Usaerogroup, Inc.

What Usaerogroup, Inc. does

USAeroFlight is an FAA Part 141-certified flight school headquartered at Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) in Greenville, South Carolina, operating since the early 1970s as USAeroFlight, LLC under parent Usaerogroup, Inc. The school provides a complete pilot training pipeline spanning Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine, Rotary-to-Fixed-Wing Transition, and Certified Flight Instructor certifications, with reduced flight hour requirements under Part 141 versus Part 61 (190 hours for commercial versus 250). Technology and operational infrastructure include third-party booking through Flight Circle, FAA Knowledge Testing via PSI, Garmin G430/G530 avionics in Cessna, Diamond, and Piper training aircraft, full-time in-house maintenance staff, and an on-site FAA Designated Pilot Examiner role held by Chief Flight Instructor Brett Zukowski.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer training provider serving five primary customer segments: recreational pilots seeking Private Pilot certificates, professional pilot aspirants pursuing airline-track certifications, international students on accelerated Part 141 programs, U.S. military veterans using Post 9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill benefits, and university students enrolled through partnerships with Bob Jones University and Purdue Global. Revenue is generated across eight streams: flight instruction (Part 141/61), aircraft rental, FAA Knowledge Testing, DPE practical exam administration ($1,000-$1,600 per exam), aircraft maintenance services, discovery flight packages ($200), Part 141 Accelerated Ground School ($295), and retail through Sporty's Pilot Shop dealer status. Financing is layered through AOPA (up to $100,000 loans) and Stratus Financial (full-program with 12-month deferment). Distribution combines a single on-site training facility, university referral channels, veteran/VA outreach, and international student recruitment, supported by content marketing (newsletter, blog) and three consecutive AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards (DISTINGUISHED, Southern region, 2023-2025).

Ownership transitioned in January 2026 from co-owners Mike Gonzales and Brett Zukowski to Seth Severson, a 2018 alumnus of the school who advanced from CFI to Assistant Chief Instructor before acquiring the business; both former owners remain actively involved in leadership and instructional roles.

Name

Usaerogroup, Inc.

Legal name

USAeroFlight, LLC

Website

https://usaeroflight.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

USAeroFlight is an FAA Part 141-certified flight school in Greenville, South Carolina, providing Private Pilot through Commercial and CFI certification training, on-site DPE exams, knowledge testing, and maintenance for recreational, professional, international, veteran, and university students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Training and Aviation Education

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 school
• Pilot certification programs
• Aviation education services
• FAA Part 141 training
• Aircraft rental maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Flight Instruction Services: Core revenue from flight instruction for all pilot certificate levels including Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine Rating, and Flight Instructor certificates. Instruction is provided under both Part 141 and Part 61 regulations.
2. Aircraft Rental: Revenue from renting training aircraft to students, including single-engine and multi-engine aircraft. Aircraft rental is bundled with instruction but also available for independent use.
3. FAA Knowledge Testing: Revenue from administering FAA written knowledge tests through their PSI testing center, providing computer-based testing services for various pilot certificates and ratings.
4. Discovery Flights: Introductory flight experiences sold as gift certificates at $200 per package, serving as customer acquisition and marketing tool for prospective students.
5. Ground School Courses: Part 141 approved ground school courses including Private Pilot Accelerated Ground School at $295, and Sporty's online ground courses for written exam preparation.
6. Aircraft Maintenance Services: Full-service maintenance including annual/100-hour inspections, repairs, compliance procedures, ADs, STC upgrades, and aircraft management for aircraft owners.
7. Practical Exam Administration: DPE services for FAA practical tests ranging from $1000-1600 depending on exam type and scheduling (weekday vs. weekend/holiday).
8. Sporty's Dealer Sales: As an approved dealer for Sporty's Pilot Shop, revenue from selling pilot supplies including headsets, logbooks, kneeboards, and other aviation equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

USAeroFlight is an FAA Part 141 approved flight school operating at Greenville Downtown Airport that provides pilot certification training from Private Pilot through Commercial Pilot, including Instrument Rating, Multi-Engine, and Certified Flight Instructor certificates. The school also offers Discovery Flight introductory experiences, on-site FAA Knowledge Testing, Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) practical exam services, in-house aircraft maintenance, and serves as a Sporty's Pilot Shop dealer for pilot supplies.

Product overview

USAeroFlight is a flight school offering a comprehensive portfolio of pilot training programs. The core offerings include Private Pilot Training, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Training, Multiengine Training, Rotary-to-Fixed Wing Transition, and Certified Flight Instructor Training. Supporting services include Discovery Flight Packages ($200 introductory experiences), Designated Pilot Examiner services, Aircraft Maintenance, FAA Knowledge Testing Center, and Ground School Courses including Part 141 Accelerated Ground School. The school operates under FAA Part 141 certification and also offers Part 61 training, providing flexible pathways for students to earn certifications with reduced flight hour requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Pilot Training Comprehensive FAA Part 141 training program providing the knowledge and experience needed to obtain a Private Pilot certificate for leisure flying and business travel. Available to individuals pursuing recreational pilot certification.
• Instrument Rating Advanced training program adding instrument flight capabilities to the pilot's toolbox, meeting FAA requirements for Initial and Added Instrument Ratings. Priced separately from $250/month for 84 months through AOPA financing.
• Commercial Pilot Training Professional flight training program equipping students to launch a career in fixed-wing aviation. Under Part 141 certification, students can achieve Commercial Pilot certification in as little as 190 flight hours versus 250 hours under Part 61.
• Multiengine Training Commercial Multiengine Add-on training providing mastery of basic MEL operations through 8 rigorous dual and ground lessons, using aircraft such as the Cessna 310, Diamond DA-62, and Piper models.
• Rotary-to-Fixed Wing Transition Special Part 141 course allowing qualified helicopter pilots to skip earning their Private Pilot Airplane Add-on, saving time and money by recognizing prior rotary-wing experience.
• Certified Flight Instructor Training Instructor certification courses taught by seasoned aviators (CFIs, CFI-I, MEI) to train a new generation of skilled flight educators. Inclusive pathway to ATP and 1,500 hours for airline employment.
• Discovery Flight Package Introductory flight experience package priced at $200, including 0.3 hours ground instruction (18 minutes) and 0.7 hours dual instruction/aircraft rental (42 minutes airborne), with pre-flight demo, hands-on flying time, official logbook, and scenic views over Greenville. Available as gift certificates.
• Designated Pilot Examiner Services FAA practical tests administered by Brett Zukowski (ATP-ME, DPE) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, and CFI ASEL & AMEL ratings. Exam fees range from $1,000-$1,500 (weekday) to $1,100-$1,600 (weekend/holiday). Serves students and external pilots from the greater Greenville area.
• FAA Knowledge Testing Center On-site FAA Knowledge Testing Center providing computerized testing for the full library of FAA Airman Knowledge Tests through PSI, available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am-5pm.
• Aircraft Maintenance Services Full-service aircraft maintenance including annual and 100-hour inspections, general repairs, ADs compliance, STC upgrades, and aircraft management for the school's fleet and external aircraft owners at Greenville Downtown Airport.
• Part 141 Private Pilot Accelerated Ground School Six-week in-person ground school course meeting Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7-9pm, covering required subject areas for the Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Exam. Priced at $295 with materials included, held at 8 Opportunity Place, Greenville Downtown Airport.
• Ground School Courses (Sporty's Online) Sporty's online ground courses covering Private, Instrument, and Commercial written exam preparation, sold by USAeroFlight to students preparing for FAA Knowledge Tests.

Quantifiable outcome

• Part 141 allows Commercial Pilot certification in 190 hours vs 250 hours under Part 61, resulting in substantial cost savings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• PSIcoreTechnology or Integration · 13 January 2020PSI provides the FAA knowledge testing software and platform for USAeroFlight's on-site FAA Knowledge Testing Center, enabling computerized testing for the full library of FAA Airman Knowledge Tests.
• Sporty's Pilot ShopcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSAeroFlight is an approved dealer for Sporty's Pilot Shop, the world's largest pilot shop. They offer pilot supplies including headsets (Bose A30), logbooks, kneeboards and other equipment with delivery to their Greenville Downtown Airport location.
• Flight CirclecoreTechnology or IntegrationFlight Circle provides the booking and scheduling platform for USAeroFlight's discovery flights and gift certificates, enabling online booking and payment processing for customers.
• Bob Jones UniversitykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerBob Jones University (Christian university in Greenville, SC) allows students to choose a major and hold aviation as a minor, earning both private and commercial pilot licenses with instrument rating while pursuing their degree.
• Purdue GlobalkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurdue Global offers a virtual aviation degree program with significant tuition discount. USAeroFlight provides flight training while students complete their degree online through Purdue's platform.
• Veterans Administration (VA)coreOthersUSAeroFlight is a VA-approved flight school, allowing veterans with Post 9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill benefits to receive reimbursement for flight training expenses including Instrument Rating, Commercial License, and Flight Instructor Certificate.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Global aviation training leader with cadet pilot programs, simulator-based training, and airline partnerships. Represents an institutional incumbent in pilot education and a potential partnership or competitive channel for USAeroFlight graduates transitioning to type-rated training.
• FlightSafety International: Global aviation training powerhouse owned by Berkshire Hathaway, operating advanced simulator- and aircraft-based pilot and crew training across commercial, business, and military segments. A broad incumbent against which USAeroFlight's smaller Part 141 program competes for entry-level students.

Emerging players

• Pilot Institute: Digital-first pilot training content platform offering online ground school, drone courses, and aviation content. Emerging substitute/complementary channel for USAeroFlight's discovery-flight and ground-school funnels, particularly for online-first prospective pilots.

Others

• Sporty's Pilot Shop: USAeroFlight's approved pilot supply dealer and ground school content provider (Sporty's online courses). Operates the adjoining academy ecosystem and is both partner and partial substitute for ground-school revenue.
• Gleim Aviation: Long-standing provider of pilot training textbooks, test prep, and online ground school materials. Represents an adjacent content provider whose products can substitute for in-house ground instruction and influence student channel choice.

Direct peers

• Paragon Flight Training: Florida-based Part 141 flight school offering Private through CFI training with multi-location operations. Comparable core curriculum and instructor-led model, serving as a regional direct competitor for student recruitment in the Southeast.
• Epic Flight Academy: Florida-based Part 141 flight school with a strong international student focus and accelerated commercial pilot certification similar to USAeroFlight's international pipeline. Competes directly for the same international student wallet share.
• US Aviation Academy: Texas-based Part 141 flight school with explicit international and veteran student recruitment focus. Closely comparable operating model and target segments to USAeroFlight, including GI Bill pathway optimization.
• Infinity Flight Group: Southeast US flight school providing Part 141 fixed-wing training referenced internally at USAeroFlight as a feeder for instructor pipelines. Comparable Part 141 curriculum and Southeastern US footprint make it a regional direct competitor.
• ATP Flight School: The largest Part 141 flight school chain in the United States operating multi-location pilot training from Private through Airline Transport Pilot. Closest direct comparable to USAeroFlight's core curriculum and accelerated Part 141 model, with substantially greater geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/USAeroTech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usaeroflight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Usaerogroup, Inc.