ complimentary flights), and a formal cooperation agreement signed in May 2026 with Politecnico di Torino covering joint research, theses, internships, and aerospace training. The organization is also actively pursuing EASA Approved Training Organisation (ATO) certification as of May 2026 and is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors led by President Gianmaria Borsarelli.

Name

Aero Club Torino

Legal name

Aero Club Torino Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica

Website

https://aeroclubtorino.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aero Club Torino, founded in 1908, is a nonprofit Italian ENAC-certified flight school and the official operator of Torino-Aeritalia Airport (LIMA), delivering PPL, ATPL, SPL, and VDS pilot training, aircraft rental, simulator sessions, and aviation community services to roughly 400 members and 90+ active students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Torino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Rental: Hourly rental of aircraft including training aircraft (PA-28 variants, CAP 10B, DR400), gliders, ultralight aircraft, and training gliders. Rates vary by aircraft type from €42/h to €306/h. Glider rates include free flying after initial hours.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions for different categories: Pilots (€1200/year), Instructors (€600/year), Student VDS (€300/year), Frequent Visitors (€200/year). Discounts available for Under 25.
3. Training Courses: Revenue from flight training courses including PPL, ATPL, SPL, and VDS licenses. Course fees cover theoretical instruction and practical flight training.
4. Glider Towing Services: Aerial tow services for glider launches at various altitudes (400m to 1200m+) ranging from €18 to €82 per tow.
5. Fuel Sales: AVGAS 100LL and MOGAS 98 fuel sales to members and visiting aircraft.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aero Club Torino operates an ENAC-certified flight school (DTO) at Torino-Aeritalia Airport offering structured pilot licensing courses (PPL, ATPL, SPL, VDS), specialized ratings, and an FNPT II MCC simulator. The organization also provides hourly aircraft rental, glider towing services, introductory flights, and fuel sales to its 400+ member community. It is the first fully digitalized aero club in Italy, using TrustFlight, ForeFlight, and FlyForm for flight operations management.

Product overview

Aero Club Torino operates as a multi-service flight training and aviation organization offering a portfolio of pilot licensing courses, aircraft rental, and aviation experiences from Torino-Aeritalia Airport (LIMA). The core offering consists of four structured training courses: PPL (Private Pilot License), ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License, in collaboration with Aero Club Biella), SPL (Sailplane Pilot License), and VDS (Ultralight/Recreational Flight License). These are complemented by introductory flights, specialized ratings (IFR, night VFR, mountain flying, acrobacy, glider towing), aircraft charter/rental, an ENAC-certified FNPT II MCC flight simulator, and scholarship programs. The organization holds ENAC DTO (Declared Training Organisation) certification and is pursuing EASA ATO (Approved Training Organisation) status. A fleet of 19+ aircraft serves both training and rental needs, including powered aircraft, gliders, motor gliders, and dedicated towing aircraft. The club is recognized by CONI as a non-profit sports association and is the first fully digitalized Aero Club in Italy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PPL - Private Pilot License Course (Corso PPL) Private Pilot License (PPL/A) training combining evening theoretical lessons with practical flight training on PA-28 Warrior and Archer aircraft. Designed for individuals aged 16+ seeking their first pilot license, with a typical duration of 5-6 months and a minimum of 45 flight hours.
• ATPL - Airline Transport Pilot License Course (Corso ATPL) Modular Airline Transport Pilot License course offered in collaboration with Aero Club Biella. Includes Night Rating, IR, CPL, MEP, and UPRT training with in-person theoretical instruction. Designed for career-track pilot candidates pursuing employment at European airlines.
• SPL - Sailplane Pilot License Course (Corso SPL) Sailplane Pilot License course teaching pure flight without engine power, utilizing thermal and dynamic currents. Conducted at the Piedmont Alps base with Pawnee aerotow. Duration 5-6 months with a minimum of 45 launches.
• VDS - Ultralight/Sport Pilot License Course (Corso VDS) Sport and Recreational Flight (VDS) license course on the Pioneer 300 Griffon ultralight aircraft. The most accessible entry point to flying with simplified regulations and lower costs.
• Specialized Ratings and Variants (Abilitazioni e Varianti) Specialized ratings including difference training (VP, RU, TW, Turbo), class extensions (TMG, SEP renewal), and special ratings such as glider towing, night VFR, mountain flying, aerobatics, and sailplane instructor certification.
• Introductory Flights (Voli Introduttivi) Introductory flight experiences with a qualified instructor, designed as a first step toward formal pilot licensing. Motorized flights at €135 (20-minute PA-28 flight for up to 3 passengers); glider flights at €100-135 (600-1000m release altitude).
• Aircraft Rental (Noleggio Velivoli) Hourly rental of fleet aircraft to club members. Pricing ranges from €199.8/h to €306/h for powered aircraft, €42-60/h for gliders, and €144/h for ultralight. Fuel not included.
• Glider Towing Services (Traino Alianti) Aerial tow services for glider launches at various altitudes (400m to 1200m+) ranging from €18 to €82 per tow, supporting SPL training and glider operations.
• FNPT II MCC Flight Simulator Rental ENAC-certified FNPT II MCC flight simulator (IT-112), built by KK To Fly. Used for IFR training, multi-crew cooperation, pilot currency, and exam preparation. Available for rental to individuals and professionals.
• SPL Scholarship Program (Borse di Studio SPL) Annual scholarship program for sailplane pilot training. Five scholarships available (two full course coverage, three covering the theoretical portion). Open to motivated youth aged 16-25.
• Aviation Fuel Sales (AVGAS 100LL / MOGAS 98) AVGAS 100LL and MOGAS 98 fuel sales to members and visiting aircraft at the Torino-Aeritalia airport fuel station.
• ATO Certification Initiative (EASA Approved Training Organisation) In-progress EASA Approved Training Organisation (ATO) certification process. Involves 35 main manuals and over 50 supporting documents, representing thousands of hours of preparation to meet the highest EASA training standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~50 new pilot licenses issued annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Politecnico di TorinocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2026Cooperation agreement for pilot, technician, and aerospace engineer training. Includes thesis projects, internships, visits, seminars, conferences, and joint research on airport systems, maintenance practices, pilot training, operations, flight testing, and simulation. A fleet aircraft was dedicated to the university. Signed at Open Day 2026 by Rector Corgnati and President Borsarelli.
• Aero Club BiellacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2021Collaboration for ATPL modular courses, enabling full professional pilot training from PPL to airline transport pilot license. Over 30 ATPL students trained through this partnership. Theoretical lessons held at Aero Club Torino with qualified instructors.
• ENACcoreOthersItalian Civil Aviation Authority. Certifying body for DTO status and ongoing ATO certification process.
• Aero Club d'Italia (AeCI)coreOthersNational Aero Club federation providing organizational guidance and competition coordination.
• Thales Alenia SpaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Open Day 2026 event showcasing aerospace industry connections and educational opportunities.
• LeonardominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Italian aerospace company participating in Città dell'Aerospazio roundtable discussions at Open Day 2026.
• ENAVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian air navigation service provider participating in flight safety and training events.
• Città di CollegnominorOthersMunicipality hosting the airport facility and supporting aviation community events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Global aviation training provider with multiple academies serving integrated ATPL and cadet programs; competes for airline-sponsored students and offers a broader portfolio than Aero Club Torino's narrower DTO/ATO scope.
• BAA Training: European aviation academy with bases in Lithuania, the UK, and Vietnam; provides integrated ATPL and cadet programs at larger scale than Aero Club Torino, targeting similar European pilot career outcomes.
• FlightSafety International: Global aviation training organization with extensive simulator-based pilot training; broader incumbent offering type rating and recurrent training complementary to but at much larger scale than Aero Club Torino's offerings.
• Lufthansa Aviation Training: Major European aviation training organization running integrated ATPL and type rating programs across multiple bases; broader incumbent competing for the same European pilot training demand pool as Aero Club Torino.

Direct peers

• Aero Club Como: Lombardy-based Italian aero club operating DTO flight school with glider and powered training; comparable club-driven flight training model in close geographic proximity to Aero Club Torino.
• Aero Club Biella: Established ATPL modular training partner of Aero Club Torino; comparable Italian aero club at similar scale providing collaborative ATPL theoretical instruction and integrated professional pilot training pathway.
• Aero Club Roma: Major Italian aero club with similar full-spectrum flight training (PPL, ATPL), glider operations, and member-driven school structure; comparable in scale, history, and Aero Club d'Italia federation role to Aero Club Torino.
• Aero Club Padova: Long-established Italian aero club with flight school, glider operations, and member services; analogous to Aero Club Torino in operating model, fleet scope, and Aero Club d'Italia affiliation.
• Aero Club Milano: Italian aero club at Milano-Bresso operating an ENAC-certified flight school with similar PPL/ATPL/SPL courses, member-based services, fleet rental, and competitive racing - direct comparable to Aero Club Torino's model and federation role in Italian general aviation.

Others

• Aero Club d'Italia: National federation of Italian aero clubs to which Aero Club Torino belongs; provides regulatory coordination, competitions framework, and federation-level advocacy - operates as ecosystem coordinator rather than a direct training competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AeroClub_Torino
• Facebookfacebook.com/AeroClubTorinoAeritalia

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Aero Club Torino