BITTS

What BITTS does

BITTS (Barrington Irving Technical Training School) is an aviation-focused technical training organization founded in 2023 by Captain Barrington Irving, a record-holding pilot. The school runs 8-week intensive programs covering aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and adjacent STEM-technical trades, targeting both high school students and adult learners with an explicit focus on underrepresented and lower-income communities. BITTS is anchored at Miami-Opa-Locka Executive Airport and has expanded to additional sites in Pompano Beach (Florida), Chicago (Illinois), and Mount Vernon (New York), forming a multi-state footprint aligned with major aviation employment corridors.

The core product is a short-cycle, hands-on technical curriculum delivered in cohorts of 15-20 in year one, scaling toward 50 students in 2024, with direct job placement into aviation employers including Bombardier, Atlantic Aviation, Signature Flight Support, AAR Corp, Xtreme Aviation, and LGT. The business model is a hybrid of subsidized and grant-funded tuition: participation is made free for individuals earning under $35,000 annually through the United Way Miami UpSkill Miami partnership, and BITTS received a $100,000 Miami-Dade County grant in 2023 to support operations. Go-to-market relies on partnerships with public school systems (Chicago Public Schools), workforce-development nonprofits, county government, and aviation employers, forming a multi-stakeholder pipeline rather than direct-to-consumer marketing.

Name

BITTS

Legal name

Barrington Irving Technical Training School

Website

https://bittschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BITTS is an aviation technical training school founded in 2023 that runs 8-week intensive MRO and STEM programs for high school students and adults, providing hands-on instruction and direct job placement with major aviation employers across multiple U.S. sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Technical Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Flight Training (611512), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronics Technician Training (Analog/Digital) (EDAOABAG), Sheet Metal Fabrication & Light-Gauge Metalwork Training (EDAOADAD), 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH), Electronics, Circuits & Soldering Programs (EDAMADAG)

Keywords

• Aviation technical training
• Workforce development
• STEM career training
• Aircraft maintenance training
• Aviation certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Opa-Locka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technical Training Tuition: Revenue generated from providing vocational technical training programs in aviation and STEM fields. Programs include 8-week intensive sessions with industry certifications and direct hiring pathways to aviation employers.
2. Training Program Fees: Programs provide 160 total training hours over 12-16 weeks consisting of on-the-job training, direct instructional time, independent learning, virtual and in-person training, and skill and knowledge assessments

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BITTS (Barrington Irving Technical Training School) delivers 8-week intensive aviation and STEM technical training programs covering MRO, composites, electronics, landing gear, FBO operations, drone technology, precision measuring, and additive/subtractive manufacturing. Students earn NATA certifications and Snap-On NC3 tool kits, with direct job placement pathways to aviation industry employers including FBOs, MRO providers, and aircraft manufacturers.

Product overview

BITTS (Barrington Irving Technical Training School) is a single, unified aviation and STEM technical training program that provides comprehensive 8-week intensive courses in multiple disciplines. The core program encompasses training in Additive Manufacturing, Subtractive Manufacturing (CNC), Composites, Sheet Metal, Maintenance Assistance, Electronics, Landing Gear, FBO Operations, Drone Technology, Torque & Safety Wire, Human Factors/Safety, Precision Measuring, and Soft Skills. All students receive Snap-On NC3 Certification Tool Kits and NATA certifications as part of the program. The school operates from locations in Miami (Opa-Locka Executive Airport) and Pompano Beach, Florida, with additional program expansions to Chicago and New York.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BITTS Aviation Technical Training Program 8-week intensive aviation and STEM training program covering MRO, composites, electronics, landing gear, FBO operations, drone technology, precision measuring, additive/subtractive manufacturing, sheet metal, and soft skills. Targets high school students and adults seeking aviation career pathways with NATA certifications, Snap-On NC3 tool kits, and direct job placement.
• UpSkill Miami Workforce Training Program Free aviation training program for Miami-Dade County residents earning less than $35K annually. Requires age 18+, Miami-Dade residency, and completion of 160 training hours over 12-16 weeks. Delivered in partnership with United Way Miami workforce fund.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• United Way MiamiflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2024United Way Miami expanded its workforce fund UpSkill Miami in partnership with BITTS, committing to empower more than 750 Miami-Dade residents with training and employment opportunities in the aviation industry. The program targets individuals earning less than $35K annually.
• City of Mount Vernon, NYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Mount Vernon partnered with BITTS to launch a youth 'flying plan initiative' empowering youth with skills in aviation, expanding BITTS programs to Westchester County, NY.
• Atlantic AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2023Atlantic Aviation and BITTS launched a workforce incentive program with Chicago Public Schools, providing students with hands-on exposure to aviation careers including fixed base operations, maintenance, repair, and overhaul, along with access to training opportunities and potential summer internships at Chicago Midway International Airport.
• BombardierflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Bombardier collaborates with Captain Barrington Irving to develop a comprehensive curriculum and outreach program to inspire the next generation of A&P technicians across America, fueling the talent pipeline at Bombardier's five U.S. based service centers. Also partner on Flying Classroom's Bombardier Academy with aircraft technician competitions at NBAA-BACE.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBAA is a key strategic partner with BITTS, supporting workforce initiatives, recognizing the school's expansion, and providing platforms at regional forums and NBAA-BACE for student recruitment and aircraft technician competitions.
• Signature Flight SupportcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSignature Flight Support is a leading FBO and hiring partner for BITTS graduates, providing essential services to private and corporate aviation customers globally including aircraft fueling, hangar space rental, ground handling, concierge services, and passenger amenities.
• Xtreme AviationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorXtreme Aviation is a hiring partner for BITTS graduates, offering aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), avionics installations, aircraft painting, and interior refurbishment services.
• Landing Gear Technologies (LGT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLanding Gear Technologies specializes in landing gear systems and components crucial for aircraft support and maneuverability during takeoff, landing, and taxiing. A key hiring partner for BITTS landing gear program graduates.
• AAR CorpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAAR Corp is a global aerospace and defense company and hiring partner, providing aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), supply chain management, aircraft leasing, and expeditionary services.
• Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIM's schools in Chicago and Las Vegas participate in the Flying Classroom Bombardier Academy aircraft technician competition held annually at NBAA-BACE.
• City of Opa-LockacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Opa-Locka partnered with BITTS to launch an aviation workforce development program for residents, addressing shortages in the aviation workforce and increasing local employment.
• Snap-OnminorOthersSnap-On provides prizes for the aircraft technician competition at NBAA-BACE and NC3 certification tool kits for student training.
• Honeywell AerospaceminorOthersHoneywell Aerospace supports the competition by covering some student travel costs and providing giveaways for competition participants.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FlightSafety International: Leading provider of professional aviation training, including pilot, maintenance technician, and crew resource management programs globally. Comparable to BITTS in aviation technical training but operates as a large incumbent with simulation centers worldwide.
• CAE Inc. Canadian-based aviation training and simulation provider operating pilot and maintenance training centers worldwide. Comparable as a large-scale aviation training incumbent with significant employer and government relationships.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Large accredited university offering aviation maintenance, engineering, and pilot programs across multiple degree levels. A broader incumbent in aviation education, with significantly more scale, accreditations, and federal aid eligibility than BITTS.
• Universal Technical Institute: Large public technical/trade school (NYSE: UTI) covering automotive, diesel, welding, aviation, and industrial trades. Comparable to BITTS as a technical-trades training operator at much greater scale, with manufacturer-affiliated training programs.
• Lincoln Tech: Multi-campus career training school offering skilled trades including automotive, HVAC, electrical, and welding programs. Comparable to BITTS in the broader vocational/technical training category, with established accreditations and federal financial aid.

Direct peers

• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics: Long-established aviation maintenance technician school in Pennsylvania with FAA-approved A&P programs. Closely comparable to BITTS in curriculum focus on aviation MRO, electronics, and composites, though operating at a more mature scale and accreditations.
• Aviation Institute of Maintenance: Multi-campus FAA-approved A&P technician school with locations including Chicago and Las Vegas. Directly comparable as an aviation maintenance training provider; BITTS even partners with AIM in the Bombardier Academy competition at NBAA-BACE.
• Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: Aviation and technical trade school offering aviation maintenance, electronics, and avionics programs across U.S. campuses. Direct comparable to BITTS in aviation technician training and employer-aligned curriculum model.

Others

• National Aviation Training Association (NATA): Industry association providing the NATA certifications issued to BITTS graduates. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler for aviation workforce development, with overlapping mission around aviation technician training standards.

Emerging players

• Tulsa Welding School: Specialized technical school (a division of Universal Technical Institute) focused on welding, fabrication, and similar skilled trades. Partially comparable to BITTS's sheet metal, composites, and precision-measuring curriculum, serving overlapping technician-student demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bittschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 BITTS