Acorn Capital Management acquired Pan Am Flight Academy, enhancing its investment portfolio in the aviation training sector amid increasing demand for pilot training solutions.

Target Company Overview

Acorn Capital Management, a private equity firm specializing solely in Aerospace, Defense, Intelligence, and Space sectors, has acquired Pan Am Flight Academy, LLC, a leading independent provider of flight simulator-based training. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Pan Am operates with a fleet of 25 state-of-the-art full flight simulators and a suite of ancillary training services, primarily focusing on commercial aircraft platforms. This acquisition marks the fourth platform company of Acorn's fifth investment fund. Under the leadership of industry veteran Ed Wegel as CEO, the current President and COO, Jeff Portanova, will retain his role and also serve on the Board of Directors.

Pan Am Flight Academy has a longstanding reputation within the aviation market for training commercial airline pilots and is recognized globally due to its affiliation with the well-known Pan American World Airways. The company has been pivotal in aviation training for many decades, leading to its designation as the “World’s Most Experienced Aviation Training Company,” according to CEO Ed Wegel. As the partnership with Acorn unfolds, the team plans to expand the simulator base and training capacities to cater to a growing list of airline customers, signaling an exciting phase of growth for the company.

Industry Overview

The aviation training sector is experiencing a robust evolution, particularly in the United States, where the demand for highly skilled pilots is at an all-time high. As airlines recover and expand their fleets post-pandemic, the importance of comprehe