cambridge aero club limited(the)

What cambridge aero club limited(the) does

Cambridge Aero Club Limited is a UK Civil Aviation Authority Approved Training Organisation (ATO) operating from Cambridge Airport (CBG) at Newmarket Road, Cambridge, providing flight training, aircraft hire, and flight experiences. Established in 1929 as Marshall Flying School under Marshall Aerospace & Defence, the club has trained pilots continuously for over 90 years and is one of a small number of UK-based flying schools to hold ATO status, authorising it to deliver PPL training, advanced ratings, and pilot licence issuance under CAA oversight.

The club operates a six-aircraft Cessna fleet comprising three Cessna 152s (including the Aerobat GBFRV for aerobatic training), two Cessna 172s in both steam-gauge and glass-cockpit configurations (with Garmin 430 GNS for IFR training), and one high-spec Cessna 182 GORDM with variable-pitch propeller, HSI, ADF, and Bendix King KLN GPS. Aircraft are equipped with modern Garmin avionics (GNC255, G5, GTX335 ADS-B out, Aero 660 GPS) and the club uses Sky Demon for navigation training. The instructional offering spans the full pilot development lifecycle: beginner PPL courses, the New Horizons land-away program for newly qualified pilots under 100 hours PIC, advanced ratings (Night, IR(R), CBIR, Aerobatics, Tailwheel, Differences Training), the AOPA-certified Pilot Companions Course for non-pilot passengers, and hour-building packages toward commercial licences.

Revenue is generated through four streams: usage-based hourly rates for dual instruction (£284-£375/hour) and solo aircraft hire (£231-£322/hour), subscription memberships (£155/year adult, £50/year junior, £35/month, £10 social/passenger), one-time training and skill-test fees (PPL Starter £303 adult/£198 junior; ground lessons £125; skill tests £150-£200), and gift-voucher flight experiences. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer through the Cambridge Airport facility (open seven days, 08:30-17:30), phone/email enquiries, and a digital presence across website, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. The club maintains regulatory partnerships with the UK CAA, AOPA, and the British Gliding Society, while leadership is anchored by Anthony Cooke as Chief Flying Instructor and Head of Training, supported by a roster of certified instructors and freelance examiners with airline and test-pilot backgrounds.

Name

cambridge aero club limited(the)

Legal name

Cambridge Aero Club Ltd

Website

https://cambridgeaeroclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cambridge Aero Club is a UK CAA-approved flight training organisation at Cambridge Airport, founded in 1929, providing PPL training, advanced ratings, aircraft hire, and flight experiences to aspiring and qualified private pilots across the East of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Aviation Experiences (Charters, Scenic Flights, Helicopter Tours) (THAJALAF)

Keywords

• Flight training services
• Pilot license courses
• Aircraft rental services
• Aviation ground school
• Hour building programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Flight Training Instruction: Dual instruction rates for various aircraft types ranging from £284-375 per hour. Provides professional flight instruction for PPL, advanced ratings, and skill tests.
2. Aircraft Hire / Rental: Solo aircraft hire rates from £231-322 per hour for qualified pilots. Includes wet hire rates (fuel inclusive) on Cessna fleet. Membership provides discounted solo hire rates.
3. Club Membership: Annual membership £155 adult / £50 junior; Monthly membership £35; Social/passenger membership £10. Provides access to solo hire rates, Winter Enrichment program, events, and pub meets.
4. Training Fees: PPL Starter Fee £303 adult / £198 junior; Ground lessons £125; Ground exams £42.28; Skill tests £150-200. One-time fees for licensing and certification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cambridge Aero Club is a UK CAA Approved Training Organisation (ATO) that delivers flight training from beginner Private Pilot Licence (PPL) courses to advanced ratings including night, instrument (IR(R), CBIR), aerobatics, and tailwheel training. The club also offers solo aircraft hire across a Cessna fleet (C152, C172, C182), discovery flight experiences, and an AOPA-certified Pilot Companions Course for non-pilot passengers.

Product overview

Cambridge Aero Club operates as a UK CAA-approved flight training organisation (ATO) with over 90 years of experience. The core offering centres on flight training for aspiring pilots (PPL courses) and advanced ratings for qualified aviators. The portfolio spans ground school, flight instruction, and aircraft hire across a mixed Cessna fleet (C152, C172, C182). Post-PPL offerings include the New Horizons land-away course, Night Rating, Instrument Ratings (IR(R), CBIR), Aerobatics introduction, and Pilot Companions Course. The club provides hour building packages and solo aircraft hire for pilots progressing toward commercial ratings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flight Training (PPL and Advanced Ratings) Comprehensive pilot training programmes including the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) course and advanced ratings, delivered under UK CAA ATO accreditation with experienced flight instructors for aspiring private pilots and qualified pilots seeking further ratings.
• Flight Experiences Discovery flights and aviation experiences for members of the public seeking an introduction to flying without pursuing a full pilot licence.
• Aircraft Hire Solo hire of club Cessna aircraft for qualified pilots meeting currency requirements, available after completing the New Horizons course or holding 100+ hours PIC, with discounted rates for club members.
• New Horizons Course Land-away course for newly qualified PPL holders with less than 100 hours PIC, comprising six dual training flights to progressively unfamiliar UK airfields; on completion pilots are signed off for solo hire to any suitable UK airfield.
• Pilot Companions Course AOPA-certified course for non-pilot passengers flying with a PPL holder, combining 10 hours of theoretical briefings with 8 hours of practical flight training to prepare companions for in-flight emergencies.
• Night Rating Post-PPL rating training enabling qualified pilots to fly at night, covering night flight procedures, navigation, and approaches.
• Instrument Rating (IR(R)) Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) rating training allowing qualified pilots to fly in reduced visibility using aircraft instruments.
• Competency-Based Instrument Rating (CBIR) Alternative competency-based approach to instrument rating training for qualified pilots.
• Intro to Aerobatics Introduction to aerobatic flight training for PPL holders using the club's Aerobat aircraft (GBFRV).
• Hour Building Packages Affordable aircraft hire packages on Cessna 152 aircraft for PPL holders building hours towards commercial ratings, available in 10 or 50-hour blocks.
• Club Membership Annual (£155 adult / £50 junior), monthly (£35), and social (£10) memberships providing access to discounted solo hire rates, the Winter Enrichment programme, club fly outs, and pub meets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Course completion qualifies pilots for solo aircraft hire without instructor accompaniment
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge Aero Club holds ATO (Approved Training Organisation) status awarded by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. This regulatory accreditation is essential for providing certified flight training and is one of the few UK-based flying schools to hold this designation.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge Aero Club delivers AOPA-certified Companions Course for non-pilot passengers of PPL holders. The course provides nationally recognized certification and is designed by AOPA for those who fly with pilots.
• BGS (British Gliding Society)minorOthersCambridge Aero Club is a BGS Approved Partner, as indicated by the BGS Approved Partner logo displayed on the website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sherburn Aero Club: One of the UK's largest flying clubs, offering PPL training, advanced ratings, aircraft hire, and trial lessons from Sherburn-in-Elmet airfield. Directly comparable as a UK-based, multi-Cessna fleet PPL/advanced training school with similar membership and hire pricing models.
• Goodwood Flying School: UK CAA-approved flight training operation offering PPL, NPPL, advanced ratings, and aircraft hire from Goodwood Aerodrome. Comparable in regulatory standing, target customer (private pilots), and training portfolio, with similar Cessna-based fleet and pricing structure.
• Tayside Aviation: Long-established UK PPL and advanced flight training school based at Dundee Airport, operating a Cessna fleet. Comparable in product mix (PPL, hour building, advanced ratings, hire) and customer segments (aspiring private pilots and commercial aspirants).
• Multiflight: UK flight training and aircraft hire operator at Leeds Bradford Airport offering PPL, LAPL, night, IMC, and IR ratings. Directly comparable in offering comprehensive private pilot training and aircraft hire on a multi-aircraft fleet at a regional airport.
• Aero Legends: UK flight training organisation offering PPL, aerobatics, tailwheel, formation, and advanced training with a heritage-flavoured fleet. Comparable in advanced rating offerings (aerobatics, tailwheel) and in serving the private pilot community in the UK.
• Booker Aviation: PPL and advanced flight training school based at Wycombe Air Park, offering training, aircraft hire, and trial lessons. Comparable as a UK regional ATO offering a similar product mix targeting the same aspiring and qualified private pilot segments.

Broad incumbents

• Skyborne Aviation: UK-based integrated ATPL training provider with significantly larger scale, broader curriculum (ATPL, MPL, type ratings), and capital base. Comparable as a UK flight training competitor but operates at a much broader commercial aviation career pipeline level.
• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy: Large-scale integrated flight training organisation operating globally and at multiple UK sites, providing ATPL, MPL, and type rating programs. Comparable in regulatory standing (UK CAA ATO equivalent) but at vastly larger scale and with a commercial-pilot focus that overlaps with Cambridge Aero Club's higher-end offerings.

Others

• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA UK): UK aviation association representing private pilots and flight training providers. Cambridge Aero Club delivers AOPA-certified courses through this partnership; AOPA is an industry ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor but is relevant to the competitive context for affiliated training.
• Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group: Parent of the original Marshall Flying School founded in 1929 from which Cambridge Aero Club originated. Not a competitor but a historic parent and adjacent aviation ecosystem participant (MRO, defence) relevant to Cambridge Aero Club's heritage and any potential strategic relationship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CambridgeAeroClubEst1929
• Facebookfacebook.com/cambridgeaeroclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/cambridgeaeroclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridge-aero-club-marshall-aerospace-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 cambridge aero club limited(the)