Pacific Rim Aviation Academy

What Pacific Rim Aviation Academy does

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy (PRAA) is a privately held Transport Canada-regulated flight training organization headquartered at Pitt Meadows Airport (CYPK) in British Columbia, Canada. The academy delivers the full Transport Canada pilot certification pathway — Recreational Pilot Permit, Private Pilot License (PPL), Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Night Rating, Single Engine Instrument Rating, and Instructor Rating — together with classroom-based ground school, using a fleet of five Cessna 172 aircraft fitted with modern Garmin avionics (G500, GTN 750Xi, GI 275, GNC 215, GMA 340) and a Precision Flight Controls MFD simulator. It serves three primary customer groups: domestic recreational flyers, international students recruited under its Designated Learning Institution (DLI) status, and career-track pilots building toward airline or instructor roles.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining usage-based flight instruction (approximately $262/hr solo, $355/hr dual for the Cessna 172 plus a $31.37/hr fuel surcharge), per-program ground school fees, one-time application fees ($500 CAD for international students), aircraft rental, and ancillary revenue from an in-house Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) and electronic gift certificates. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the company's website (flighttraininginbc.com), Instagram, LinkedIn, and recurring community events such as the BCAC Hangar Hangout. The organization maintains roughly 20 staff including 14+ flight instructors, four flight dispatchers, and five maintenance personnel led by Joy Tian (President/COO) and Chief Flight Instructor Masa Tsujino (Class 1 / Flight Test Examiner). Its holding designations — DLI #O116542595727, PTIB ID-00735, EQA, and Transport Canada AMO approval — collectively form the regulatory backbone of the international student pipeline and the vertically integrated maintenance function.

Name

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy

Legal name

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy

Website

https://flighttraininginbc.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy is a Transport Canada-regulated flight training school at Pitt Meadows Airport (CYPK) that delivers Recreational, Private, and Commercial Pilot License programs using a five-aircraft Cessna 172 fleet and a certified simulator. It serves domestic recreational students, international students recruited under DLI status, and career-track pilots.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Flight Training

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ), Emerging Aviation Maintenance (UAS/Drone, eVTOL & Advanced Air Mobility) (EDAOAFAO), Aircraft Inspection, Quality Assurance & Airworthiness (IA Prep) (EDAOAFAE)

Keywords

• Flight training
• Pilot certification
• Aviation education
• Flight school
• Aircraft rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Pitt Meadows

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flight Training Programs: Revenue generated from hourly flight instruction fees for various pilot programs including Recreational Pilot Permit, Private Pilot License, Commercial Pilot License, and ratings. Charges per flight hour with different rates for solo and dual instruction.
2. Ground School Instruction: Classroom-based ground school training for Private and Commercial Pilot Licenses, charged as program fees covering 60-80 hours of instruction
3. Aircraft Rental: Aircraft rental services for qualified pilots, charged at hourly rates with fuel surcharges and applicable taxes
4. International Student Application Fees: Non-refundable $500 CAD application fee for international students after passing language proficiency test
5. Aircraft Maintenance Services: Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization providing scheduled maintenance and technical services for aircraft

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy is a Transport Canada-approved flight training school that delivers pilot certification programs (Recreational Pilot Permit, Private Pilot License, Commercial Pilot License) and ratings (Night, Instrument, Instructor), combined with classroom ground school instruction. Operations are conducted from Pitt Meadows Airport (CYPK) using a fleet of five modern Cessna 172 aircraft and a Precision Flight Controls simulator, and the company also runs a Transport Canada-approved Aircraft Maintenance Organization serving its own and external aircraft.

Product overview

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy operates as a flight training organization offering a comprehensive suite of pilot certification programs ranging from Recreational Pilot Permit through Commercial Pilot License, supplemented by ratings (Night, Instrument, Instructor) and ground school instruction. The academy runs a fleet of five Cessna 172 aircraft and a Precision Flight Controls simulator, with an in-house Transport Canada-approved Aircraft Maintenance Organization. Programs are delivered from Pitt Meadows Airport (CYPK) with both domestic and international student admissions, and include supplementary services such as written exam invigilation and e-gift certificates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recreational Pilot Permit (RPP) Program Entry-level pilot certification allowing daytime VFR flight with one passenger within Canada, comprising 25 hours of flight training (15 dual, 5 solo, 5 completion) plus 10 hours of ground briefings; does not qualify for night or multi-engine endorsements.
• Private Pilot License (PPL) Program Comprehensive pilot license enabling flight anywhere with passengers in Canadian-registered aircraft, comprising 45 hours of flight training ($262/hr solo, $355/hr dual) plus 60 hours of ground school; the foundation for advanced ratings and commercial aviation careers.
• Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Program Professional pilot certification enabling pilots to be compensated for flying, comprising 80 hours of ground school, 65 hours of flight training, and time-building to a total of 200 hours; includes a Night Rating.
• Night Rating Rating endorsement enabling pilots to fly and carry passengers at night, comprising 20 hours total including 10 hours of night flight time (5 dual, 5 solo with 10 circuits/landings) and 10 hours of dual instrument training on a Cessna 172 ($256/hr solo, $355/hr dual).
• Single Engine Instrument Rating Group 3 Instrument Rating enabling pilots to fly under IFR conditions, comprising 40 hours of instrument time (minimum 5 hours dual, one 100nm cross-country) with up to 20 hours permitted on the certified Precision Flight Controls simulator; flight test includes 1.5 hours of plane rental.
• Instructor Rating Program Flight Instructor Rating (Class IV) enabling CPL holders to conduct flight training; gateway to a commercial aviation career with progression to Class III, II, and I ratings. Program fees: Ground school $727.65, Course Materials $460.15; Total: Domestic $1,187.80, International $1,687.80.
• Ground School Classroom-based theoretical training covering Canadian Aviation Regulations, Aerodynamics, Meteorology, Navigation, and Human Factors; required for Private and Commercial Pilot Licenses and delivered as 60-80 hours of in-class instruction.
• Aircraft Rental Aircraft rental services for qualified pilots using the Cessna 172 training fleet, charged at hourly rates of $262/hr solo or $355/hr dual (excluding fuel surcharge and taxes), with a current fuel surcharge of $31.37/h.
• Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO) Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization providing scheduled maintenance, technical services, and aircraft airworthiness certification for training and rental aircraft; quality of maintenance is scrutinized regularly by Transport Canada inspectors.
• Gift Certificates Electronic gift cards available for purchase to cover flight training costs for recipients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates eligible for post-graduation work permits (up to 3 years for programs 8 months+)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Moncton Flight College: One of Canada's largest and longest-standing flight training colleges, offering PPL, CPL, and ratings with a comparable student profile including international enrollment. Directly competes with Pacific Rim for Canadian-trained pilot candidates.
• Epic Flight Academy: US-based flight school with significant international student recruitment and similar PPL/CPL/rating offerings. Competes for international candidates who compare Canadian and US flight training options.
• Coastal Pacific Aviation: BC-based flight training school operating out of the Lower Mainland with similar PPL/CPL offerings, overlapping the same Pacific Southwest Canadian catchment area as Pacific Rim.
• Mountair Aviation: Western Canadian flight training school with comparable fleet and program offerings. A regional direct competitor for students in BC and the Pacific Northwest.

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Canadian-headquartered aviation training and simulation heavyweight, operating flight academies and training centers worldwide. Sets the technology and scale benchmark for integrated pilot training delivery.
• ATP Flight School: Largest flight training organization in the United States, focused on accelerated career-track pilot training. Competes for international students choosing between US and Canadian flight training pathways.
• Flight Safety International: Global leader in professional aviation training with a much larger footprint, including pilot training and simulation. Represents the scale-based incumbent that Pacific Rim would compete against for advanced and career-track students.

Regional players

• BCIT Aerospace: British Columbia Institute of Technology aerospace programs including pilot training pathways. A potential indirect competitor for local aspiring pilots in the Greater Vancouver region.
• Selkirk College Aviation: BC-based post-secondary institution offering aviation diploma programs. Operates a publicly-funded flight training alternative in the same province, competing for the domestic student segment.
• Niagara College Canada Aviation: Ontario-based aviation program with international student recruitment. Competes for international candidates choosing between Canadian flight training destinations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-rim-aviation-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacrimaviationacademy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Pacific Rim Aviation Academy