Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM)

What Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM) does

Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901), VAT-exempt, founded in 1909 as Société Aérienne de Picardie and now operating from the Glisy aerodrome near Amiens in the Hauts-de-France region. The club offers pilot training across four disciplines — airplane (PPL(A), LAPL(A)), glider, microlight (ULM multi-axis including Jabiru J170 and Savannah), and aerobatics — using a fleet that includes PIPER J3, DR400, Aquila AT01, CR120, and ARS300 aircraft plus gliders and full-motion flight simulators. Beyond formal licensing, ACPAM runs discovery flights (baptême de l'air) over scenic routes such as the Baie de Somme and historical Somme battlefields, BIA exam preparation (Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique) with a 90%+ pass rate sustained over 20+ years, a competitive aerobatics team (Amiens Voltige, French Championship team winners 2022/23/24), and inclusive social programs (Handivol serving 600+ people with disabilities annually; youth discovery days reaching 400+ young people).

ACPAM monetizes through a hybrid model combining recurring annual memberships (club fee €90, section fees €50, federation licenses €85-€180, insurance €43), one-time flight training packages (€1,850-€2,600 for PPL/ULM brevet objectives), discovery flight products at €80-€350, gift vouchers sold online, and event-driven revenue from the annual 20000 Lieues dans les Airs kermesse (6,000+ visitors). Distribution is direct at the Glisy aerodrome via phone/email booking and an AeroInfo online reservation system, supplemented by HelloAsso for BIA course enrollment. The club is regulated under FR.DTO.0060 pilot school approval, holds FFVV (54/68) and FFULM (8005) federation affiliations, and is recognized as a Centre de Haut Niveau Sportif (2010) with Qualité Formation label (2005). Strategic positioning emphasizes brand longevity, multi-discipline training, competitive sports performance, environmental stewardship (60-hectare eco-grazed airfield), and social inclusion through accessibility programs.

Governance is volunteer-led by members, with no parent company, institutional investors, or external capital; operating geography is confined to Hauts-de-France. Notable leadership figures include Gérard Charpentier and Emmanuel Foulon, co-creators of the Amiens Voltige aerobatics section in 2003. Key partnerships span Handivol collaborators (CCAS Ville d'Amiens, France Bénévolat Somme, Printemps des Générations, Mirauds Volants) and a 2023 environmental partnership with Cliiik.

Name

Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM)

Legal name

Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM)

Website

https://aeroclub-picardie-amiens.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM) is a French non-profit flight club founded in 1909, operating from Glisy aerodrome near Amiens and offering pilot training in airplane, glider, ULM, and aerobatics, plus discovery flights, BIA exam prep, and inclusive Handivol programs for the Hauts-de-France regional community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Glisy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Flight Training: Revenue from pilot training programs for airplane, glider, and ULM licenses including PPL, LAPL, and ULM brevet programs.
2. Discovery Flights (Baptêmes de l'air): Paid discovery flights for individuals wanting to experience flying. Includes airplane, glider, and ULM options.
3. Membership Fees: Annual club membership fees and section-specific fees for ULM and gliding sections.
4. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers for introductory flights as gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM) is a French flight school and aeroclub operating from the Glisy aerodrome near Amiens. It delivers pilot training and licensing programs across four aircraft disciplines — airplane (PPL(A)/LAPL(A)), glider, ULM microlight, and aerobatics — together with discovery flights, BIA aeronautical initiation courses, professional flight simulator sessions, and competitive aerobatics and gliding team activities. The club also runs community programs such as the annual '20000 Lieues dans les Airs' kermesse and the Handivol accessibility initiative for people with disabilities.

Product overview

Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM) is a flight school and aeroclub offering a portfolio of aviation training and recreational flight services. The core offerings consist of pilot training programs for four aircraft categories: Avion (airplane), Planeur (glider), ULM (microlight), and Voltige (aerobatics), each leading to various licenses. Supporting these training programs are BIA preparation courses, professional flight simulators, and discovery flight experiences (baptême de l'air) for the general public. The club also operates competition teams in aerobatics and gliding, and hosts community events including the annual '20000 Lieues dans les Airs' festival and the inclusive 'Handivol' program for people with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airplane (Avion) Pilot Training Approved flight school program delivering PPL(A) and LAPL(A) airplane licenses with state-certified flight instructors, using PIPER J3, DR400, and CR120 aircraft.
• Glider (Planeur) Pilot Training Sailplane/glider flight training and licensing with theoretical and practical instruction in two-seater gliders under volunteer certified instructors; affiliated with Fédération Française Vol à Voile (54/68).
• ULM (Microlight) Pilot Training Multi-axis microlight (ULM) pilot training using Jabiru J170 and Savannah aircraft, with approximately 15 flight hours required for the ULM brevet; affiliated with Fédération Française ULM (8005).
• Aerobatics (Voltige) Training Aerobatic flight instruction and competition program delivered by Amiens Voltige using CR120 and ARS300 aircraft for basic and advanced figures, recognized as a high-level sports center since 2010.
• BIA (Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique) Course French aeronautical initiation certificate preparation course for young people aged 13+, comprising 40 hours of theoretical instruction plus flight experiences in airplane, glider, and microlight, with a 90%+ exam pass rate over 20+ years.
• Discovery Flights (Baptême de l'air) Paid introductory scenic flight experiences for the general public in airplane, glider, or ULM over Amiens, the Baie de Somme, and historical Picardie landmarks; also sold as gift vouchers.
• Flight Simulator Training Professional full-motion flight simulator sessions used for pilot training, maneuver practice, emergency procedure rehearsal, and exam preparation independent of weather conditions.
• Annual Club Membership Annual ACPAM club membership (€90) plus optional section-specific fees (ULM section €50), federation licenses (FFPLUM €180, FFVV €85-100), and insurance (€43).
• Discovery Flight Gift Vouchers Gift vouchers for introductory discovery flights in airplane, glider, or ULM, purchasable online and ranging from 20-minute local flights to 75-minute Baie de Somme excursions (€80-€350).

Quantifiable outcome

• BIA exam pass rate exceeding 90%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CliiikminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Environmental partnership established in 2023 with Cliiik, which promotes eco-friendly actions through local and sustainable economy initiatives. The partnership supports the club's environmental commitments.
• HandivolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual accessibility program enabling over 600 people with disabilities to experience flight. Partnered with CCAS (Ville d'Amiens), France Bénévolat Somme, and Printemps des Générations.
• Fédération Française Vol à Voile (FFVV)coreOthersAffiliation number 54/68. The gliding section is affiliated with the French Gliding Federation.
• Fédération Française ULMcoreOthersAffiliation number 8005. The ULM section is affiliated with the French ULM Federation.
• CCAS Ville d'AmienscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal Social Action Center of Amiens that co-organizes the Handivol event for people with disabilities.
• Mirauds VolantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation providing visual impairment simulation systems and Sound Flyer simulator for blind/low-vision flight instruction during Handivol events.
• 20000 Lieues dans les AirscoreOthersMajor annual aviation festival organized by the club, described as the largest kermesse north of Paris, attracting over 6,000 visitors and benefiting Handivol.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• AOPA France: French branch of the international Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, advocating for general aviation interests in France and representing private pilots. Comparable as an enabling/adjacent organization in the same ecosystem, influencing the regulatory and operating environment in which ACPAM conducts flight training.

Broad incumbents

• Aéroclub de France: The national federation of French aeroclubs, representing and coordinating local flying clubs across France. Comparable as the umbrella organization for the same aeroclub model ACPAM operates under, providing federation-level context for the regulatory, training, and competitive landscape ACPAM navigates.
• FlightSafety International: Major global commercial flight training organization owned by Berkshire Hathaway, serving airlines, governments, and professional pilots with simulator-based training. Comparable as the upper-bound professional pilot training incumbent, representing the scale and curriculum standardization ACPAM would need to match to capture career-aspiring students.
• CAE Inc. Canadian-based global aviation training leader operating flight academies for pilots and crew worldwide. Comparable as the dominant professionalized flight training incumbent that ACPAM competes against for serious career-track students seeking structured, paid-instructor programs.

Direct peers

• Aéroclub de Paris: Long-established Parisian aeroclub offering pilot training, discovery flights, and aerial activities from the Paris region. Comparable as a major French regional aeroclub with a similar multi-discipline training model and association-based governance, though serving a larger and more affluent metropolitan catchment.
• Aéroclub Jean-Baptiste Salis: Historic French aeroclub based at La Ferté-Alais airfield, offering pilot training, discovery flights, and aerobatics, and operating one of Europe's largest annual airshows. Directly comparable to ACPAM as a multi-discipline French aeroclub with similar community-driven training, event programming, and heritage positioning.

Regional players

• EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association): US-based community organization for recreational aviation, hosting the world's largest annual aviation gathering (AirVenture Oshkosh) and supporting pilot training, youth programs, and aircraft building. Comparable as the US functional equivalent of the French aeroclub model, though operating in a different geography and regulatory regime.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Aeroclub.Picardie.Amiens
• Instagraminstagram.com/aeroclub_picardie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a%C3%A9roclub-de-picardie-amiens-m%C3%A9tropole

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aéroclub de Picardie Amiens Métropole (ACPAM)