What Redhill Aviation does

Redhill Aviation Flight Centre is a UK CAA Approved Training Organisation (ATO) and flying club based at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey, near London. The company delivers a full pilot training pathway — from trial lessons and LAPL/PPL through to CPL, instrument ratings, multi-engine piston, and flight instructor courses — alongside aircraft hire, in-house maintenance, and gift-style experience flights including trial lessons, aerobatics, and land-away flights. Customers include aspiring private pilots, career-track pilots, gift recipients, and licensed pilots maintaining currency or building hours; four on-site examiners (including a VHF and HF radio examiner) allow written and flight tests to be conducted at Redhill seven days a week.

The business operates from a single aerodrome with six grass runways (plus two tarmac runways for winter use) and full Air Traffic Control — a configuration described as uncommon for grass-runway airfields. Its owned fleet comprises Cessna 152 trainers, Piper PA28 variants (Warrior, Archer), a Piper Arrow complex trainer, and a Piper Seneca III for multi-engine and IR training. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Redhill Aircraft Maintenance & Aircraft Leasing Ltd (trading as Redhill Air), holds UK CAA CAO approval and Diamond Aircraft / Thielert-Austro Diesel service centre status, integrating airworthiness, leasing of Cessna 152 and PA28 aircraft, and composite-aircraft servicing into the group's operations. The company is part of the RAMAL group alongside sister school Shoreham Aviation, both owned and operated by a UK CAA Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

Revenue is generated across four streams: multi-year flight training packages (LAPL ~£7,170–£7,755; PPL ~£10,688–£11,565 plus typical total cost of ~£14,055), pay-as-you-go experience flights (£150–£530), usage-based aircraft hire (£190–£545/hr wet, with 15+ hour block discounts), and managed maintenance and leasing services. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company's website and online booking system, supplemented by gift voucher partnerships with Virgin Experience Days, Red Letter Days, and Into The Blue. The company is privately held with no disclosed venture or institutional investment.

Name

Redhill Aviation

Legal name

Redhill Aviation Flight Centre

Website

https://redhillaviation.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Redhill Aviation Flight Centre is a UK CAA Approved Training Organisation at Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey, delivering pilot training from LAPL through CPL and instructor ratings, aircraft hire, experience flights, and in-house maintenance, serving aspiring private pilots, career pilots, gift recipients, and licensed pilots in the South East of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ)

Keywords

• Flight training
• Pilot licensing
• Air experience flights
• Aircraft hire
• Aircraft maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Redhill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flight Training Services: Provides flight training courses for LAPL, PPL, CPL, instructor ratings, and instrument ratings. Revenue from package pricing and hourly training rates. Includes revalidations and renewals for pilots.
2. Air Experience Flights: Sells vouchers for trial flying lessons, aerobatics experiences, and land-away experiences ranging from £150 to £530. One-time transactions for recreational flight experiences.
3. Aircraft Hire: Rents aircraft to qualified pilots on hourly basis. Wet rates range from £190 for Cessna 152 to £545 for Beechcraft Duchess. Includes discounted block rates.
4. Aircraft Maintenance and Leasing: Provides UK CAA CAO approved maintenance services and long-term aircraft leasing for Cessna 152s and Piper PA28 series.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Redhill Aviation Flight Centre is a UK CAA Approved Training Organisation operating from Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey. It delivers a complete pilot licensing pathway — from LAPL and PPL through CPL, instrument ratings, multi-engine and flight instructor courses — alongside paid air experience flights (trial lessons, aerobatics, land-aways), self-fly aircraft hire, and in-house CAA-approved aircraft maintenance and leasing services.

Product overview

Redhill Aviation Flight Centre operates as a UK CAA Approved Training Organisation (ATO) offering a comprehensive portfolio of aviation training services and flight experiences. The core offering centres on pilot licensing programmes spanning from introductory trial flights through to professional-level commercial and instructor ratings. Flight experiences (trial lessons, aerobatics, land-away flights) serve as both standalone products and entry points to formal training. The training portfolio includes LAPL, PPL, Night Rating, IMC/IR(R), Aerobatics Rating, Safety Pilot courses for initial licensing, progressing to CPL, MEP Rating, Instrument Ratings (IR/CB-IR/EIR), and Flight Instructor Ratings for professional advancement. The company also operates an aircraft hire division, in-house maintenance and leasing services through Redhill Aircraft Maintenance, and sells PPL theory question banks. Aircraft fleet comprises Cessna 152 variants for basic training, Piper PA28 series (Warrior/Archer/Arrow) for advanced training and touring, and Piper Seneca III for multi-engine and IR training. All services are interconnected through shared facilities at Redhill Aerodrome with full ATC support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Redhill Air: Aircraft maintenance and leasing brand operated by Redhill Aircraft Maintenance & Aircraft Leasing Ltd, a UK CAA CAO approved maintenance facility.

Products and services

• 30 or 60 Minute Trial Flying Lesson Introductory flying session in Cessna 152 (two-seater) or Piper PA-28 (four-seater) with a qualified flight instructor, including a pre-flight briefing and hands-on flying opportunity. Available as 30-minute (£150 two-seater, £180 four-seater) or 60-minute (£245 two-seater, £280 four-seater) options.
• 30 or 60 Minute Aerobatics Experience Aerobatic flying experience in a Cessna 152 Aerobat including loops, barrel rolls, stall turns, and spins with a qualified aerobatics instructor. Available as 30-minute (£170) or 60-minute (£260) options.
• Land-Away Experience Flight experience including landing at another airfield (Fairoaks, Headcorn, or Lydd) before returning to Redhill, with options for two-seater or four-seater aircraft. Pricing ranges from £280 (Fairoaks two-seater) to £530 (Lydd four-seater).
• Video of Your Flight GoPro video recording of a flight experience capturing cockpit views and scenic landscapes, uploaded to a server and emailed to the customer as a download link.
• A5 Posted Physical Voucher Physical gift voucher printed on high GSM A5 card, posted via Royal Mail 1st Class in a protective card-backed envelope, for use against flight experience bookings.
• LAPL Training Light Aircraft Pilot Licence training requiring a minimum of 30 hours of flight training with a shorter 100NM solo cross-country, available for European operations only. Pricing: Cessna 152 £7,170; PA28-161 Warrior £7,440; PA28-181 Archer £7,755.
• PPL Training Private Pilot Licence training requiring a minimum of 45 hours of flight training, 9 theory exams, a solo qualifying cross-country flight to 150NM with landings at two airfields, and a skills test. Typical total PPL cost £14,055 including medical, membership, exams, equipment, and landing fees. Pricing: Cessna 152 £10,688; PA28-161 Warrior £11,115; PA28-181 Archer £11,565.
• Night Rating Five-hour course qualifying PPL holders to fly VFR at night, including 3 hours dual night training, 1 hour dual night navigation, and 5 solo takeoffs and landings. Training conducted at Shoreham Aviation.
• IMC / IR(R) Rating Instrument Meteorological Conditions rating qualifying PPL holders to fly IFR in Class D to G airspace with instrument approaches down to a 500-foot minimum, valid for 25 months.
• Aerobatics Rating Aerobatics course following AOPA guidelines with a minimum of 5 hours flight training covering loops, aileron rolls, barrel rolls, stall turns, half rolls, and Cuban eights.
• Safety Pilot / Co-Pilot Course AOPA Flying Companion course enabling PPL passengers to be more involved in flights, with a minimum of 10 hours flight training with a qualified instructor.
• CPL Training Commercial Pilot Licence modular training requiring a minimum of 25 hours flight training in a complex aircraft (Piper Arrow), 150 hours total experience, and 13 CPL theory exams. Pricing: PA28-200 Arrow £8,325; CPL with IRR 15hr £4,920.
• Multi-Engine Piston (MEP) Rating Multi-engine piston rating training on the Piper Seneca III with a minimum of 6 hours including 2.5 hours dual instruction and 3.5 hours engine failure/asymmetric procedures.
• Instrument Rating (IR, CB-IR, EIR) Full Instrument Rating, Competency-Based IR, and En-Route IR training for single and multi-engine aircraft, enabling flight in airways and instrument approaches.
• Flight Instructor (FI) Rating Flight Instructor rating training qualifying pilots to instruct PPL students, including 125 hours of ground instruction and 30 hours of flight instruction minimum. Pricing: Cessna 152 £9,840; PA28-181 Archer £10,410.
• Sponsored Flight Instructor Course Fully funded Flight Instructor Course training with a guaranteed position at Redhill or Shoreham flight school upon completion, with a salary of £35 per block hour.
• Aircraft Hire Self-fly aircraft hire for qualified pilots including Cessna 152, Piper PA28 variants (Warrior, Archer), and Piper Arrow, with club check-out and familiarisation requirements. Wet rates from £190/hr (Cessna 152) to £545/hr (Beechcraft Duchess), with discounted block rates for 15+ hours.
• Aircraft Maintenance and Leasing UK CAA Continued Airworthiness Organisation (CAO) approved maintenance services plus aircraft leasing for Cessna 152s and Piper PA28 series, with Diamond Aircraft and Thielert/Austro Diesel engine service centre capabilities.
• PPL Theory Question Banks Digital theory exam preparation materials covering all 9 PPL subjects — Air Law, Operational Procedures, Human Performance, Navigation, Meteorology, Communications, Aircraft General Knowledge, Principles of Flight, and Flight Planning & Performance — priced at £5 per subject.
• Flying Club Membership Redhill Aviation Flying Club membership providing recurring access to club facilities, events, and aircraft hire privileges. Pricing: Annual £120; Monthly £25; Day membership £10.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students achieve first solo typically within 7-11 hours of training
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RAMAL (Redhill and Shoreham Aviation)coreOthersRAMAL comprises Redhill Aviation and Shoreham Aviation flight schools, a CAA Aircraft Maintenance facility, and Aircraft Leasing business. Owned and operated by a UK CAA Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Provides integrated flight operations with in-house maintenance capability.
• Virgin Experience DaysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party experience provider for whom Redhill Aviation fulfils flight experience vouchers. Allows Redhill to reach customers through Virgin's gift experience marketplace.
• Red Letter DaysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK experience gift provider offering Redhill Aviation flight experiences through their marketplace platform.
• Into The BlueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAviation experience provider whose vouchers are fulfilled by Redhill Aviation for flight experiences.
• Shoreham AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister flight school under RAMAL operating at Brighton City Airport (Shoreham). Night rating training conducted there. Instructor sponsorship programme offers positions at both schools.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Shoreham Aviation: Sister flight training school under the same RAMAL parent, operating at Brighton City Airport (Shoreham). Offers comparable LAPL/PPL/CPL training, instrument and instructor ratings, and shares the sponsored instructor programme—making it the most directly comparable peer in the group.
• FTEJerez (Flight Training Europe): Integrated ATPL flight training organisation based in Jerez, Spain, serving UK and European students with full airline cadet programmes. Competes for the same UK career-pilot candidates seeking modular or integrated pathways as Redhill.
• Pilot Flight Training (formerly Cabair): UK professional pilot training organisation offering modular and integrated ATPL pathways, instructor ratings and aircraft hire. Closest direct competitor to Redhill's professional training division and a frequent comparator for career-track CPL pricing.

Broad incumbents

• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy: One of Europe's largest integrated ATPL training groups, part of CAE. Operates multiple bases and offers end-to-end airline pilot programmes that compete with Redhill's modular CPL/IR pathway for career-pilot candidates.

Regional players

• Goodwood Flying School: Regional UK flight school operating from Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex, offering PPL, LAPL, NPPL, tailwheel and aerobatics training with experience flights. Directly comparable to Redhill on aerodrome-based recreational and private pilot training in southern England.
• Tayside Aviation: UK regional flight training organisation based in Scotland offering PPL, CPL and instructor courses, plus experience flights and aircraft hire. Closely comparable modular training portfolio to Redhill, though operating in a different UK geography.
• Cambridge Aero Club: Long-established flying club and training organisation at Cambridge Airport offering PPL, LAPL, night and IR(R) training with experience flights. Comparable to Redhill in product mix and club/flying-school hybrid model, though serving East Anglia rather than the South East.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/redhill-aviation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Redhill Aviation