Name

Cranfield Aviation Training School

Legal name

CATS International GmbH

Website

https://catsaviation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Luton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ATPL Theory Courses: Subscription-based ATPL theory training at £222/month for 9 months (total £1,998) or one-time payment of £1,998. Includes 18 months access to web-based training system.
2. CPL Theory Courses: Commercial Pilot License theoretical knowledge course priced from £1,998.00, covering 13 subjects across three stages with distance learning and virtual ground school.
3. PPL Theory Courses: Private Pilot License courses ranging from £50 for single subject to £525 for comprehensive ground school package excluding examinations.
4. ICAO Licence Conversion: ICAO to EASA ATPL conversion course from £599.00 for multi-pilot aircraft type rated pilots.
5. HPA Theory Courses: High Performance Aircraft theory course from £899.00, including approximately 1 month distance learning and 2-day ground school.
6. Printed Study Materials: Optional full-colour printed text books and key facts book series available as add-on purchases for all courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CATS delivers 100% online, dual UK CAA / EASA approved theoretical knowledge courses for commercial pilot licensing, including ATPL (distance learning and full-time), CPL, PPL, IR/CB-IR, HPA, and ICAO Licence Conversion programs. Courses are delivered through the proprietary CATS Web-Based Training System and CAA-approved CATS TV video-linking platform, with subscription-based payment options starting at £222/month for ATPL studies.

Product overview

CATS Aviation Training School offers a comprehensive suite of online theoretical knowledge courses for pilot licensing, including ATPL, CPL, PPL, IR/CB-IR, HPA, and ICAO Licence Conversion programs. The core offering consists of dual-approved (UK CAA and EASA) distance learning courses delivered through the CATS Web-Based Training System platform and CATS TV video-linking platform. All courses feature web-based training with optional offline iPad access, virtual ground schools, and integrated exam preparation. The company also offers a subscription-based payment model (£222/month) for ATPL studies. Additional offerings include the FlyEPT partnership for integrated PPL(A) training in Mallorca and a retail store for supplementary materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FlyEPT: PPL(A) Theory Training partnership with flight training in Mallorca, Spain, providing route to EASA PPL(A) through CATS web-based training system combined with flight training in Spain.

Products and services

• ATPL Distance Learning Course Dual-approved UK/EASA ATPL Theoretical Knowledge course covering 13 subjects in three stages over nine months, with distance learning web-based training and virtual ground schools. Available via subscription (£222/month) or one-time payment (£1,998) with 18 months online access.
• ATPL Full-Time In-House Course Exclusive live full-time virtual course completing 13 UK/EASA ATPL theoretical knowledge exams including Knowledge, Skills and Attitude (KSA) assessments in five months. Delivered Monday to Friday via CATS TV, approved by UK and EU CAA.
• CPL Theory Course Commercial Pilot License theoretical knowledge course delivered 100% online, covering 13 subjects across three stages with distance learning, web-based training, and virtual ground school via CATS TV. Priced from £1,998.
• IR/CB-IR Theory Course UK/EASA Instrument Rating and Competency-Based Instrument Rating theoretical knowledge courses delivered 100% online. Cover 7 subjects across two stages with distance learning, web-based training, and virtual ground school via CATS TV.
• PPL Theory Course Private Pilot License theoretical knowledge course delivered 100% online for UK/EASA. Covers 9 subjects with 70 hours self-study followed by 30 hours of virtual ground school via CATS TV. Priced from £50 per subject exam and up to £525 comprehensive package.
• HPA Theory Course High Performance Aircraft Theory course covering 8 subjects across approximately one month of distance learning and a 2-day ground school at the Luton Training Centre. Enables operation of High Performance Aircraft as an addition to a PPL or CPL licence. Priced from £899.
• ICAO ATPL Licence Conversion Course ICAO to EASA ATPL licence conversion course delivered 100% online. Enables pilots with non-EASA ATPL holding a valid type rating on a multi-pilot aeroplane to convert to EASA ATPL. Priced from £599.
• FlyEPT PPL(A) Partnership Programme PPL(A) Theory and Flight Training partnership programme delivered in Mallorca, Spain with modern aircraft and experienced instructors, combining the CATS web-based theory system with on-site flight training to provide a route to an EASA PPL(A).
• CATS Retail Store Online retail store offering CATS products, printed textbooks, key facts book series, iPad applications, pilot manuals and other optional extras as add-on purchases supporting CATS courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATPL theory course can be completed in 9 months (distance learning) or 5 months (full-time in-house)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• European FlyerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 July 2019UK CAA approved partnership with European Flyers in Madrid and Alicante, Spain. CATS provides theoretical knowledge curriculum and training systems while European Flyers delivers flight training at their Spanish facilities.
• FlyEPTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlyEPT is a partner flight school in Mallorca, Spain providing PPL(A) theory training using the CATS web-based training system and PPL(A) flight training with modern aircraft, experienced instructors, and competitive pricing. CATS provides the revolutionary online training system and curriculum while FlyEPT delivers flight training.
• UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK CAA approved ATO.GBR.0176. CATS delivers UK CAA approved theoretical knowledge examinations and training under regulatory oversight.
• European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU EASA approved ATO.AT.0173. CATS delivers EASA approved theoretical knowledge examinations and training under EU regulatory framework.
• Austro ControlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustro Control GmbH is the Austrian aviation authority that conducts theoretical knowledge examinations for CATS students. CATS Luton serves as an examination centre for Austro Control exams with confirmed exam dates throughout the year.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FTEJerez: Flight Training Europe Jerez, an integrated ATP program provider in Spain delivering ATPL ground school and flight training. Comparable to CATS in EASA theoretical training and partnered flight school delivery model.
• Bristol Groundschool: UK-based ATO offering ATPL, CPL, PPL, and IR theoretical knowledge courses with online/distance learning delivery. Closest direct competitor to CATS in the UK/EASA theoretical training market, with overlapping course catalog and similar regulatory approvals.
• Flight Training Europe (FTE): Spain-based integrated pilot training organization providing ATPL, CPL, and type rating programs. Directly comparable to CATS in delivering EASA-aligned theoretical knowledge training in a similar European geography.
• Egnatia Aviation: Greece-based integrated ATPL training organization partnering with airlines. Comparable to CATS in the European integrated pilot training market, particularly for ATPL theory delivery.
• Skybird Aviation: Aviation training provider offering ATPL, CPL, and PPL theoretical courses. Comparable to CATS as a specialized theoretical knowledge training school targeting career pilots.
• Flight Training Alliance (FTA): European integrated pilot training organization providing modular and integrated ATPL programs. Direct competitor to CATS for aspiring airline pilots in Europe, particularly in Germany and neighboring markets.

Broad incumbents

• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy: Part of global CAE training network, offering ATPL ground school and integrated pilot training programs across multiple locations. Larger, established incumbent in the same theoretical knowledge and integrated training space, with broader global infrastructure.
• Lufthansa Aviation Training: Subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group providing commercial pilot training, including ATPL theory and integrated type rating. Operates at significantly larger scale than CATS but competes for the same career-pilot customer segment across Europe.

Regional players

• Norwegian Aviation Academy: Norway-based pilot training school offering integrated ATPL and modular courses. Comparable in product offering and operates in a different geography, providing a regional reference point for CATS's Scandinavian expansion potential.

Emerging players

• Pan Am International Flight Academy: US-based pilot training organization offering ATPL-equivalent and type rating programs with distance learning elements. Comparable to CATS in offering theoretical knowledge training via online/distance formats across jurisdictions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cats_2

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Cranfield Aviation Training School