Air Vergiate

What Air Vergiate does

Air Vergiate Srl is an EASA-certified Italian flight training organization (Air Vergiate ATO IT.ATO.0001) headquartered in Somma Lombardo, Lombardy, with an owned operational base at Aeroporto Pietro Venanzi di Biella-Cerrione. The company delivers professional pilot training for both airplanes and helicopters, covering the full license ladder from Private Pilot License (PPL) through Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and integrated and modular Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) programs, plus instrument, multi-engine, MCC, UPRT, instructor, and type-rating courses such as AW 109. Theoretical instruction is delivered partly via a Cranfield Aviation-certified distance learning platform combined with residential classroom sessions; practical training uses the company's own fleet and, for up to 50 of 200 ATPL practical hours, an ALSIM ALX FNTP II MCC professional flight simulator housed inside the Volandia museum adjacent to Milano Malpensa Terminal 1.

The business model is direct-to-student enrollment through the airvergiate.it website, phone, and on-site visits, with course fees quoted individually rather than publicly disclosed. A student-financing channel is provided via an exclusive Intesa Sanpaolo 'Per Merito' / 'Prestito con Lode' loan of up to €50,000 over 20 years with no guarantor requirement. Ancillary revenue streams include the Mayflower College Test of English for Aviation (TEA) at €145 per candidate, and external simulator bookings. Customers are individual aspiring pilots in two primary segments: (i) private pilots pursuing PPL for recreation, and (ii) professional pilot candidates targeting careers with European airlines, where Air Vergiate documents graduate placements at carriers including Alitalia, Delta, Emirates, Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Neos, Ethiopian Airlines, AvioNord, and Bulgaria Air.

Air Vergiate was founded in 1945 as Aero Club Alessandro Passaleva di Vergiate, achieved the first Italian JAR-FTO certification (I-FTO 001) in 2001, became a limited liability company in 2011, and was the first Italian school to obtain EASA ATO status (IT.ATO.0001) in 2013. The company acquired Biella-Cerrione Airport in 2016, providing infrastructure control that underpins operational flexibility. The organization employs 21 people and is privately held without disclosed external investors.

Name

Air Vergiate

Legal name

Air Vergiate Srl

Website

https://airvergiate.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Air Vergiate Srl is an EASA-certified Italian flight school (IT.ATO.0001) training private and professional airplane and helicopter pilots via integrated ATPL pathways, ALSIM ALX simulator sessions, and Intesa Sanpaolo-backed student financing, with graduates placed across major European and international carriers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Somma Lombardo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Flight Training Courses: Revenue from comprehensive flight training programs including PPL, CPL, ATPL integrated, ATPL Frozen, IR, MEP, and instructor ratings for both airplanes and helicopters. Programs range from introductory private pilot training to commercial airline pilot preparation.
2. Test of English Aviation (TEA) Examinations: Official Test Center No. 36 for ICAO English proficiency testing, administered in partnership with Mayflower College. Exam fee of €145 per candidate.
3. Simulator Access for External Users: The ALSIM ALX simulator is available for booking by external users not enrolled as Air Vergiate students, providing additional revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Air Vergiate is an EASA-certified flight training organization offering professional pilot certification courses for airplanes and helicopters, from Private Pilot License (PPL) through integrated Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) programs, including ratings such as Instrument Rating (IR), Multi-Engine Piston (MEP), Multi-Crew Coordination (MCC), Advanced UPRT, and Flight Instructor (FI) certifications. Training combines theoretical instruction (delivered via a certified Cranfield Aviation distance-learning platform with classroom sessions) and practical flight training at its owned Biella-Cerrione airport, supplemented by ALSIM ALX simulator sessions at the Volandia museum near Milano Malpensa. Additional revenue services include ICAO English proficiency testing (TEA) and external simulator bookings.

Product overview

Air Vergiate is an EASA-certified flight school (IT.ATO.0001) offering a comprehensive portfolio of pilot training programs for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The core offering consists of license courses spanning from PPL (Private Pilot License) through ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), complemented by specialized ratings including IR (Instrument Rating), MEP (Multi-Engine Piston), MCC (Multi Crew Coordination), UPRT (Upset Prevention and Recovery), flight instructor certifications, and aircraft type ratings. The training portfolio is delivered through a blended approach combining theoretical instruction (via Distance Learning on certified platforms), practical flight training at owned airports, and simulator sessions using the ALSIM ALX professional simulator at Volandia museum. Additional services include English language testing (TEA) and student financing programs (Prestito con Lode). The product ecosystem is structured as integrated training pathways designed to take students from beginner (ab initio) to professional airline pilot careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PPL (A) - Private Pilot License Aeroplane Private Pilot License course for airplanes via distance learning on the certified Cranfield Aviation platform with residential ground school sessions, designed for individuals seeking first-pilot license for personal or recreational flying.
• CPL (A) - Commercial Pilot License Aeroplane Commercial Pilot License course for airplanes enabling pilots to operate as pilot-in-command on single-pilot VFR commercial operations, including Night Rating and Basic UPRT.
• ATPL Integrato (A) - Integrated Airline Transport Pilot License Aeroplane Integrated ATPL course training pilots for single-pilot and multi-pilot aircraft on commercial air transport operations, culminating in CPL/IR(A). Approximately 750 hours theoretical and 200 hours practical (with up to 50 simulator hours).
• ATPL Frozen Teorico (A) - Theoretical ATPL Distance Learning Aeroplane Theoretical Frozen Airline Transport Pilot License course for airplanes delivered via the Cranfield Aviation distance learning platform, 656 hours of classroom or distance learning, for modular ATPL theory completion.
• IR (MEP) - Instrument Rating Multi-Engine Piston Aeroplane Instrument Rating course for multi-engine piston aircraft that qualifies pilots to operate under IFR rules.
• CR (MEP) - Multi Engine Piston Class Rating Multi Engine Piston Class Rating course training pilots to safely operate multi-engine aircraft.
• Advanced UPRT - Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training course conducted on SF260 aircraft, 3 hours of flight training as required by EASA FCL.745.A.
• MCC (A) - Multi Crew Coordination Aeroplane Multi Crew Coordination course training pilots to operate safely in multi-crew environments on multi-pilot multi-engine aircraft.
• FI (A) - Flight Instructor Aeroplane Flight Instructor course training airplane pilots to operate as flight instructors, with additional endorsements available: CRI, IRI, MCCI.
• Acro (A) - Aerobatic Flight Aerobatic flight training course for pilots to perform aerobatic and semi-aerobatic maneuvers on certified aircraft.
• PPL (H) - Private Pilot License Helicopter Private Pilot License course for helicopters via distance learning on the certified Cranfield Aviation platform.
• CPL Modulare (H) - Modular Commercial Pilot License Helicopter Modular Commercial Pilot Licence for helicopters qualifying pilots for single-pilot VFR commercial operations, including Night Qualification.
• CPL Integrato Ab Initio (H) - Integrated Ab Initio Commercial Pilot License Helicopter Integrated Ab Initio Commercial Pilot Licence for helicopters, training pilots from zero experience directly to commercial helicopter pilot level.
• ATP IR Frozen Teorico (H) - Theoretical ATPL IR Helicopter Airline Transport Pilot IR Frozen theoretical course for helicopters delivered via Cranfield Aviation distance learning, 651 hours classroom or distance learning.
• IR (H) - Instrument Rating Helicopter Instrument Rating course for helicopters enabling pilots to operate under IFR rules on single or multi-engine helicopters.
• MCC (H) - Multi Crew Coordination Helicopter Multi Crew Coordination course for helicopters, training pilots for VFR or IFR operations on multi-pilot multi-engine helicopters.
• FI (H) - Flight Instructor Helicopter Flight Instructor course for helicopter pilots, with additional endorsements available: TRI, STI, MCCI.
• Type Rating AW 109 Type rating course for the Agusta AW 109 multi-engine single-pilot helicopter, available via FTD 3 simulator training or actual helicopter training.
• ALSIM ALX Simulator Sessions Professional ALSIM ALX FNTP II MCC flight simulator located at Volandia museum near Milano Malpensa, available for booking by external users and used in CPL/ATPL training where up to 50 hours may replace real flight hours.
• TEA - Test of English for Aviation Test of English for Aviation sessions administered as Official Test Center No. 36 in partnership with Mayflower College, satisfying ICAO English Language Proficiency Requirements for pilot license issuance; €145 per exam.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50 simulator hours can replace real flight hours in training programs, reducing overall training costs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Volandia (Museo del Volo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir Vergiate is a founding member of Volandia museum. The ALSIM ALX simulator is housed within the museum's Padiglione Forme del Volo, adjacent to Terminal 1 of Milano Malpensa Airport. The partnership creates a unique training environment combining professional flight simulation with aviation cultural heritage. Students benefit from museum context and aviation history during their training.
• EMAVAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMAVA is one of three partners in the synergy that resulted in the ALSIM ALX simulator installation at Volandia museum. The partnership represents a collaboration between key aviation training and cultural entities in the Varese province area.
• Mayflower CollegecoreTechnology or IntegrationAir Vergiate is Official Test Center No. 36 for the Test of English for Aviation (TEA), administered in partnership with Mayflower College. The test fulfills ICAO English Language Proficiency Requirements for pilot license issuance. Test sessions are conducted at Air Vergiate's Volandia location.
• Cranfield AviationcoreTechnology or IntegrationAir Vergiate uses Cranfield Aviation's certified interactive distance learning platform for theoretical training across multiple courses including PPL, ATPL Frozen, and ATP IR programs. The platform provides structured theoretical instruction that can be completed remotely with residential classroom sessions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pan Am Flight Academy: International pilot training provider offering integrated ATPL and type rating courses across FAA and partner programs. Comparable as a multi-offering professional pilot academy with simulator-based training delivery.
• L3Harris Airline Academy (AIM): Multi-base integrated ATPL training organization formerly known as Aviation Industry Meets / L3 Airline Academy. Directly comparable as a large-scale EASA ATO offering cadet programs with airline placement partnerships.
• Egnatia Aviation: Greece-based EASA ATO providing integrated ATPL, type rating, and ground school programs. Comparable as a Southern European EASA-approved flight school targeting cadet pilots for European airlines.
• Airways Aviation: International flight training group operating EASA-approved academies (e.g., Airways Aviation España, Czech base) for integrated ATPL and degree-linked programs. Comparable as a multi-European-base direct competitor for aspiring airline pilots.
• FTEJerez: EASA-approved integrated ATPL flight school based in Jerez, Spain. Directly comparable as a single-country European ATO targeting career-track cadet pilots with airline-sponsored pathways.
• BAA Training: Lithuania-headquartered EASA ATO offering integrated ATPL, type ratings, and cadet programs across multiple bases in Europe. Comparable as a direct competitor in the integrated ATPL market targeting aspiring European airline pilots.
• CAE: World's largest independent aviation training provider operating multiple EASA-approved flight academies across Europe (including Oxford Aviation Academy-acquired sites in the UK/EU). Directly comparable as a multi-base EASA flight school producing integrated ATPL graduates for European airlines.
• FlightSafety International: Global pilot training organization with EASA/FAA approved programs including integrated ATPL and type ratings. Directly comparable as a full-spectrum professional pilot training provider serving airline customers with simulator-based curricula.

Regional players

• Aviolinx (formerly Norsk Flyoperatør): Scandinavia-based flight training and type rating provider. Comparable as a European EASA ATO offering integrated ATPL and type ratings with similar regulatory profile to Air Vergiate, though primarily serving Nordic markets.

Emerging players

• Epic Flight Academy: US-based FAA Part 141 flight academy offering integrated career-track programs (PPL through CFI). Comparable in the integrated career-pilot training model though primarily FAA-aligned; useful as a scale comparator for individual student throughput.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AirVergiate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airvergiate

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Air Vergiate