What Riverside Flight Academy does

Riverside Flight Academy is a privately held, FAA Part 141-approved flight training school operating from Riverside Municipal Airport (KRAL) in Riverside, California. Founded in 2011 by Johan Backlund, who serves as Owner and Chief Instructor while flying as a B767 First Officer at Atlas Air, the academy offers a structured curriculum from introductory discovery flights through private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, flight instructor, and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certifications. Its core differentiators are the ability to complete commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates in approximately 200 flight hours within 8-10 months at an all-in cost of roughly $50,000 (versus $200,000+ at four-year university flight programs), and a documented track record placing graduates at Southwest, SkyWest, United, and Atlas Air.

The academy's operational technology centers on a fleet of 14 Garmin-equipped aircraft (10 Cessna 172s with G5 digital screens and G530/G650/G950 avionics, 1 PA-28R Arrow with G430, and 2 Tecnam P2006T twins with G950 glass cockpits), supplemented by an FAA-certified Redbird LD flight simulator with interchangeable C-172 G1000, PA28R Arrow, and PA44 Seminole panels. The Redbird unit can be credited for up to 20 of the 40 required instrument rating hours, providing a meaningful cost arbitrage versus in-aircraft instrument time. Ground school is delivered both in a traditional classroom (8-week Private Pilot course at $375) and through a self-paced online video course ($149), with YouTube aviation content extending the top-of-funnel reach.

The business model is predominantly usage-based: flight instruction ($60-$80/hr), aircraft rental ($150-$375/hr wet), simulator rental ($80-$90/hr), and one-time program fees for ATP ($5,995) and Multi-Engine Add-On ($5,995) certifications, with ancillary revenue from ground school tuition, gift certificates, and a financing relationship with Stratus Finance. Customer segments split between aspiring private/recreational pilots and career-minded pilots pursuing the 1,500-hour ATP pathway, plus international students recruited through a partnership with San Bernardino Valley College that yields an Associate Degree in Aviation alongside professional pilot training. The company is founder-owned with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Riverside Flight Academy

Legal name

Riverside Flight Academy

Website

https://riversideflightacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Riverside Flight Academy is an FAA Part 141-approved flight school in Riverside, California, providing structured pilot training from private certificate through ATP for aspiring and career-minded pilots, including international students via its San Bernardino Valley College partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Flight training academy
• Pilot certification programs
• FAA Part 141 school
• Aircraft rental services
• Ground school instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flight Instruction: Charged per hour for flight instruction from certified flight instructors. Primary revenue stream for training students through various pilot certifications.
2. Aircraft Rental: Wet rates charged per hour for aircraft rental including Cessna 172 ($150-$160/hr), PA28R Arrow ($185/hr), and Tecnam P2006T ($375/hr). Fuel surcharge added based on current fuel prices.
3. Ground School Tuition: Classroom and online ground school courses including 8-week Private Pilot course ($375) and self-paced Online Course ($149).
4. Simulator Rental: Redbird LD Simulator rental at $80-$90 per hour for instrument training and proficiency checks.
5. Professional Training Programs: ATP certificate training ($5,995 standard, $4,995 accelerated for military) and Commercial Multi-Engine Add-On ($5,995). Includes dual instruction, ground training, materials, and DPE scheduling.
6. Gift Certificates: Flight time gift certificates available for purchase as gifts for various occasions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Riverside Flight Academy is an FAA Part 141 approved flight school that provides structured pilot certification training from beginner (First Flight Lesson) through Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, Flight Instructor, and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates. Training is delivered using an owned fleet of 14 Garmin-avionics aircraft (10 Cessna 172s, 1 PA-28R Arrow, 2 Tecnam P2006T twins) and an FAA-certified Redbird LD simulator, supported by classroom and online ground school instruction.

Product overview

Riverside Flight Academy is a flight training organization operating as a single unified training program with multiple interconnected offerings. The core program is an FAA-approved Part 141 training system that guides students from beginner (First Flight Lesson) through professional certifications (Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine Rating, Flight Instructor, ATP). The academy pairs classroom instruction (Ground School with both in-person and video courses) with flight training in its owned and operated aircraft fleet (10 Cessna 172s, 1 PA-28R Arrow, 2 Tecnam P2006T twins). The Redbird LD Simulator serves as a cost-effective supplement for instrument training and currency. Additional revenue streams include aircraft rental (wet rates), gift certificates, and financing services. A partnership with San Bernardino Valley College enables international students to pursue an Associate Degree while completing flight training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Pilot Training FAA Part 141 approved training program for the Private Pilot certificate, covering ground school, dual and solo flight instruction, and checkride preparation with a minimum 40 flight hours required. Designed for individuals seeking their first pilot certificate.
• Instrument Rating IFR qualification training requiring 50 hours of PIC cross-country and 40 hours of simulated or actual instrument time, culminating in a written exam and checkride. Supplements training with the Redbird LD simulator for up to 20 hours of instrument time.
• Commercial Pilot Training Professional pilot certification training enabling pilots to fly for compensation or hire, completed at a minimum of 190 hours total time under the Part 141 program.
• Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI) Certified Flight Instructor certification program where trainees learn by teaching others while building experience toward the 1,500-hour requirement for airline employment.
• Multi-Engine Rating Add-on rating for flying twin-engine aircraft using the Tecnam P2006T, delivered as a 5-7 day accelerated program with up to 8 hours of dual instruction.
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Training Advanced training required to serve as a crew member in Part 121 airline operations or PIC of multi-crew aircraft, including 5-8 hours of dual instruction and checkride preparation in the Tecnam P2006T glass cockpit. Standard $5,995; military accelerated $4,995.
• Ground School (Classroom) In-person classroom ground school covering aeronautical knowledge, weather theory, navigation, airspace, and regulations for all pilot certifications. Private Pilot 8-week course priced at $375.
• Online Ground School Course Self-paced online Private and Instrument video course covering aerodynamics, aircraft systems, weather, navigation, and flight procedures. Priced at $149.
• First Flight Lesson Introductory 90-minute flight experience including a 15-minute preflight briefing, 60-minute flight, and 15-minute post-flight debrief. Priced at $159 (marketed as a $230 value).
• Pinch Hitter Course Five hours of ground and five hours of flight instruction teaching non-pilots to assist or control an aircraft in emergencies, covering aerodynamics, navigation, communication, and takeoff and landing procedures.
• Aircraft Rental Hourly wet-rate rental of the academy's 14-aircraft fleet including 10 Cessna 172s with Garmin G530/G650/G950 avionics and G5 digital screens at $150-$160 per hour, a PA-28R Arrow with Garmin G430 at $185 per hour, and 2 Tecnam P2006T twin-engine aircraft with Garmin G950 glass cockpits at $375 per hour. A fuel surcharge is added based on current fuel prices.
• Redbird LD Simulator Rental FAA-certified Redbird LD simulator rental with wrap-around visuals and interchangeable C-172 G1000, PA28R Arrow G430, and PA44 Seminole G530/G430 panels. Available at $80 per hour (Cessna Skyhawk) and $90 per hour (Piper Arrow), usable for Instrument Proficiency Checks and up to 20 hours of instrument rating training.
• Gift Certificates Prepaid flight time gift certificates available for purchase as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and other achievement celebrations, sold through GoDaddy Paylinks.
• Financing and Scholarships

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates employed at major airlines including Southwest, Skywest, United, and Atlas Air
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• San Bernardino Valley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with San Bernardino Valley College offering a Professional Pilot Program with Associate Degree in Aviation. Open for international students seeking professional pilot training combined with college degree.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• United Aviate Academy: United's in-house pilot academy is a recently-launched career-pathway competitor that captures aspiring United pilots with airline-direct training. Competes for the same career-track segment, though with airline-sponsorship advantages RFA lacks.
• Republic Airways Aviation Academy: Republic's airline-sponsored academy targets the same career-track pilot pipeline with conditional employment offers. A pipeline competitor that could pull aspirational students away from independent academies like RFA.
• Sling Pilot Academy: Sling Pilot Academy is a newer accelerated Part 141 program marketing a similar time-to-airline value proposition. Comparable in business model (accelerated, career-focused) though smaller scale and newer entrant.

Direct peers

• ATP Flight School: ATP is the largest US Part 141 flight training chain, offering the same zero-to-ATP career pathway with multiple locations and airline hiring partnerships. Directly comparable in curriculum (Part 141, accelerated commercial-CFI) and target student (career-minded pilots), but at materially greater scale than RFA.
• Epic Flight Academy: Epic Flight Academy runs a Part 141 international student-focused career pilot program with degree pathway partnerships, mirroring RFA's SBVC model. Comparable in aircraft fleet scale, structured curriculum, and international student pipeline.
• Phoenix East Aviation: Phoenix East Aviation operates a comparable Part 141 accelerated career pilot program with international student recruitment, multi-engine fleet, and airline placement focus. Direct substitute for career-track students in the same price band.

Broad incumbents

• FlightSafety International: FlightSafety is the established pilot training incumbent serving commercial, corporate, and military operators with advanced simulation and type-rating programs. A broader incumbent that overlaps with RFA's ATP/multi-engine offerings rather than its entry-level career pilot track.
• CAE: CAE is a global aviation training leader with full-motion simulators and airline-sponsored cadet programs. Adjacent at the advanced/professional end of the training continuum that RFA feeds into via its ATP graduates.

Others

• Stratus Finance: Stratus is RFA's financing partner for student loans. Not a competitor but an enabling ecosystem partner whose terms and availability directly affect RFA's student affordability and conversion.

Regional players

• California Airways (general SoCal flight schools): Regional flight schools in Southern California compete for the same aspiring private pilot and career-track students in RFA's catchment. Local geographic overlap makes them direct competitors for local students.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RFAatKRAL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=KuxZwoQj-1U
• Facebookfacebook.com/RiversideFlightAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/rfaatkral

Compliance1 record

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 Riverside Flight Academy