Aviation Solutions

What Aviation Solutions does

Aviation Solutions is a private Canadian aviation training services firm founded in 2005 and headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, operating since 2010 as a specialist provider of Flight Instructor Refresher Courses (FIRCs) under Transport Canada acceptance per CAR 421.66. The company self-describes as Canada's #1 FIRC provider by graduate count, having completed 91 courses since 2010 and graduated its 1,000th participant in 2021. Its core product set comprises a virtual two-day FIRC delivered via Zoom at $899 with 16 instructional hours, self-paced Class 1 and Class 2 Flight Instructor Upgrade Courses priced at $299 each, an 'e-Fresher' branded pre-course online learning component, advanced technical training modules (TEM, SMS, integrated flight decks, icing operations), and aviation consulting/audit services for small operators and flight training units. All courses are sold direct-to-consumer through the firm's own e-commerce store on aviationsolutions.net; there is no reseller or distribution network.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally light: courses are delivered through a combination of Squarespace-hosted website commerce, the proprietary e-Fresher online learning tool (a registered trademark), and Zoom for live virtual conferences, with self-paced courseware gated to roughly 60 days of access. The business model is one-time/perpetual-license course sales rather than subscriptions, with $899 and $299 price points and stated tax-free pricing; revenue is concentrated in individual flight instructors (Class 1–4 ratings) with a secondary, smaller stream from B2B consulting and audit work.

The company is founder-led by Mike Schuster (ATP, Class 1 FI, Pilot Examiner, Principal Consultant) alongside a small bench of contract presenters including Scott Peters (Manager of Pilot Training at a Canadian air carrier). It has no disclosed outside funding, is privately held and founder-owned, is carbon-neutral certified through a C-Level partnership, and uses AI only in internal workflows under strict data-segregation safeguards. As of the most recent signals (Class #91 in April 2026; the September 2026 virtual FIRC selling out), the firm continues to operate as a profitable, narrowly focused niche training business rather than a scaling venture.

Name

Aviation Solutions

Legal name

Aviation Solutions

Website

https://aviationsolutions.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aviation Solutions is a private Canadian aviation training firm that delivers Transport Canada–accepted Flight Instructor Refresher Courses, Class 1/2 Instructor Upgrade Courses, and aviation consulting services to licensed flight instructors and small aviation operators across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Flight instructor training
• Aviation safety courses
• Flight training services
• Aviation consulting
• Pilot refresher courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Course Sales - Flight Instructor Refresher Courses: Revenue generated from Flight Instructor Refresher Course virtual conferences ($899 per course) and self-paced upgrade courses ($299 per course). All courses are tax-free. These are one-time purchase transactions for professional development.
2. Course Sales - Flight Instructor Upgrade Courses: Self-paced virtual courses for Class 1 and Class 2 Flight Instructor upgrades. Priced at $299 per course. Includes email support and a 30-minute live consultation with an instructor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aviation Solutions sells Transport Canada-accepted Flight Instructor Refresher Courses (FIRC) for flight instructor rating renewal, delivered as two-day virtual conferences via Zoom for $899 or as self-paced online programs. The company also offers self-paced Class 1 and Class 2 Flight Instructor Upgrade Courses for $299 each, advanced technical training in areas like Threat and Error Management (TEM) and Safety Management Systems (SMS), and consulting/audit services for small aviation operators. All courses target licensed Canadian flight instructors and small flight training units seeking professional development and regulatory compliance.

Product overview

Aviation Solutions is Canada's #1 provider of Flight Instructor Refresher Courses, offering a portfolio of training and professional development services for aviation professionals. The core offerings include the Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) available as virtual conferences, Class 1 and Class 2 FI Upgrade Courses (self-paced virtual programs), Advanced Training Courses covering specialized aviation topics, and Consulting and Audit Services. The e-Fresher pre-course component enhances the FIRC with online learning videos. The company also offers specialized training in Threat and Error Management (TEM), Safety Management Systems (SMS), and integrated flight decks. All courses are Transport Canada accepted for rating renewals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FIRC: Flight Instructor Refresher Course - the company's primary offering for flight instructor rating renewals
• e-Fresher
• Your Partner in Success

Products and services

• Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) - Virtual Conference A Transport Canada-accepted professional development course for licensed flight instructors to renew their instructor ratings in accordance with CAR 421.66. Delivered as a two-day virtual conference via Zoom with 16 total instructional hours, combining self-paced pre-course learning with live interactive sessions including breakout discussions.
• Class 1 FI Upgrade Course (Self-Paced Virtual) A self-paced virtual professional development course preparing flight instructors for the Class 1 upgrade process. Takes approximately 10 hours to complete with up to 60 days of access. Includes email support and a 30-minute live consultation with an instructor. Not eligible as a FIRC for rating renewal.
• Class 2 FI Upgrade Course (Self-Paced Virtual) A self-paced virtual professional development course preparing flight instructors for the Class 2 upgrade process. Takes approximately 12 hours to complete with up to 60 days of access. Includes email support and a 30-minute live consultation with an instructor. Not eligible as a FIRC for rating renewal.
• Advanced Training Courses Customized advanced technical training courses for aviation professionals covering turbofan/turboprop systems, aerodynamics, icing operations, Threat and Error Management (TEM), integrated flight decks/EFBs, Safety Management Systems (SMS) introduction, and small group briefing/tutoring.
• Consulting and Audit Services Aviation consultancy services specializing in manual and systems development including Safety Management, Emergency Response, Company/Flight Operations, Maintenance Control, Minimum Equipment Lists, and Training programs, with a focus on small operators and flight training units. Includes audit preparation services.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• C-LevelminorOthersAviation Solutions is a carbon neutral company through the purchase of carbon offset credits with C-Level. C-Level offsets carbon used throughout their entire operation through various nature-based community projects in developing countries, such as supporting Nicaraguan farmers in re-forestation efforts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Boldmethod: Online aviation education platform providing free articles, training content, and courses for pilots of all experience levels. Comparable to Aviation Solutions through its content-led approach to aviation training and education, though Boldmethod focuses broadly on pilot knowledge rather than instructor certification.
• MzeroA: Online flight training platform offering video-based courses for student pilots from private through commercial certificates. Comparable to Aviation Solutions as an online aviation education provider, though MzeroA targets pre-certificate students rather than licensed instructor refresher courses.
• PilotEdge: Online air traffic control simulation network used by flight training programs and individual pilots for radio communication and ATC interaction practice. Comparable to Aviation Solutions as a technology-enabled aviation training tool, though PilotEdge focuses on interactive simulation rather than regulatory renewals.

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Global aviation training leader offering pilot training, crew training, and simulation solutions across commercial, business, and defense aviation. Comparable to Aviation Solutions as a professional aviation training provider, though CAE's scope, international footprint, and capital base are vastly larger.
• ATP Flight School: Largest flight training school in the United States, providing structured pilot training from private pilot through airline transport pilot. Comparable to Aviation Solutions as a flight training provider, though ATP focuses on ab initio career-track training rather than the flight instructor refresher niche.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: The world's largest aviation and aerospace university, offering degree programs and pilot training across multiple U.S. and international campuses. Comparable to Aviation Solutions as an aviation education provider, though significantly larger and operating a degree-granting model rather than professional development courses.
• FlightSafety International: Leading global provider of professional aviation training for pilots, crew, and maintenance technicians, serving airlines, governments, and corporate operators. Relevant to Aviation Solutions because it operates in the same professional aviation training category, although at far broader scale and scope than the niche FIRC focus.
• Epic Flight Academy: Flight training academy serving career-track pilots with multi-engine and airline preparation programs, primarily in the U.S. Comparable to Aviation Solutions as a structured flight training provider, though focused on pilot certification rather than instructor professional development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aviation-solutions

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Aviation Solutions