What Flight Training Center does

Flight Training Centers is a privately held FAA-recognized flight training school headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with two physical training facilities in Kokomo and Sheridan. The school delivers a comprehensive certification pathway spanning Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine Rating, and Flight Instructor certifications (CFI/CFII/MEI), supplemented by Ground School, Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Checks, Endorsements, and recurrent training. Its primary customers are individual consumers across three segments: aspiring recreational pilots entering the funnel via $150 discovery flights, licensed pilots seeking advanced ratings, and career-oriented pilots pursuing commercial and instructor credentials. The customer acquisition motion is community-led, relying on the Indiana Pilots Club partnership, discovery flights as a low-friction entry point, and word-of-mouth referrals.

The business operates a professional services revenue model charging students for flight hours, instruction time, ground school, and materials, with revenue augmented by e-gift certificates, financing arrangements through Pilot Finance Inc., and insurance referrals (AVEMCO as the #1 partner). Supporting technology is entirely third-party: HoldShort for digital scheduling across web and mobile (iOS/Android), Square for gift certificate and discovery flight payments, WooCommerce for account payments, and integrations with FAA systems via IACRA. An extensive proprietary training aids library — checkride summaries, maneuver guides, weather resources, Gleim materials, and FAA handbooks — is published on the website, and the school recommends a curated set of flight planning applications (ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, Avare, FltPlan Go, FlyQ, WingX, DroidEFB) to students.

The operating footprint is restricted to Indiana, with no global claims and no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity. The company has 33 employees and provides on-site instruction at its two facilities using school-owned aircraft and certified flight instructors.

Name

Flight Training Center

Legal name

Flight Training Centers

Website

https://flighttrainingcenters.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Flight Training Centers is a privately held, two-location Indiana flight school (Kokomo and Sheridan) offering comprehensive pilot certification from discovery flights through Commercial and CFI ratings, serving individual recreational and career-oriented pilots via third-party scheduling and financing partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Training Services

NAICS

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

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

• Flight training services
• Pilot certification programs
• Aviation flight instruction
• Instrument rating training
• Discovery flight experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Kokomo

HQ country

United States

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 Services: Revenue generated from providing flight instruction across multiple certification levels including private pilot, sport pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, flight instructor ratings, and multi-engine rating. Students pay for flight time, instruction hours, and associated training materials.
2. Discovery Flights: Introductory flight experiences offered at $150 for a 20-minute discovery flight with a certified flight instructor. Additional passengers can be added for $50. Serves as a customer acquisition channel converting prospects into full training students.
3. Financing Partner Revenue Share: Partnership with Pilot Finance Inc. to offer financing for aviation training needs, generating referral revenue from financed student enrollments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Flight Training Centers operates a private flight school at two Indiana locations (Kokomo and Sheridan) that delivers FAA pilot certification and rating programs — Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine Rating, and Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII/MEI) — supplemented by Ground School, Flight Reviews, Discovery Flights, Gift Certificates, and pilot endorsements. Students pay for flight time, instructor time, and training materials, with scheduling handled through the HoldShort platform and payments processed via Square and WooCommerce.

Product overview

Flight Training Centers operates as a flight school with locations in Kokomo and Sheridan, Indiana, offering a comprehensive suite of pilot training programs. The core offering consists of certification programs spanning from Sport Pilot through Commercial Pilot, including specialized ratings for Instrument, Multi-Engine, and Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII/MEI). The company supplements its flight training with Ground School instruction, Flight Reviews, and Instrument Proficiency Checks. Supporting services include Discovery Flights and Gift Certificates for prospective students. The school provides extensive training aids including Pilot Kits organized by certification level, Checkride Preparation Materials with summaries and maneuver guides, and Weather/Flight Planning Resources. Students access training scheduling through HoldShort (mobile app) and make payments via Pay on Account. The school partners with Pilot Finance Inc. for financing and recommends various flight planning tools including ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Pilot Training Comprehensive training program for obtaining a Private Pilot license, the foundational certificate that enables pilots to fly for recreation with full passenger privileges. For aspiring pilots pursuing recreational flying.
• Sport Pilot Training Affordable recreational flying program with lighter certification requirements than Private Pilot, designed for casual aviators seeking a lighter regulatory pathway. For aspiring pilots wanting a lower-cost entry into flying.
• Instrument Rating Training Advanced training enabling pilots to fly in challenging weather conditions under instrument flight rules, expanding operational flexibility beyond visual conditions. For licensed pilots adding an instrument rating.
• Commercial Pilot Training Professional-level training for pilots seeking to fly for compensation or hire, including advanced maneuvers and cross-country operations. For pilots pursuing commercial aviation careers.
• Flight Instructor Ratings (CFI/CFII/MEI) Instructor certification programs including Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII), and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) ratings for pilots who wish to teach aviation. For licensed pilots pursuing instructor careers.
• Multi-Engine Rating Specialized training for pilots to operate aircraft with multiple engines, covering engine-out procedures and multi-engine aerodynamics. For licensed pilots seeking multi-engine privileges.
• Ground School Classroom-style instruction covering aviation theory, regulations, meteorology, navigation, and flight planning to prepare students for FAA written exams. For pilot certification candidates at all levels.
• Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check Recurrent training required every 24 months to maintain pilot currency, including flight reviews and specialized instrument proficiency evaluations. For licensed pilots maintaining FAA currency.
• Pilot Endorsements Individual endorsements and authorizations for specific pilot privileges, including solo endorsements, cross-country authorizations, and specialized flight endorsements. For student pilots and licensed pilots seeking specific operational privileges.
• Discovery Flights Introductory 20-minute flight experience with a Certified Flight Instructor priced at $150, with an additional $50 for a second person, allowing prospective students to experience flying before committing to full training. For prospective students and gift purchasers.
• Gift Certificates E-Gift certificates available in any amount that can be used for flight training, sold through Square's platform. For gift purchasers and prospective students.

Named customers3 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

Integration13 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AVEMCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended non-owner (renter) insurance provider. Students must have non-owners insurance to solo in school aircraft. AVEMCO is designated as the #1 choice with partner account code #453054982 for discounted rates.
• STARRGATEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance partner offering unique short-term policies (30-day terms renewable) for non-owner aircraft renters, providing flexibility for students with varying training timelines.
• AOPAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended insurance partner through the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for non-owner coverage.
• EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended insurance partner for experimental and recreational aircraft insurance options.
• HoldShortcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital scheduling platform partner providing the school's scheduling system accessible via web browser and mobile apps (Android and iOS). Students use HoldShort to schedule aircraft and instructors, view calendars, and manage their training appointments.
• Indiana Pilots ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal aviation community partnership providing referrals, shared resources, and connection to the local pilot community. The Pilots Club website provides fleet information including minimum required hull damage insurance and maximum liability amounts.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Flyers: Multi-location Part 141 flight school offering Private, Instrument, Commercial, and ATP/CTP programs. Directly comparable on curriculum and student segments, with broader geographic reach than FTC.
• ATP Flight School: The largest Part 141 flight training network in the U.S., offering Private through ATP and CFI ratings with all-inclusive pricing and airline pathway partnerships. Directly comparable to FTC on certification ladder and target student, but at vastly greater geographic scale.
• Kings Schools: Part 141 flight school offering Private, Instrument, Commercial, and CFI training across multiple U.S. locations with structured programs. Closely comparable to FTC on training catalog and customer segment.

Emerging players

• Sporty's Pilot Shop: Long-running pilot supply retailer that also produces ground school and test prep courses (Sporty's Academy). Comparable as a training content and supplies provider for aspiring pilots, partially overlapping with FTC's training aids and ground school offerings.
• Pilot Institute: Online aviation training provider offering Part 107, ground school, and instrument training courses. Comparable as a digitally delivered flight training resource that competes for the same aspiring pilot audience.
• Gleim Aviation: Provider of pilot training materials, test prep, and online ground school used widely by independent flight schools and self-studying pilots. Comparable on the training content side of FTC's curriculum support.

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Global aviation training leader with a network of flight academies and simulator-based pilot training centers. Comparable on the pilot-training-as-a-service model, though CAE serves mostly airline-sponsored cadets and professional pilots.
• FlightSafety International: Established global aviation training organization offering pilot, maintenance, and cabin crew training on business, commercial, and military platforms. Comparable on training methodology and certifications, but focuses on professional/recurrent rather than entry-level private pilot training.
• L3Harris Airline Academy: Integrated pilot training pipeline owned by L3Harris, producing airline-bound cadets through ab initio programs. Comparable at the career-track training level, though with much larger institutional backing than FTC.

Regional players

• Purdue University Aviation: Indiana-based university aviation program offering professional flight degrees. Comparable as a flight training provider in the same Indiana market, attracting career-track pilots with degree-credentialed alternatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flight-training-center

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 Flight Training Center