High Flight Academy
High Flight Academy is an FAA Part 141 flight school at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport offering Part 141 pilot training from discovery flights to commercial certification, serving career-track trainees, recreational pilots, veterans, and university aviation-degree students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersButler, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What High Flight Academy does
High Flight Academy is a privately held, FAA Part 141 certified flight training school founded in April 2017 and headquartered at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Butler, Pennsylvania. The school serves aspiring pilots across four customer segments — recreational beginners, career-track commercial trainees, military veterans using GI Bill benefits, and college students pursuing aviation degrees through partner institutions — delivering programs ranging from discovery flights ($99-$149) through private pilot, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and flight instructor (CFI/CFII/MEI) certifications, plus Citation Mustang recurrent training. Its flagship offering, the High Gear accelerated program, compresses a zero-experience-to-Commercial-Multi-Engine-plus-CFI pathway into roughly 12 months.
The school's underlying technology stack is conventional for Part 141 training: a fleet of Cessna and Piper training aircraft (including Cessna 172, Piper Warrior, and Piper Seneca twin-engine models) supplemented by a Redbird FMX full-motion flight simulator — described as the only public-use full-motion simulator in Western Pennsylvania. Curriculum delivery is instructor-led; the company lists a Chief Flight Instructor, an Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, roughly two dozen named flight instructors, and two A&P mechanics, supported by a small management and admissions team. There is no proprietary software platform or AI-driven training product; scheduling runs through a third-party Flight Schedule Pro tool.
High Flight generates revenue through per-course flight training fees, multi-year High Gear contract tuition, one-time discovery flight and simulator session sales, and aviation-degree-program tuition that flows through partnerships with Liberty University, PennWest University, Community College of Allegheny County, and Community College of Beaver County. The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer marketing (website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, newsletter) with channel-partner recruitment via universities and regional airlines (Air Wisconsin, Republic Airline), and a dedicated VA benefits pathway. Student financing is facilitated through Sallie Mae, Stratus Financial, AOPA Finance, and Flight Training Finance. The company has earned two AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards (2018, 2026) and reports no external investors or parent company.
High Flight Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High Flight Academy
- Legal name
- High Flight Academy
- Website
- https://highflightacademy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- High Flight Academy is an FAA Part 141 flight school at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport offering Part 141 pilot training from discovery flights to commercial certification, serving career-track trainees, recreational pilots, veterans, and university aviation-degree students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High Flight Academy 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 High Flight Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Butler
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
High Flight Academy 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 courses including private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, multi-engine, and flight instructor certifications. Students pay per course or lesson.
- Discovery Flights and Simulator Time: One-time discovery flight experiences in Cessna 172 or Piper Warrior ($149) and Redbird simulator sessions ($99). Revenue from individual flight time and simulator rentals.
- Degree Program Partnerships: Revenue derived from student enrollment through partnerships with colleges and universities. Students complete flight training at High Flight Academy while pursuing aviation degrees through partner institutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Flight in Cessna 172 or Piper Warrior |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1-hour Discovery Flight in Redbird Simulator |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 5-Hour Winter Flying Package |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | High Gear 12-Month Accelerated Program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
High Flight Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High Flight Academy is a Part 141 certified flight school operating at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Butler, Pennsylvania, providing flight training from introductory discovery flights through commercial pilot certification. Core offerings include private pilot training, instrument rating, commercial certificate, multi-engine, CFI/CFII/MEI instructor certifications, and the High Gear accelerated 12-month career pilot program, supported by an on-site Redbird FMX full-motion flight simulator and a fleet of Cessna and Piper aircraft. The school also partners with four colleges to deliver integrated aviation degree programs and accepts VA benefits for veterans.
Product overview
High Flight Academy is a flight training organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for aspiring pilots across all skill levels. The core offerings include Discovery Flights for beginners, Private Pilot Training, and advanced ratings (Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine). The flagship accelerated program is the High Gear to Commercial Pilot Training Program—a 12-month intensive pathway from zero experience to certified airline-ready pilot with CFI ratings. The school operates a Redbird FMX full-motion flight simulator for weather-independent training and partners with four universities (Liberty University, PennWest University, CCAC, CCBC) for aviation degree programs. Additional offerings include VA benefits flight training for veterans, flight instructor certifications (CFI, CFII, MEI), and specialized Citation Mustang CE-510 recurrent training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Discovery Flight
- Private Pilot Training
- Instrument Rating
- Commercial Pilot Certificate
- Multi-Engine Training
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
- Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)
- Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)
- Redbird FMX Flight Simulator Sessions
- High Gear to Commercial Pilot Training Program
- Aviation Degree Programs
- VA Benefits Flight Training
- Citation Mustang CE-510 Recurrent Training
Companies that use High Flight Academy
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
High Flight Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
High Flight Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Liberty UniversitycoreExclusive partnership providing students opportunity to pursue Bachelor of Science degree in aviation online while completing flight training at High Flight Academy. Now accepting VA benefits for Liberty University Aviation Degree Programs. Student financing available through Sallie Mae.
- PennWest University (California – Clarion – Edinboro)corePennWest Edinboro partnership offering accelerated 60-credit online associate degree in aeronautical science. Students complete 225-250 flight hours in about two years at High Flight Academy. Full student loan packages available.
- Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)coreFlight training partner where students take classes at CCAC while completing flight training using High Flight Academy's fleet and instructors to build flight time.
- Community College of Beaver County (CCBC)coreCCBC Aviation Academy flight training partner. CCBC offers PA State grant subsidized flight training reimbursement with full student loan packages. Students enjoy social retreats and ambassador program with High Flight.
- Air WisconsinminorRegional airline partnership for pilot career pathway. Airlines are recruiting pilots during training at High Flight Academy to fill pilot gap from retirements.
- Republic AirlineminorRegional airline partnership for pilot career pathway. Republic Airline recruits from High Flight Academy's training programs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
High Flight Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ATP Flight School: The largest flight training organization in the United States, offering accelerated airline career pilot programs (Airline Career Pilot Program) from zero experience to CFI, with airline partnerships and a national multi-location footprint — directly comparable to High Flight Academy's High Gear 12-month program.
- Sporty's Academy: Long-established Part 141 flight academy operating out of Cincinnati Sportman's Club (also serving the Ohio/Pennsylvania regional market), offering private pilot through CFI ratings and known for integrated pilot supplies — directly comparable service offering.
- Epic Flight Academy: Part 141 flight school offering accelerated zero-to-commercial pilot programs with international student recruitment and multi-country locations; comparable in the career-pilot training segment High Flight competes in.
- American Flyers: Multi-location Part 141 flight school chain offering private pilot through ATP training, instrument rating, and CFI programs; directly comparable services across multiple U.S. regional markets.
- University of North Dakota (UND Aerospace): Major university-based aviation program offering aviation degrees combined with Part 141 flight training, including commercial pilot and instructor certificates; analogous model to High Flight's partner-institution channel.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Premier aviation university offering aviation degrees integrated with flight training (Part 141) including commercial pilot and CFI pathways; comparable to High Flight's college-partnership model and the broader aviation degree + flight training bundle.
- Phoenix East Aviation: Part 141 flight academy offering accelerated professional pilot programs (private through CFI/CFII/MEI) with airline partnerships, directly competing for the same career-track student cohort as High Flight Academy.
Emerging players
- Pilot Training System / Kings Schools (ATP competitor): Online ground school plus in-person flight training network offering accelerated private pilot and instrument programs; comparable accelerated-training model, with a stronger online ground-school component.
Broad incumbents
- CAE: Global aviation training leader offering ab-initio pilot programs (CAE Aviation Academy), airline pilot training, and simulation solutions; comparable as a broad incumbent with both Part 141-style academies and large-scale training infrastructure.
- FlightSafety International: Largest professional aviation training organization globally, focused on advanced and recurrent training for corporate, commercial, and military pilots; comparable as a broad incumbent in the flight-training space, though its core is type-rating training rather than ab-initio private pilot.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
High Flight Academy social profiles
Digital presenceHigh Flight Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
High Flight Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High Flight Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
High Flight Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High Flight Academy 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 High Flight Academy
What does High Flight Academy do?
High Flight Academy is a Part 141 certified flight school operating at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Butler, Pennsylvania, providing flight training from introductory discovery flights through commercial pilot certification. Core offerings include private pilot training, instrument rating, commercial certificate, multi-engine, CFI/CFII/MEI instructor certifications, and the High Gear accelerated 12-month career pilot program, supported by an on-site Redbird FMX full-motion flight simulator and a fleet of Cessna and Piper aircraft. The school also partners with four colleges to deliver integrated aviation degree programs and accepts VA benefits for veterans.
Is High Flight Academy a public or private company?
High Flight Academy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was High Flight Academy founded?
High Flight Academy was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is High Flight Academy based?
High Flight Academy is headquartered in Butler, United States, in the North America region.
How does High Flight Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Flight Training Services are the primary driver. The others are discovery Flights and Simulator Time and degree Program Partnerships.
Who are High Flight Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ATP Flight School, Sporty's Academy, Epic Flight Academy, American Flyers, University of North Dakota (UND Aerospace), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Phoenix East Aviation. Pilot Training System / Kings Schools (ATP competitor) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are CAE and FlightSafety International.
Does High Flight Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for High Flight Academy.
What industry is High Flight Academy in?
High Flight Academy'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.