USA – Climb Aeronautics, an aviation-focused educational software company, has launched its transformative training management system for use by flight schools, colleges, universities, and independent flight instructors and the learner pilots they serve.

• Founded by experienced instructors and developers Dr. Susan Tholen and Robert Montgomery, Climb’s TMS is designed to adapt training flow based on demonstrated student performance rather than fixed lesson sequencing.

• The platform tracks student progress at task level, unlocking follow-on activities only once proficiency is demonstrated, enabling instructors to tailor training paths while maintaining structured oversight and record-keeping.

• Climb’s first live offering is a Commercial Multi-Engine Add-On Rating course, now available via climb.aero, developed in partnership with Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA).

• The TMS integrates ASA’s established commercial multi-engine training content, combining adaptive training logic with standardized, industry-recognized instructional material.

• Climb operates a student-paid pricing model that is free for flight schools to adopt, with revenue generated through course access fees charged to students and content developers.

• The Commercial Multi-Engine Add-On course is priced at USD 125 and is available immediately.

• Additional courses currently in development include a Private Pilot Airplane course and an Instrument Airplane course, both scheduled for release in Q1 2026.

• Future course plans also include aviation high school programs, STEM-focused offerings, experimental aircraft training, and other niche and model-specific curricula.

• The system is designed to support continued training progression during poor weather or operational disruptions by enabling instructors to shift dynamically between flight, simulator, and ground-based activities.

• Early adoption support has been confirmed from U.S.-based training providers, including Avier Flight School and AFSim in Massachusetts.

Statements

• “There is a huge difference between ‘learning’ and ‘training’. Learning involves straight lines, hard and fast rules, and teaching to the test. Training is a messy journey of discovery where mistakes are important, repetition builds performance, and opinions may vary,” said Robert Montgomery, Co-Founder of Climb Aeronautics.

• “As a CFI I found it incredibly frustrating to have a lesson that didn’t make sense for the student, and then not be able to record more relevant training due to syllabus constraints,” said Dr. Susan Tholen, Co-Founder of Climb Aeronautics.

• “ASA is very excited to be working with Climb by combining proven ASA content with their new Training Management System,” said Greg Robbins, General Manager of Aviation Supplies & Academics.

• “We’re excited to be working with the passionate team at Climb LLC as we bring quality aviation instruction to flight students,” said Paul Beulieu, Founder of Avier Flight School and AFSim.

About Climb Aeronautics
Climb Aeronautics, based in Kennebunk, Maine, was founded in 2024 to develop and bring to market an adaptive training management system and associated courseware to support the aviation education industry. Founded by co-principals Dr. Susan Tholen and Robert Montgomery, Climb has launched its TMS in partnership with leading aviation courseware providers as well as individual course developers. The Climb logo features a key member of the Climb team, “marketing intern” and black Labrador Magneto “Maggie” Montgomery.

Robert Montgomery is a Bates College graduate with nearly 30 years of experience as a technical trainer, systems engineer, and professional aviator. He has flown and instructed for a Part 91(k)/Part 135 air carrier, served in multiple aviation safety and leadership roles, and taught dozens of FAA safety seminars nationwide. A civilian test pilot school graduate and flight instructor for more than 25 years, Rob brings a rare blend of technical precision, operational insight, and flight-test curiosity to everything he does. At Climb TMS, he helps bridge the gap between technology, training, and real-world flying.

Dr. Susan Tholen is a Ph.D. physicist from Cornell University whose career bridges the worlds of aerospace engineering, data science, and flight training. Before joining aviation education full- time, she worked as a process engineer, an aerospace engineer, and as a data architect optimizing complex technical systems. A glider pilot and active flight instructor for over 20 years, Dr. Tholen now serves as Assistant Chief Instructor at a large flight school, where she blends deep technical insight with hands-on flight experience. At Climb TMS, she embodies the system’s mission: turning data, science, and skill into better pilots.

Source: Climb Aeronautics
Photo Credit: Climb Aeronautics