Black Hound Aviation
Black Hound Aviation is a privately held flight school in San Marcos, Texas, founded in 2003, offering discovery flights through Commercial Pilot certification to individual aspiring pilots across the Central Texas region using a modern glass-cockpit Cessna 172 fleet.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSan Marcos, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Black Hound Aviation does
Black Hound Aviation, LLC is a privately held FAA Part 141/61 flight training school headquartered at 1915 Airport Drive in San Marcos, Texas, founded in 2003 by Martin Fass. The school provides pilot certification training from introductory discovery flights through Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and High Performance/Complex endorsements, serving individual aspiring pilots and career-track aviation candidates in the Central Texas corridor (Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Lockhart, San Antonio). It is a direct-to-consumer operation with no intermediaries in the sales process, capturing leads via a Framer-built website, Google Forms booking, and location-specific SEO pages.
The school operates a fleet of six Cessna 172 aircraft (172S, 172R, and 172N/M variants) uniformly upgraded to 180HP engines with FAA-recognized Technologically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) glass cockpits — including Aspen Evolution PFD, Dynon Skyview HDX, Garmin G5, Avidyne IFD 440/540/550 GPS, GTX345 ADS-B In/Out, and KAP-140 autopilots — plus a 300HP Piper PA-32R-300 Lance for complex/high-performance training and a Redbird TD2 Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) simulator for instrument curriculum and IFR currency. Notably, aircraft N172JD carries a Horton STOL kit with a 2,550 lb gross takeoff weight.
The business model is professional services revenue from hourly flight instruction and aircraft rental, supplemented by referral fees from financing partners AOPA (Flexible Aviation Loan up to $20,000) and Flight Training Finance. Discovery flights are priced at $195 inclusive of tax. The instructor roster of 18+ includes FAA Gold Seal instructors, a former Designated Pilot Examiner, and ATP-rated pilots with business jet type ratings. The company holds a Civil Air Patrol Wings program partnership through which its 100th CAP cadet earned a Private Pilot Certificate, and claims over 1,000 pilots trained cumulatively across 21 years of continuous operation.
Black Hound Aviation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Hound Aviation
- Legal name
- Black Hound Aviation, LLC
- Website
- https://blackhoundaviation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Black Hound Aviation is a privately held flight school in San Marcos, Texas, founded in 2003, offering discovery flights through Commercial Pilot certification to individual aspiring pilots across the Central Texas region using a modern glass-cockpit Cessna 172 fleet.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Hound Aviation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flight Training Services
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)
Keywords
Where Black Hound Aviation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Marcos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Hound Aviation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Flight Training Services: Core revenue from flight training programs including discovery flights, private pilot certification, commercial pilot certification, instrument rating, and high-performance/complex endorsements. Revenue is earned through hourly flight instruction fees and aircraft rental charges.
- Aircraft Rental: Piper Lance available for rental to qualified pilots beyond training endorsements.
- Third-Party Financing Partnerships: Referral partnerships with AOPA and Flight Training Finance for student loans; company earns referral fees or facilitates financing for students.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Flight - $195 (incl. tax) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Black Hound Aviation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Hound Aviation is a Central Texas flight school that provides FAA pilot certification training from introductory Discovery Flights through Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and High Performance/Complex Endorsements. Training is delivered one-on-one with FAA-certified instructors using a modern fleet of glass-cockpit Cessna 172 aircraft, a Piper Lance, and a Redbird TD2 simulator. Revenue is generated primarily through hourly flight instruction fees and aircraft rental charges billed directly to individual students.
Product overview
Black Hound Aviation operates as a flight school offering professional pilot training programs including Discovery Flights, Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate, and High Performance/Complex Endorsement training. The company maintains a modern fleet of Cessna 172 aircraft (including N810SA 'NIOSA', N9560S 'Sierra', N4865D 'Delta Dawg', N172JD 'John Daniels', N186FM 'Fox Mike', and N5094R 'Romeo') and a Piper PA-32R-300 Lance for high-performance/complex training. Training is enhanced through a Redbird TD2 Basic Aviation Training Device simulator. Financing options are available through AOPA, Flight Training Finance, and 529 Investment Accounts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Discovery Flight Introductory 1-2 hour flight experience in a Cessna 172 priced at $195 including tax, in which prospective students sit in the pilot seat and fly for most of the flight under instructor supervision. The flight time counts toward subsequent flight training.
- Private Pilot Certificate Training program for new and transitioning students to earn the FAA Private Pilot Certificate. Includes a minimum of 40 hours (average closer to 60 hours) of flight time, comprising dual flying (minimum 20 hrs), solo flying (minimum 10 hrs), cross-country, night flight, and instrument training. Delivered one-on-one with FAA-certified instructors using the school's modern Cessna 172 fleet.
- Commercial Pilot Certificate Advanced training program enabling pilots to act as pilot-in-command of aircraft carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire. Requires at least 250 hours of flight time, a valid FAA medical certificate, and successful completion of the knowledge and practical tests. Delivered using the school's Cessna 172 fleet.
- Instrument Rating Training program enabling pilots to fly under IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). Requires at least 40 hours of instrument time (15 from a CFII), 50 hours of cross-country PIC, and successful completion of the practical test. Up to 20 hours of instrument training may be accomplished in the Redbird TD2 BATD simulator to reduce cost.
- High Performance / Complex Endorsement Endorsement training required to fly high-performance (200+ HP engine) and complex aircraft (retractable gear, flaps, controllable pitch propeller). Practical training is delivered in the Piper PA-32R-300 Lance with 300HP engine and Aspen 1000 PFD/MFD avionics.
- Redbird TD2 Simulator Training Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) simulator session used for private and instrument training curriculum, with choice of Garmin G1000 or conventional 6-pack panel configuration. New regulations allow the TD2 to be used without an instructor for IFR currency maintenance by instrument-rated pilots.
- Piper Lance Rental Hourly rental of the Piper PA-32R-300 Lance to qualified pilots who hold the necessary high-performance and complex endorsements, available beyond training use.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,000+ pilots successfully trained and certified
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Hound Aviation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Black Hound Aviation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature3 records
Black Hound Aviation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Civil Air Patrol (CAP)supportingCivil Air Patrol Wings program provides funded flight training to selected CAP cadets. Cadets can earn Private Pilot Certificate through the program at Black Hound Aviation. The 100th CAP cadet achieved PPL through this program at the school.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Hound Aviation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ATP Flight School: The largest Part 141 flight training chain in the U.S., operating multiple bases nationwide with structured career-pilot pathways from private through airline transport pilot. Directly competes with Black Hound for career-track students and offers a similar Cessna-based training fleet, making it the most relevant comparable on scale and curriculum.
- American Flyers: Multi-location flight school offering private, instrument, commercial, and CFI training across the southern and western U.S. Overlaps directly with Black Hound in curriculum (Part 141/61), fleet profile (Cessna/Piper trainers), and target student (aspiring career and private pilots).
- Phoenix East Aviation: Part 141 flight academy offering accelerated professional pilot programs from private through flight instructor, structured around similar Cessna fleets. Comparable as a peer focused on career-pilot pathways with structured, multi-rating curricula.
- Epic Flight Academy: Part 141 flight school offering private through commercial and CFI programs with a similar Cessna-based fleet. Competes with Black Hound for career-track students and accepts international students, making it a relevant peer on curriculum and business model.
Broad incumbents
- CAE: Global aviation training leader following its acquisition of FlightSafety, operating one of the world's largest pilot training networks with full-flight simulators. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping pilot training capabilities, especially at the career/ATP stage where Black Hound students may ultimately train.
- FlightSafety International: Largest professional aviation training organization globally, focused primarily on simulator-based type-rating and recurrent training for airlines and corporate operators. Comparable as a broad incumbent in aviation pilot training infrastructure, though its focus is post-certification rather than ab initio.
Others
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): Largest general aviation association in the U.S., which Black Hound actively partners with for student financing referrals. Relevant as a financing/ecosystem enabler that influences flight school student acquisition and curriculum standards industry-wide.
- Sporty's Pilot Shop: Long-running pilot supplies retailer and flight training content provider (Pilot Training Systems) used widely by U.S. flight schools. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant that supplies training materials, equipment, and curriculum tools to schools like Black Hound.
- Civil Air Patrol: U.S. Air Force auxiliary that runs the CAP Wings program — a direct referral and training-funding partner of Black Hound. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that drives a meaningful share of Black Hound's enrollment.
Regional players
- University of Oklahoma Aviation: University-based flight program operating from a single primary base with a comparable Cessna/Piper training fleet and Part 141 curriculum. Comparable as a regional, single-base competitor in the same general aviation training market, with a different funding/governance model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Black Hound Aviation social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Hound Aviation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Hound Aviation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Black Hound Aviation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Hound Aviation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black Hound Aviation
What does Black Hound Aviation do?
Black Hound Aviation is a Central Texas flight school that provides FAA pilot certification training from introductory Discovery Flights through Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and High Performance/Complex Endorsements. Training is delivered one-on-one with FAA-certified instructors using a modern fleet of glass-cockpit Cessna 172 aircraft, a Piper Lance, and a Redbird TD2 simulator. Revenue is generated primarily through hourly flight instruction fees and aircraft rental charges billed directly to individual students.
Is Black Hound Aviation a public or private company?
Black Hound Aviation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Black Hound Aviation founded?
Black Hound Aviation was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Black Hound Aviation based?
Black Hound Aviation is headquartered in San Marcos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Hound Aviation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Flight Training Services are the primary driver. The others are aircraft Rental and third-Party Financing Partnerships.
Who are Black Hound Aviation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ATP Flight School, American Flyers, Phoenix East Aviation and Epic Flight Academy. Broad incumbents are CAE and FlightSafety International. Others are Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Sporty's Pilot Shop and Civil Air Patrol. University of Oklahoma Aviation is listed as a regional player.
Does Black Hound Aviation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Hound Aviation.
What industry is Black Hound Aviation in?
Black Hound Aviation's product category is Flight Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAFAJ, Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services, with a secondary code of EDABALAC, Aviation & Aerospace. Its NAICS code is 611512 and its SIC code is 8200.