aircraft manufacturing business plan

Running an Aircraft Manufacturing Company – Tips for Success

•   Establish a clear vision and a realistic business plan for your aircraft manufacturing company.
• Source quality materials and maintain a good inventory, including efficient storage units for aircraft parts.
• Attract and retain skilled employees through competitive benefits, training, and career development opportunities.
• Foster strong customer relationships through quick response, quality support, rewards, and keeping them informed.
• Ensure good financial control for better tracking of performance indicators and profitability in your company.

Running an aircraft manufacturing company is no easy feat. From developing the design to managing employees, production, and customer relationships, producers face several challenges. However, you can succeed and thrive in this industry with the right approach and mindset. This blog will share essential tips for running an aircraft manufacturing company successfully.

Develop a Clear Vision and Stick to It

To run a successful aircraft manufacturing company, you must have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how to get there. You need to set realistic and achievable goals, establish a long-term plan, and ensure everyone in your organization is on the same page.

Ensure your plans and vision are firm and constantly reviewed and refined so everyone knows what is expected of them. Having a vague idea of what you want isn’t enough. Successful businesses start with a clear focus and a thorough and realistic business plan.

Source Quality Materials

When producing aircraft, you need to source quality materials and components. This will ensure the craft is made with precision and safety measures in mind. Do your research into reputable suppliers and make sure you have a good inventory of parts so you can respond quickly to customer orders.

It’s also important to remember that your aircraft’s components aren’t the only quality materials you need to source. Even something small, like the storage units for your aircraft parts, can make all the difference. Invest in good quality aircraft parts storage units so your parts are organized and accessible when you need them. These storage units can also be customized to fit the exact size and needs of your particular aircraft.

Attract and Retain Talented Employees

Employees are at the heart of any successful company. To produce the best aircraft, you need skilled and experienced employees who are passionate about their work. Make sure to put in place a competitive benefits package like healthcare, retirement plans, and bonuses that keep your employee motivated and encourage them to stay with your company for the long term. Offer training and career development opportunities to help keep your employees growing both professionally and personally.

Build Strong Customer Relationships

One of the core features of a successful aircraft manufacturing company is having satisfied customers. They not only bring repeat business but also spread the good word about your products and services, which can bring new customers to you. To ensure you have satisfied customers, build a strong relationship with them. Here are four ways you can achieve this:

Respond to customer queries quickly.

Responding to customer queries quickly will show them that you value their time and opinion, which can help build trust. You can do this by setting up a customer service system that responds to queries quickly and efficiently.

Provide quality support.

Providing excellent customer support is vital for keeping customers satisfied. This includes responding to their issues promptly and helping them resolve any problems they may have with your products or services.

Offer rewards and discounts.

Rewarding loyal customers with discounts or exclusive offers can encourage them to continue doing business with your company. You can also reward customers for referring friends or family members, which can help spread your reputation and reach.

Keep them informed.

Keep customers updated about changes in your products and services, such as new features or updates that they can benefit from. This will make them feel valued as you are keeping them informed about what’s going on in your company.

By building solid relationships with your customers, you can ensure they remain satisfied and come back to you in the future.

Maintain Strong Financial Control

The last tip for succeeding in aircraft manufacturing is maintaining good financial control. Financial control helps you track key performance indicators, minimize waste, and measure profitability.

With good accounting and finance systems, you can identify inefficiencies and invest resources intelligently to achieve your goals. You may consider getting professional help to maintain and prepare your financial statements.

Running a successful aircraft manufacturing company requires a clear vision, sourcing quality materials, attracting and retaining talented employees, building strong customer relationships, and maintaining strong financial control.

These are not easy tasks, but your company can thrive in this competitive industry by committing to these principles. Remember that every step, no matter how small, is a step towards achieving your goal. Stay focused on your vision, remain adaptable, and strive for excellence.

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The Airplane Manufacturing Market

Top aircraft manufacturers, the bottom line.

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Who Are the Major Airplane Manufacturing Companies?

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Although the airline industry is highly competitive, the competition among aircraft suppliers is relatively limited. Lesser-known makers of large passenger airplanes are attempting to build a more significant presence on the world's stage. Still, in the large commercial aircraft market, there are just two major players: the U.S.-based Boeing ( BA ) and the Airbus Group ( EADSY ), formerly known as the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS). 

Key Takeaways

• The global airplane manufacturing market is valued at over $400 billion.
• The world's only major large passenger aircraft manufacturers are Boeing and Airbus.
• Boeing's and Airbus's established jet brands are the 7-series and A-series, respectively.
• Up-and-coming large passenger airplane makers include Comac in China, Mitsubishi in Japan, and UAC in Russia.
• Based on deliveries, Airbus takes the top spot as the largest airplane manufacturer in the world.

Airbus is the world's top commercial airplane manufacturer based on airplanes delivered. Boeing is in second place, as its deliveries stalled because of the grounding of certain aircraft, the COVID-19 pandemic, and issues for its 737-MAX aircraft.

The airplane manufacturing market is part of the overall airline industry. The global market's estimated value was more than $400 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow to more than half-a-trillion dollars by 2029. Companies in this market are involved in the manufacturing of airplanes and their components, including engines and propulsion systems.

Large passenger airplane manufacturers

Boeing and Airbus are the world's only major large passenger aircraft manufacturers. The two companies share almost exclusive control of the worldwide airplane supply business for large commercial jets. Their established brands are Boeing's 7-series and Airbus's A-series of jets. These aircraft include narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, and jumbo jets.

Regional and other international airplane manufacturers

Bombardier, based in Canada, and Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, are leaders in the regional and business airplanes market. They both focus on smaller-sized jets.

On a global scale, competition with Boeing and Airbus is brutal. However, newer airline suppliers Comac in China, Mitsubishi in Japan, and UAC in Russia are working on a series of new wide-body jets in a joint venture . They hope to eventually become a legitimate competitor that can take on the dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the large-jet space.

Military airplane manufacturers

Boeing and Airbus have a significant market share in the supply of military aircraft, particularly in the U.S. Their competition in this market includes Lockheed Martin. Just under half of Boeing's revenues came from U.S. government contracts in 2022. Only about 20% of Airbus' revenues came from defense contracts in 2022.

Suppliers to airplane manufacturers

Aerospace suppliers are critical to the aircraft manufacturing ecosystem. They provide essential components, systems, and materials required to build an aircraft. This includes avionics, propulsion systems, landing gear, cabin interiors, and composite materials. These suppliers range from large companies that produce major systems to smaller specialized firms. Aircraft manufacturers rely on these suppliers for the initial construction of aircraft and ongoing maintenance and replacement parts.

Raytheon Technologies Corporation ( RTX ) and General Electric ( GE ) are two major companies that manufacture airplane engines and other parts for industry operators. Rolls-Royce ( RYCEY ), Pratt & Whitney, and Honeywell ( HON ) also produce airplane jet and propeller engines.

Here are some of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world. All data as of Q1 2024.

Boeing (BA)

• Headquarters : Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Founded : 1916
• Market Cap : $130 billion
• Employees : 156,000
• Products : Known for manufacturing a wide range of commercial jetliners, Boeing's product line includes the 737, 747, 767, 777, and 787 families of airplanes. The company also offers military aircraft, satellites, and other aerospace products and services.

Once the darling of the aircraft business, Boeing has faced some critical challenges recently, most notably issues related to the safety of its aircraft. Incidents involving the 737-MAX's in-flight controls and aircraft doors detaching midflight have raised serious concerns. These issues have not only affected Boeing's reputation and financial stability but also have wider implications for airline safety standards and consumer confidence in the industry.

Airbus (EADSY)

• Headquarters : Leiden, Netherlands
• Founded : 1970
• Market Cap : $128.6 billion
• Company Size : 134,000
• Products : Airbus is known for its commercial aircraft, including the A220, A320, A330, A350, and A380 families. The company also produces military planes and helicopters and provides aerospace-related services.

Lockheed Martin (LMT)

• Headquarters : Bethesda, Maryland
• Founded : 1995 (from the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta)
• Market Cap : $113.6 billion
• Employees : 116,000
• Products : While focused on defense and military aircraft, such as the F-16 and F-35 Lightning II, Lockheed Martin also engages in aeronautics, missiles, fire control, and space systems.

Embraer (ERJ)

• Headquarters : São Paulo, Brazil
• Founded : 1969
• Market Cap : $3.2 billion
• Employees : 18,000
• Products : Embraer is known for its E-Jet and E-Jet E2 series of regional jets, popular among airlines for short to medium-haul flights.

Boeing comes in second as the largest airplane manufacturer in the world because of manufacturing problems that led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to halt deliveries of its 787 model.

Bombardier (BDRBF)

• Headquarters : Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Founded : 1942
• Market Cap : $3.7 billion
• Employees : 15,000
• Products : The company's aerospace division is known for its business jets, including the Challenger and Global series.

How Are New Aircraft Certified to Fly?

Aircraft certification is a rigorous and detailed process conducted by aviation authorities such as the FAA in the U.S. or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe. This process involves extensive testing and evaluation of the aircraft's design, construction, and performance to ensure it meets strict safety standards. It includes analysis of the airframe, engines, systems, and flight performance, with assessments of the aircraft's handling under various conditions.

How do market dynamics between Boeing and Airbus influence the airplane manufacturing industry?

The duopoly of Boeing and Airbus significantly influences market dynamics in the airplane manufacturing industry. Their competition is legendary, driven by their high-stakes duopoly, the need to stay ahead in avionics and other changing technology, and the geopolitics around Boeing being a major American company and Airbus being a European consortium. As manufacturing for other goods had for decades been moving out of Europe and the U.S., these two companies were also emblems of what the U.S. and Europe could still produce.

Court battles, World Trade Organization complaints, and negotiations at the highest political levels for aircraft contracts mean more is at stake than simply any new plane put out by one requires an answer from the other. Together, this duopoly's decisions on production rates, aircraft models, and what technology they will use set trends for the entire industry, affecting everything from airline fleet choices to what kind of technology pilots and regular consumers will find once on board.

How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Aircraft Manufacturers?

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the aircraft manufacturing industry. There was a drastic cut in demand for new aircraft because of the sudden decline in air travel. This led to production slowdowns, delays in aircraft deliveries, and financial challenges for manufacturers. However, the industry has been adapting by focusing on more flexible manufacturing processes, increasing cargo aircraft production because of the rise in ecommerce and accelerating digital transformation to improve efficiency.

The airplane manufacturing market, valued at over $400 billion, is a significant part of the global airline industry, which is expected to grow considerably over the next decade. Dominated by Boeing and Airbus, the only major manufacturers of large commercial jets, this market is characterized by their iconic 7x7-series and A3xx-series jets. Suppliers, including GE, Raytheon Technologies, and Rolls-Royce, are pivotal in providing essential components like engines and avionics. While facing lingering challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic leading to reduced demand and production, the industry is adapting through flexible manufacturing and other changes. Boeing, in particular, has encountered significant mechanical challenges with its 737-MAX and 787 models, affecting its position in the global market.

Precedence Research. " Aircraft Manufacturing Market Size Global Report, 2023-2032. "

The Boeing Company. " 2022 Annual Report. "

Airbus. " Financial Results and Annual Report ."

Raytheon Technologies. " United Technologies and Ratheon Complete Merger of Equals Transaction. "

Companies Market Cap. " Top Aircraft Companies - Employees ."

Economic Times . " Boeing’s Legacy Vanished Into Thin Air and Saving It Will Take Years ."

Airbus. "Who We Are"

Lockheed Martin. "Who We Are"

Embraer.com. "About Us"

Federal Aviation Administration. " Airworthiness Certification ."

Ayoung Woo, et al. " An Analysis of the Competitive Actions of Boeing and Airbus in the Aerospace Industry Based on the Competitive Dynamics Model ." Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity . 7,.3 (2021).

McKinsey & Co. " COVID-19's Impact on the Global Aviation Sector ."

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How to Start an Aerospace Company

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Aviation Industry

An aerospace company is a business that designs, develops, and manufactures products related to the aerospace industry, including aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and other types of vehicles that operate in or beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Aerospace companies may also provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for these products, as well as engineering and technical support, research and development, and other related services.

The aerospace industry is a very large industry and available statistics show that the value of the global aerospace market reached $298 billion in 2020, with North America accounting for almost half of the total.

It is expected to grow at a rate of 7.7 percent to $430.7 billion in 2025, and a further 5.9 percent annually until 2030 to a total of $573.6 billion.

Steps on How to Start An aerospace Company

Conduct market research.

Conducting market research for an aerospace company involves gathering and analyzing information about the aerospace industry and the specific markets in which the company operates. First, you need to determine what the company wants to achieve from the market research.

For example, the objective could be to identify new markets for the company’s products or to understand the competitive landscape. Next, you are expected to determine the group of people or companies that the research will focus on. This could include customers, suppliers, competitors, and regulators. Decide on the best method to gather information.

This could include surveys, interviews, focus groups, or secondary research such as industry reports and government data. Design the research questions to help answer the research objectives. Questions should be clear and concise and avoid bias.

Lastly, collect data using the chosen research method. Ensure that the data is accurate and reliable and that the sample size is appropriate. Review the data and identify patterns and trends. Look for insights that can help the company achieve its research objectives.

a. Who is the Target Market for Aerospace Companies?

The target market for an aerospace company depends on the specific products and services that the company offers. Generally, the primary customers for aerospace companies are government organizations, such as space agencies and defense departments, as they are the largest purchasers of aerospace products and services.

For commercial aerospace companies that manufacture and operate passenger aircraft, their target market is primarily airlines, as well as leasing companies and other organizations that provide aircraft to airlines. These companies may also target individual customers through marketing campaigns to promote travel on their airline customers’ flights.

For space exploration and tourism companies, their target market includes individuals who are interested in space tourism, as well as governments or private companies who want to launch satellites or conduct research in space.

b. Is an Aerospace Company a Profitable Business?

Yes, the aerospace company is considered a profitable business. The global aerospace market reached $298 billion in 2020, with North America accounting for almost half of the total. It is expected to grow at a rate of 7.7 percent to $430.7 billion in 2025, and a further 5.9 percent annually until 2030 to a total of $573.6 billion.

c. Are There Existing Niches in the Industry?

Yes, there are existing niches when it comes to aerospace companies. Here are some of them.

• Commercial aerospace companies
• Space exploration and tourism companies.

d. Who are the Major Competitors?

• Lockheed Martin
• Northrop Grumman
• Raytheon Technologies
• General Electric Aviation
• General Dynamics
• Pratt & Whitney
• Honeywell Aerospace
• Collins Aerospace
• Textron Aviation
• Gulfstream Aerospace
• Bombardier Aerospace
• United Launch Alliance
• Blue Origin
• Virgin Galactic
• Sierra Nevada Corporation
• Aerojet Rocketdyne
• Ball Aerospace.

e. Are There County or State Regulations or Zoning Laws for Aerospace Companies?

Yes, there are county and state regulations, as well as zoning laws, that apply to aerospace companies in the United States. These regulations and laws vary depending on the specific location and type of activities that the aerospace company engages in.

For example, if an aerospace company wants to build a new facility, it may need to comply with zoning laws that regulate land use and building requirements. This may involve obtaining permits, complying with setback requirements, and meeting environmental and safety regulations.

In addition, aerospace companies that engage in defense-related activities are subject to export control regulations that limit the export of sensitive technology and products to certain countries or individuals. Finally, aerospace companies must comply with various federal regulations that govern the industry, such as those related to aviation safety, aircraft certification, and space launch licensing.

f. Is There a Franchise for an Aerospace Company?

No, there are no franchise opportunities for aerospace companies.

g. What Do You Need to Start an Aerospace Company?

• A Feasibility Report
• Business and Marketing Plans
• Business Licenses and Permits
• Operations or Production Facility
• EIN (Employer Identification Number)/Federal Tax ID Number.
• A Corporate Bank Account
• Equipment, Machines, and Supplies
• Startup and Working Capital

Choose a Memorable Business Name

When looking to start a business, before you can begin to file the necessary documents with the constituted authorities or start your website, it is necessary that you come up with a name that you will be recognized with. It is essential that the name you come up with can easily be pronounced, is unique and easily memorable.

Some of the catchy business name ideas suitable for an aerospace business are;

Creative Aerospace Business Name ideas

• Silver Stream® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Copper Hills® Aerospace Company, LLC
• Eddie Smith® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Gold Flash® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Blue Sky® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Quartz Ultimate® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Jeff Jefferson® Aerospace Company, LLC
• Sky Resources® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Julius Czar® Aerospace Company, LLC
• Fly Wave™ Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Beyond Cloud® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Richard Williams® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Harry Johnson™ Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Jonah Serville® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Bright Anderson® Aerospace Company, LLC
• Silver Meta® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Golden Wings® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Copper Bird™ Aerospace Company, Inc.
• The Unicorn® Aerospace Company, Inc.
• Eagles Wing® Aerospace Company, Inc.

Register Your Business

A. what type of business structure is best for an aerospace company.

The ideal business structure for an aerospace company is determined by a variety of factors, including the size of the company, the number of owners, the level of personal liability the owners are ready to accept, and the tax consequences of the various business structures.

However, we normally recommend a limited liability company structure. This is so because an LLC is a hybrid corporate form that provides the flexibility of a partnership while also providing its owners with limited liability protection.

An LLC can have one or more owners, and the owners are not personally accountable for the debts or liabilities of the business. This business form is frequently used for small to medium-sized organizations.

b. Steps to Form an LLC

• Choose a Name for Your LLC.
• File Articles of Organization.
• Choose a registered agent.
• Decide on member vs. manager management.
• Create an LLC operating agreement.
• Comply with other tax and regulatory requirements.
• File annual reports.

c. What Type of License is Needed to Open an Aerospace Company?

• General Business License
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Licenses
• Export Licenses
• Occupational Licenses
• Environmental permits
• Building permit
• Zoning Permit
• Signage Permit

d. What Type of Certification is Needed to Open an Aerospace Company?

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certification
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Certifications
• National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) Certification
• International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Compliance
• Quality System Standard AS9100 Certification
• Space Launch Approval.

e. What Documents are Needed to Open an Aerospace Company?

• Business and liability insurance
• Federal Tax Payer’s ID
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Professional Certifications
• Business License
• Business Plan
• Operating Agreement for LLCs
• Insurance Policy
• Zonal Permit

f. Do You Need a Trademark, Copyright, or Patent?

Yes, an aerospace company may need to obtain a trademark, copyright, or patent depending on the specific products, services, or technologies involved. An aerospace company may want to obtain a trademark for its company name, logo, or specific product names to prevent others from using similar names or logos in a way that could cause confusion among consumers.

An aerospace company may want to obtain a copyright for software, technical drawings, or marketing materials to prevent others from copying or using these materials without permission.

A patent protects an invention or discovery, such as a new aircraft engine or satellite technology. An aerospace company may want to obtain a patent for a new technology or product to prevent others from making, using, or selling the same invention without permission.

Cost Analysis and Budgeting

A. how much does it cost to start an aerospace company.

The cost to start an aerospace company can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, such as the type of aerospace operation, the location, the size of the company, and the equipment and resources required. However, a rough estimate could range from $20 million to over $100 million, depending on the size and scope of the business.

b. What are the Costs Involved in Starting an Aerospace Company

• Legal and administrative costs (the cost of obtaining business licenses and permits, registering the business, and consulting with attorneys and accountants): $172,500
• Equipment and supplies: $15 million
• Staffing costs: $500,000
• Rent/lease: $1 million
• Marketing and advertising costs: $20,000
• Insurance costs: $450,000
• Miscellaneous Expenses: $75,000.

c. What Factors Determine the Cost of Opening an Aerospace Company?

• The type of aerospace company
• The size of the aerospace company
• The choice of location
• The required licenses and permits
• The cost of hiring and paying a business consultant and attorney
• The cost of branding, promotion, and marketing of the aerospace company
• The cost of equipment
• The cost of the insurance policy covers
• The cost OF registering the business
• Source of your supplies and ongoing expenses
• Cost of recruiting and training your staff
• The cost of the purchase and customizing of uniforms
• The cost for the grand opening of the aerospace company.

d. Do You Need to Build a Facility? If YES, How Much Will It Cost?

Whether an aerospace company needs to build a facility depends on the specific activities involved. For example, an aerospace company involved in aircraft manufacturing, testing, or repair will likely need a facility with specialized equipment and infrastructure to carry out these activities.

On the other hand, an aerospace company involved in software development or consulting may not require a dedicated facility and can operate remotely or in shared office space.

According to a report by the Aerospace Industries Association, the average cost of constructing a new aerospace manufacturing facility in the United States ranges from $200 to $400 per square foot. This means that a facility of 50,000 square feet could cost anywhere from $10 million to $20 million to build.

e. What are the Ongoing Expenses of an Aerospace Company?

• Materials and Supplies
• Equipment and Machinery
• Rent or Mortgage Payments
• Marketing and Advertising
• Research and Development
• Regulatory Compliance (licensing, inspections, and certifications).

f. What is the Average Salary of your Staff?

• Chief Executive Officer (President) – $120,000 per year
• Operations Manager – $80,000 per year
• Aerospace Engineer – $75,000 per year
• Production Manager – $75,000 per year
• Maintenance Manager – $70,000 per year
• Human Resources Manager – $60,000 per year
• Accountant/Financial Manager – $60,000 per year
• Quality Control Inspectors – $55,000 per year
• Safety Officer – $50,000 per year
• Customer Service Executive – $48,000 per year

g. How Do You Get Funding to Start an Aerospace Company?

• Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
• Raising money from investors and business partners
• Sell shares to interested investors
• Applying for a loan from your bank/banks
• Pitching your business idea and applying for business grants and seed funding from the government, donor organizations, and angel investors
• Source for soft loans from your family members and friends.

Write a Business Plan

A. executive summary.

Copper Bird™ Aerospace Company, Inc. based in Detroit, Michigan is a leading aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and services advanced aerospace systems and components for commercial and military customers around the world.

With over 25 years of experience in the industry, we have built a reputation for delivering innovative solutions that meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and safety.

At Copper Bird™ Aerospace Company, Inc., we are committed to staying at the forefront of the industry by investing in research and development, and by maintaining a highly skilled and experienced workforce. We also prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, and we are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices across our operations.

Our team is comprised of highly skilled engineers, technicians, and other professionals who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality products and services to our customers. We have a strong culture of innovation and collaboration, and we are committed to fostering a workplace that is inclusive and supportive of diversity.

b. Products and Service

Our products and services include aircraft engines, avionics systems, satellite components, and other advanced aerospace technologies. We have a proven track record of success, with a diverse portfolio of projects that have been delivered on time and within budget.

c. Mission Statement

Our mission at Copper Bird™ Aerospace Company, Inc. is to design, manufacture, and service advanced aerospace systems and components that enable our customers to explore new frontiers and achieve their goals with safety, reliability, and efficiency.

We are committed to excellence in all aspects of our operations, and we prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility in everything we do.

Vision Statement

Our vision at Copper Bird™ Aerospace Company, Inc. is to be the leading aerospace company in the world, known for our innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainability. We strive to push the boundaries of what is possible in aerospace technology and to deliver value to our customers, employees, and stakeholders.

d. Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of an aerospace company are to design, develop, and manufacture products related to the aerospace industry, including aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and other types of vehicles that operate in or beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

They also provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for these products, as well as engineering and technical support, research and development, and other related services.

e. Organizational Structure

• Chief Executive Officer (President)
• Operations Manager
• Aerospace Engineer
• Production Manager
• Maintenance Manager
• Human Resources Manager
• Accountant/Financial Manager
• Quality Control Inspectors
• Safety Officer
• Customer Service Executive.

Marketing Plan

A. swot analysis.

• Strong reputation for innovation and quality in the aerospace industry
• A diverse portfolio of products and services, including aircraft engines, avionics systems, and satellite components
• Highly skilled and experienced workforce
• Commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility
• Strong relationships with major commercial and military customers.
• Dependence on a small number of major customers for a significant portion of revenue
• High costs associated with research and development and compliance with industry regulations
• Vulnerability to changes in economic and political conditions that affect the aerospace industry
• Potential for disruptions to supply chains and production processes.

Opportunities

• Growing demand for advanced aerospace technologies, particularly in emerging markets
• Potential for partnerships and collaborations with other aerospace companies to share expertise and resources
• Expansion into new product areas and markets, such as electric aircraft and space tourism
• The increasing importance of environmental sustainability in the aerospace industry creates opportunities for innovation and differentiation.
• Intense competition from other established aerospace companies and new entrants to the market
• Uncertainty and volatility in global political and economic conditions, affecting demand for aerospace products and services
• Increasing regulatory requirements and compliance costs
• Risks associated with technological advancements, including cybersecurity threats and safety concerns.

b. How Do Aerospace Companies Make Money?

Aerospace companies make money by designing, manufacturing, and servicing advanced aerospace systems and components for commercial and military customers. This includes aircraft engines, avionics systems, satellite components, and other advanced aerospace technologies.

c. Payment Options

• Credit and debit cards
• Apple Pay and Google Wallet
• Gift cards and store credit
• Installment payments
• Cash on delivery.

d. Sales & Advertising Strategies

• Establishing a strong brand
• Developing comprehensive website services, case studies, testimonials, and contact information for potential customers.
• Utilizing social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with potential customers, share updates on new products and services, and engage with industry influencers.
• Attending trade shows and industry events
• Creating whitepapers, blog posts, and other content that positions the company as a thought leader in the industry
• Offering free trials or demos
• Advertising campaigns on search engines, social media platforms, and other channels with the target to reach specific audiences, such as military or commercial customers, based on their interests and behaviors.

Financial Projection

A. how much should you charge for your product/service.

The pricing of products and services for aerospace companies can vary greatly depending on the specific product or service being offered, as well as the target market and competition. Some aerospace products, such as commercial aircraft, can cost hundreds of millions of dollars, while others, such as avionics systems, can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

b. How Much Profit Do Aerospace Company Owners Make a Year?

According to data from IBISWorld, the average profit margin for aerospace products and parts manufacturing in the United States is approximately 9.7 percent, although this can vary widely depending on the specific company and market conditions.

c. What Factors Determine the Amount of Profit to Be Made?

• The capacity of the aerospace company
• The type of products and service offerings
• The location of the aerospace company
• The management style of the aerospace company
• The business approach of the aerospace company
• The advertising and marketing strategies adopted by the aerospace company.

d. What is the Profit Margin of an Aerospace Company?

According to data from IBISWorld, the average profit margin for aerospace products and parts manufacturing in the United States is approximately 9.7 percent. However, this can vary widely depending on the specific product or service being offered.

e. What is the Sales Forecast?

• First Fiscal Year (FY1): $14 million
• Second Fiscal Year (FY2): $28 million
• Third Fiscal Year (FY3): $50 million

Set Up your Shop/Office

A. how do you choose a perfect location for an aerospace company.

• The demography of the location
• The demand for the products and services of aerospace companies in the location
• Accessibility of the location
• The number of aerospace companies in the location
• The local laws and regulations in the community/state
• Availability of airport, traffic, parking, and security et al

b. What State and City is Best to Open an Aerospace Company?

• Seattle, Washington
• Los Angeles, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Huntsville, Alabama
• Wichita, Kansas
• Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
• Washington, D.C.
• Orlando, Florida
• Phoenix, Arizona
• San Diego, California.

c. What Equipment is Needed to Operate an Aerospace Company?

• Manufacturing equipment such as lathes, milling machines, and drills et al
• Testing equipment such as stress tests, environmental tests, and vibration tests.
• Design and modeling software (Computer-aided design (CAD) software)
• Assembly equipment such as torque wrenches, precision screwdrivers, and pneumatic tools.
• Maintenance and repair of equipment such as hydraulic test stands, engine test cells, and avionics test benches.
• Safety equipment such as personal protective gear, fire suppression systems, and emergency response equipment.

Hire Employees

You are required to create a robust budget for hiring employees for your aerospace company because an aerospace company is not one of those businesses that can be operated by an individual. As a matter of fact, operating an aerospace company requires some key staff members that are trained and certified to work in the aerospace industry.

Launch the Business Proper

Launching a new business is key to how successfully the business can gain traction in the market space. So, you must make sure you organize a launch party that will attract key stakeholders in the industry.

a. What Makes an Aerospace Company Successful?

• Choose a good location to launch the business
• Make sure your products and services are top-notch
• Be deliberate with your marketing sales approach
• Encourage the use of word of mouth to promote your aerospace company
• Leverage all available online and offline platforms to promote your aerospace company

b. What Happens During a Typical Day at an Aerospace Company?

The activities that occur during a typical day at an aerospace company can vary depending on the specific type of products or services offered by the company. However, here are some common activities that may occur:

• Research and development programs to improve existing products, develop new technologies, and explore new applications for aerospace products.
• Manufacturing
• Quality Control including inspections, testing, and documentation.
• Sales and Marketing
• Customer Support including technical support, maintenance, and repair services.
• Collaboration
• Regulatory Compliance.

c. What Skills and Experience Do You Need to Build an Aerospace Company?

• Engineering and Technical Expertise
• Excellent quality control skills
• Excellent sales and customer services skills
• Interpersonal skill
• Attention to details
• Business management skills
• Bargaining and bidding skill
• Work experience in the aerospace industry
• Experience in managing people.

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Start an Aircraft Manufacturing Business

• 37 comments
• 2 expert advice
• 26,268 views

Far from the common scenario in the past, there are already lots of people who embrace aircraft services, especially if they want to go from one place to another.

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This means that people who want to open different kinds of venture can already start an aircraft manufacturing business.

Since aircraft manufacturing might seem to be a complex venture, it is important that you know some information about the matter first. If you are looking for information on how to start aircraft manufacturing business, this article will provide you the things you need to know.

Business Research

Since this might be new to you, it is important that you keep yourself informed of what the business is. This means that you should conduct research in order to orient yourself regarding what it is all about. Basically, you can search for some sites in the internet related to the matter but it is always better if you have substantial period of working experience from the same field. These sites can provide you valuable information to understand the nature of the business deeper. Furthermore, you can also ask other business owners running the same venture in order to know valuable facts about this type of business.

Create Business Plan

First and foremost, people who want to start aircraft manufacturing business should begin actualizing their dream venture by simply creating business plan. The business plan serves as the Bible of your business. This means that it provides guidance on the entire path of your aircraft manufacturing business. Keep in mind that there are important components you should focus on in creating your business plan. Examples of these are:

• General Business Overview
• Goals and Objectives
• Description of Products Offered
• Analysis and Study of the Target Market
• Marketing Strategies to be Used

Legalizing the Business

After the development of strong and concise business plan, the next thing you need to do is to legalize your business. There are some requirements you need to secure in order to legalize your business. All you just need to do is to go to the concerned business licensing agencies and departments in your place to know more about the matter. Of course, the most basic requirement in legalizing your business is applying for a business permit. This might take some time and require you some money. However, this will be all worth it in the end.

Facilities, Location and Staff

To start an aircraft manufacturing business, it is important to consider facilities, location and staff. In terms of facilities, there are machineries you need to use in the future to make this business possible. When it comes to location, choose the best place where you can establish your business. The place should have enough size and is accessible on your part. In addition to that, look for staff that has technical skills regarding aircraft manufacturing. See to it that your staff is also hard working, dedicated to their work and is willing to help you grow your business.

37 Comments

• Ramkumar patne   said on January 9, 2013 Hello i'm Ramkumar. i was a students of aeronautical engineering in delhi (INDIA). i have passed three license in AME field. i want to start aircraft manufacturing business in MADHYA PRADESH (INDIA). Plz guide me and tell me about requirement
• Sajjad   said on August 21, 2013 @Ramkumar patne, I assume you've just completed your studies so I doubt that you would have much cash with you at this stage of life. Starting a simple aircraft manufacturing business would need an immediate injection of at least $500m.
• Isaac   said on February 21, 2014 When you are talking of a simple aircraft manufacturing business and that you need $500 millions to open it, how simple is the business your talking about?
• James   said on July 1, 2014 I have a new jet design that will need venture capital not to exceed $20M. Are there other focus areas you would suggest for this type of plan, other than what you have listed?
• Bereket   said on July 17, 2014 Are u serious $500m to start up an aircraft manufacturing business. Is worth it??
• pintu sharma   said on August 5, 2014 I want to start a two sitter air craft company . Now I am running heavy mechanical job company myself.
• m.sandeep   said on August 18, 2014 hi my name is sandeep and i am in aero 2 year. i have only 10 lakhs of money so i want to start air craft manufacturing company in my state and i will provide more jobs to my people so .if any bank or government providing any loan plz tell me about that sir
• yathish kumar   said on September 4, 2014 any one can let me know the procedure to start up a new aircraft manufacturing industry.
• Arya Dharmpal Chandresh   said on September 15, 2014 I want to manufacturing of Aircraft products in jaipur please suggest me.
• Nimod K.A.   said on October 28, 2014 I have a dream of starting an aircraft manufacturing company which will manufacture passenger aircrafts. I have no money with me, but if there are people ready to invest, I am sure I can quit my job and work on this mission. Currently 10 countries have aircraft manufacturing companies which manufacture passenger aircraft and sadly India is not among them. Also linked with 'Make in India' move, I invite people who can support me in this...
• varun jayavelu   said on February 27, 2015 @nimod i am interested in your idea of manufacturing passenger aircraft but initially manufacturing paramotors and trikes would be cheaper.
• Alex martinez   said on April 8, 2015 Wichita,Kansas USA. I am looking for information in starting up a small assembly shop in the aircraft industry. I know someone who worked at Censa for 20 years, currently is assembling a part for Censa. They have tried to outsource his job to Mexico but they failed. He and I are looking to start up a small Shop and have the correct certification to assembly the part. I know we will need an as 9100 certification that will be for the mechanic but what certification will the inspector need?
• Jose Bay Grajeda   said on July 1, 2015 I'm thinking in starting an aerial company ... but how do you start out? coming out of college keeps you pretty broke, so how do i start a business when i have no money to buy the equipment and staff? Please Help!!!
• Boeing international   said on July 13, 2015 Love to see that many people wants to open there know aircraft company. Today there are lots of company to boost your company name you should come up with new idea like small jet plane, or solar plane or light weight plane. You should have at least $10 million to start and buy equipments for your dream plane.
• gaurav   said on February 1, 2016 Friends i have also same dream as u all have but their is problem of investor with all of us so we can achieve our dream if we work together [email protected] .....guys i know we have fire in our hearts and if we work together we will definitely.....find a way to start this....plz all who r interested msg me on my email id or my watsap no. 9917429225
• Ankur Kamboj   said on March 6, 2016 Hi @gaurav , I too have same intentions with lot of energy and interest . Please check your mail. I will encourage other interested persons to share or contact as well.
• vishal   said on April 3, 2016 9462588411
• vishal   said on April 3, 2016 i want to open myths own aircraft and helecopter company... so u guide me cantact me.. 9462588411
• jaipal kethavath   said on April 4, 2016 i have an ultralight aircraft design that i prepaid. so i have also same intention to start a/c man comp.
• Vinod Malshikare   said on May 4, 2016 Dear friends, I am vinod malshikare from India. I want to strting new and modern models of aircraft which will be making at least cost and gives best performance. so I will start when a person who guide me perfectly. If any one can help me then please contact mi [email protected] please leave message.

+2348065134393 || [email protected] || Aircraft Manufacturing Expert

• TANAKA MAKUNI   said on September 18, 2016 @Jaipal @vishal and EVERYONE .You seem to be anxious and enthusiastic in venturing into this business like everyone else here, so I propose working together. Contact me on whatsapp and maybe we can share ideas, help each other make this a reality. +263773999952
• ranganathan   said on November 14, 2016 alright I THINK first we need to focus on the model of the aircraft company and find its estimation and then start all around. then how do we get the raw materials and the scope of the industry in our country. where do i get the information regarding about all that? where do i get the money from? how do i arrange the such huge fund? are there banks to support this? what steps to take in finding it? then where do i find the buyers of my products? are there good HR who can do pretty well in our field in our country? how to get the guidance from the business leaders? how do i startup? plz do contact me ph:9741168215
• DEEPAK KUMAR UPADHYAY   said on November 28, 2016 I want to start my own manufacturing plant for aircraft .. kindly suggest me friends, and team from entire world who are interested in same kindly contact me .. email id: [email protected], contact number: +91-7839272383
• Deepak   said on December 1, 2016 I want to start my own manufacturing plant for aircraft .. kindly suggest me friends, and team from entire world who are interested in same kindly contact me .. email id: [email protected] contact number: +91-9781940114

[email protected] || Aircraft Industry Adviser

• Ibra Rilz Kasasa.   said on January 8, 2017 Hi, am Ibra Rilz in Uganda. Am also interested in aircraft manufacturing. I don't have any money with me now, am in high school. But am sure i have some skills especially the engine, wings and even fuel or gas production. Those who want to start up any aeroplane making business can contact me, i assure that am dedicated and determined and will work to the success of the business.
• premkumar   said on March 18, 2017 I am premkumar ame student atjawaharlal aviation institute pala skkad kerala i also have the same dream of starting a microlight aircraft company in kerala but i dont have money or investors for my dream share your valuable ideas to my mail premkumar [email protected]
• ojaskar   said on April 13, 2017 i am a indian i also have a dream to start air craft company
• Arush Khjuriya   said on January 14, 2018 We Can Make a Whatsapp Group and discuss ideas +91 9911964706
• Rukundo Enock   said on January 27, 2018 I am a 20 year old Ugandan on ky way to starting an aircraft manufacturing business
• Vinod   said on June 28, 2019 All start-up members plz comments on whats app no. I am starting a group
• oyibe matthew   said on September 28, 2019 my name oyibe Matthew. i am a nigerian please I want to start an aircraft manufacturing company. But I don't know how to start. I have some ideas for the name, the investors i know the model of aircraft ideas, and other things. please let us make a team [email protected] and umdolmal [email protected]
• Roger Port   said on November 25, 2019 I've been trying to get $10 mill funding for a startup here in the U.S., preferably the majority ($7-8 mil) and the rest from banks ($2-3 mil). We currently have 4 prototypes built that fly, and are certified by the F.A.A. We have almost everything needed to start, except the capital to start. Any help would be appreciated. [email protected]
• Ed Rij   said on September 23, 2020 Roger, Have you had any luck in finding funding for your prototypes? Send me some information on your aircraft.
• Malik   said on July 12, 2023 I'm planning to have a company..so we need a team... Then we can look for funds. My WhatsApp is +63 905 455 5570. Email: [email protected]
• Mr. MerMan   said on December 18, 2023 All you guys talking about manufacturing aircraft without any money are stupid
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How to create a financial forecast for an aircraft equipment maker?

Creating a financial forecast for your aircraft equipment manufacturing business, and ensuring it stays up to date, is the only way to maintain visibility on future cash flows. 

This might sound complex, but with the right guidance and tools, creating an accurate financial forecast for your aircraft equipment manufacturing business is not that hard.

In this guide, we'll cover everything from the main goal of a financial projection, the data you need as input, to the tables that compose it, and the tools that can help you build a forecast efficiently.

Without further ado, let us begin!

In this guide:

Why create and maintain a financial forecast for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business?

• What information is used as input to build an aircraft equipment manufacturing business financial forecast?

The sales forecast for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business

The operating expenses for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business.

• What investments are needed for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business?

The financing plan of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business

What tables compose the financial plan for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business.

• Which tool should you use to create and maintain your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial projections?
• Financial forecast template for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business

The financial projections for your aircraft equipment manufacturing business act as a financial blueprint to guide its growth with confidence and ensure its long-term financial viability. 

To create them, you will need to look at your business in detail - from sales to operating costs and investments - to assess how much profit it can generate in the years to come and what will be the associated cash flows.

During challenging market conditions, maintaining an up-to-date financial forecast enables early detection of potential financial shortfalls, allowing for timely adjustments or securing financing before facing a cash crisis. 

Your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial forecast will also prove invaluable when seeking financing. Banks and investors will undoubtedly request a thorough examination of your financial figures, making precision and presentation essential.

Need a solid financial forecast?

The Business Plan Shop does the maths for you. Simply enter your revenues, costs and investments. Click save and our online tool builds a three-way forecast for you instantly.

What information is needed to build an aircraft equipment manufacturing business financial forecast?

The quality of your inputs is key when it comes to financial modelling: no matter how good the model is, if your inputs are off, so will the forecast.

If you are building a financial plan to start an aircraft equipment manufacturing business, you will need to have done your market research and have a clear picture of your sales and marketing strategies so that you can project revenues with confidence.

You will also need to have a clear idea of what resources will be required to operate the aircraft equipment manufacturing business on a daily basis, and to have done your research with regard to the equipment needed to launch your venture (see further down this guide). 

If you are creating a financial forecast of an existing aircraft equipment manufacturing business, things are usually simpler as you will be able to use your historical accounting data as a budgeting base, and complement that with your team’s view on what lies ahead for the years to come.

Let's now zoom in on what will go in your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial forecast.

The sales forecast, also called topline projection, is normally where you will start when building your aircraft equipment manufacturing business financial forecast.

Creating a coherent sales projection boils down to estimating two key drivers:

• The average price 
• The number of monthly transactions

To do this, you will need to rely on historical data (for an existing business), market research data (for both new and existing aircraft equipment makers), and consider the elements below:

• Economic conditions: Changes in the overall economy can impact the demand for aircraft equipment. If the economy is doing well, there may be higher demand for new aircraft, which could lead to an increase in demand for your equipment and therefore a higher average price or number of monthly transactions.
• Technological advancements: As technology continues to advance, newer and more efficient equipment may become available in the market. This could lead to a decrease in demand for your current equipment and a decrease in your average price or number of monthly transactions as customers opt for newer options.
• Competition: The presence of competitors in the market can affect your average price and number of monthly transactions. If there are many competitors offering similar equipment at lower prices, you may need to lower your prices to remain competitive, which could impact your average price and number of transactions.
• Regulatory changes: Changes in regulations related to aircraft equipment could impact the demand for your products. For example, stricter safety regulations may require airlines to upgrade their equipment, leading to higher demand and potentially higher prices for your products.
• Global events: Global events such as natural disasters or political instability can have a significant impact on the aviation industry. If there is a decrease in air travel due to these events, there may be a decrease in demand for aircraft equipment, resulting in lower average prices and number of transactions for your business.

After the sales forecast comes the operating expenses budget, which we will now look into in more detail.

Need inspiration for your business plan?

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of business plan templates that you can use to get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like.

Once you know what level of sales you can expect, you can start budgeting the expenses required to operate your aircraft equipment manufacturing business on a daily basis.

Expenses normally vary based on how much revenue you anticipate (which is why, from experience, it is always better to start your forecast with the topline projection), and where your business is based. 

Operating expenses for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business will include some of the following items:

• Staff Costs: This includes salaries, wages, benefits, and any other expenses related to your employees. For an aircraft equipment manufacturing business, this may also include specialized training for your staff.
• Accountancy Fees: You will need to hire an accountant or accounting firm to help you manage your financials, file taxes, and ensure compliance with regulations specific to the aviation industry.
• Insurance Costs: As an aircraft equipment manufacturer, you will need to invest in insurance to protect your business from potential liabilities and damages.
• Software Licenses: To streamline your operations and improve efficiency, you may need to purchase software for various functions such as inventory management, accounting, and project management.
• Banking Fees: You will incur fees for various banking services such as wire transfers, credit card processing, and account maintenance.
• Raw Materials: This includes the cost of purchasing materials and components needed to manufacture your aircraft equipment.
• Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance: You will need to regularly maintain and repair your manufacturing equipment to ensure it is functioning properly and to avoid any production delays.
• Research and Development: As a manufacturer, you will need to continuously invest in research and development to improve your products and stay ahead of competitors.
• Marketing and Advertising: To promote your business and attract clients, you may need to invest in marketing and advertising efforts such as trade shows, print ads, and digital campaigns.
• Shipping and Freight: As an aircraft equipment manufacturer, you may need to ship your products to clients or suppliers, which will incur costs for packaging, transportation, and customs fees.
• Utilities: This includes expenses for electricity, water, and other utilities needed to run your manufacturing facility.
• Rent/Lease: You may need to rent or lease a manufacturing facility, warehouse, or office space to operate your business.
• Professional Services: You may need to hire lawyers, consultants, or other professionals for specific projects or to assist with legal and regulatory compliance.
• Travel Expenses: If you need to travel for business purposes, you will need to budget for expenses such as airfare, accommodations, and meals.
• Taxes and Licenses: As a business owner, you will need to pay taxes and obtain necessary licenses and permits to operate your aircraft equipment manufacturing business.

This list will need to be tailored to the specificities of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business, but should offer a good starting point for your budget.

What investments are needed to start or grow an aircraft equipment manufacturing business?

Your aircraft equipment manufacturing business financial forecast will also need to include the capital expenditures (aka investments in plain English) and initial working capital items required for the creation or development of your business.

For an aircraft equipment manufacturing business, these could include:

• Manufacturing Equipment: This includes the purchase of machinery and equipment used in the production process of aircraft equipment, such as cutting machines, welding equipment, and testing equipment.
• Research and Development: As an aircraft equipment manufacturing business, it is important to continuously innovate and improve your products. This may require investments in research and development, such as new software or specialized equipment.
• Facility Upgrades: In order to maintain a safe and efficient manufacturing environment, you may need to invest in upgrades or renovations to your facility. This could include installing new ventilation or lighting systems, upgrading electrical wiring, or expanding your production space.
• Inventory: As an aircraft equipment manufacturer, you will need to keep a large inventory of parts and materials on hand to meet demand and fulfill orders. This may require significant upfront investments in inventory, which will be gradually recouped through sales.
• Transportation and Delivery Vehicles: In order to deliver your products to clients, you may need to invest in specialized vehicles, such as trucks or vans, equipped with the necessary equipment to transport aircraft equipment safely and efficiently.

Again, this list will need to be adjusted according to the size and ambitions of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business.

Need a convincing business plan?

The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to create a financial forecast to assess the potential profitability of your projects, and write a business plan that’ll wow investors.

The next step in the creation of your financial forecast for your aircraft equipment manufacturing business is to think about how you might finance your business.

You will have to assess how much capital will come from shareholders (equity) and how much can be secured through banks.

Bank loans will have to be modelled so that you can separate the interest expenses from the repayments of principal, and include all this data in your forecast.

Issuing share capital and obtaining a bank loan are two of the most common ways that entrepreneurs finance their businesses.

Now let's have a look at the main output tables of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial forecast.

The projected profit & loss statement

The projected profit & loss shows how profitable your aircraft equipment manufacturing business is likely to be in the years to come.

For your aircraft equipment manufacturing business to be financially viable, your projected P&L should ideally show:

• Sales growing above inflation (the higher the better)
• Profit margins which are stable or expanding (the higher the better) 
• A net profit at the end of each financial year (the higher the better)

This is for established aircraft equipment makers, there is some leniency for startups which will have numbers that will look a bit different than existing businesses.

The projected balance sheet

The projected balance sheet gives an overview of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial structure at the end of the financial year.

It is composed of three categories of items: assets, liabilities and equity:

• Assets: are what the business possesses and uses to produce cash flows. It includes resources such as cash, buildings, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
• Liabilities: are the debts of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business. They include accounts payable (money owed to suppliers), taxes due and bank loans.
• Equity: is the combination of what has been invested by the business owners and the cumulative profits to date (which are called retained earnings). Equity is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

The projected cash flow statement

A projected cash flow statement for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business is used to show how much cash the business is generating or consuming.

The cash flow forecast is usually organised by nature to show three key metrics:

• The operating cash flow: do the core business activities generate or consume cash?
• The investing cash flow: how much is the business investing in long-term assets (this is usually compared to the level of fixed assets on the balance sheet to assess whether the business is regularly maintaining and renewing its equipment)?
• The financing cash flow: is the business raising new financing or repaying financiers (debt repayment, dividends)?

Cash is king and keeping an eye on future cash flows is imperative for running a successful business. Therefore, you should pay close attention to your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's cash flow forecast.

If you are trying to secure financing, note that it is customary to provide both yearly and monthly cash flow forecasts in a financial plan - so that the reader can analyze seasonal variation and ensure the aircraft equipment manufacturing business is appropriately capitalised.

Which tool should you use to create your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial forecast?

Using the right tool or solution will make the creation of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial forecast much easier than it sounds. Let’s explore the main options.

Using online financial forecasting software to build your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's projections

The modern and easiest way is to use an online financial forecasting tool such as the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop.

There are several advantages to using specialised software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You have access to complete financial forecast templates
• You get a complete financial forecast ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast, and recalibrate your forecast as the year goes by
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck
• It’s cost-efficient and much cheaper than using an accountant or consultant (see below)

If you are interested in this type of solution, you can try our projection software for free by signing up here .

Calling in a financial consultant or chartered accountant

Outsourcing the creation of your aircraft equipment manufacturing business financial forecast is another possible solution.

This will cost more than using software as you can expect as your price will have to cover the accountant’s time, software cost, and profit margin.

Price can vary greatly based on the complexity of your business. For a small business, from experience, a simple three-year financial forecast (including a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement) will start at around £700 or $1,000. 

Bear in mind that this is for forecasts produced at a single point in time, updating or tracking your forecast against actuals will cost extra. 

If you decide to outsource your forecasting:

• Make sure the professional has direct experience in your industry and is able to challenge your assumptions constructively. 
• Steer away from consultants using sectorial ratios to build their client’s financial forecasts (these projections are worthless for a small business).

Why not use a spreadsheet such as Excel or Google Sheets to build your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's financial forecast?

You and your financial partners need numbers you can trust. Unless you have studied finance or accounting, creating a trustworthy and error-free aircraft equipment manufacturing business financial forecast on a spreadsheet is likely to prove challenging.

Financial modelling is very technical by nature and requires a solid grasp of accounting principles to be done without errors. This means that using spreadsheet software like Excel or Google Sheets to create accurate financial forecasts is out of reach for most business owners.

Creating forecasts in Excel is also inefficient nowadays:

• Software has advanced to the point where forecasting can be done much faster and more accurately than manually on a spreadsheet.
• With artificial intelligence, the software is capable of detecting mistakes and helping decision-making.

Spreadsheets are versatile tools but they are not tailor-made for reporting. Importing your aircraft equipment manufacturing business's accounting data in Excel to track actual vs. forecast is incredibly manual and tedious (and so is keeping forecasts up to date). It is much faster to use dedicated financial planning tools like The Business Plan Shop which are built specially for this.

Use our financial forecast templates for inspiration

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of financial forecast examples available.

Our templates contain both a financial forecast and a written business plan which presents, in detail, the company, the team, the strategy, and the medium-term objectives.

Our templates are a great source of inspiration, whether you just want to see what a complete business plan looks like, or are looking for concrete examples of how you should model financial elements in your own forecast.

• Having a financial forecast enables you to visualise the expected growth, profitability, and cash generation for your business over the next three to five years.
• Tracking actuals vs. forecast and keeping your financial projections up-to-date is the only way to get a view on what your aircraft equipment manufacturing business future cash flows may look like.
• Using financial forecasting software is the mordern and easy way to create and maintain your forecasts.

This is the end of our guide on how to build the financial forecast for an aircraft equipment manufacturing business, we hope you found it useful. Don't hesitate to contact us if you want to share your feedback or have any questions.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• Example of financial forecast

Know someone who owns or is thinking of starting an aircraft equipment manufacturing business? Share our forecasting guide with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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Transforming how an aircraft is built

Looking to the future, Airbus is undertaking a major transformation called DDMS (Digital Design Manufacturing & Services), responding to the increasingly competitive marketplace, while also preparing for the next generation of aircraft – particularly to meet the company’s goal of being the first major manufacturer to offer climate-neutral commercial aircraft by 2035.

To achieve this ambition aircraft manufacturing and assembly is evolving to bring in new processes, tools and jobs for a different way to design and build aircraft, while also offering an improved workspace for employees.   With increased modular design and customisation capabilities the next industrial system will leverage higher levels of standardisation and commonality of parts and major components, enabling new Build-To-Stock and Build-to-Order decoupled approaches. In the factories, teams will benefit from even more digital and connected processes, tools and devices. This will enable just-in-time operations and flexibility to produce and assemble aircraft faster, in a cleaner, more efficient and even safer environment. They will perform activities with more added value, supported by robots and using lighter-weight tooling.    This ambitious makeover will enable Airbus to adapt production rates more rapidly to meet customer demand, further enhance quality, increase flexibility in the delivery of aircraft, lower the environmental impact by decarbonising manufacturing activities, and reduce costs.

From co-design to automation to decarbonisation

Four concepts will be the drivers for Airbus’ industrial system transformation: co-design; digitalisation of manufacturing processes and tools; robotics and decarbonisation.

Co-design is all about designing the new programmes at the same time as Airbus designs the industrial system, integrating the needs of manufacturing and involving the supply chain in this overall process. 

Digitalisation of manufacturing processes and tools will ensure end-to-end data continuity – from engineering to manufacturing. This will facilitate data continuity and flow, transparent collaboration, enabling substantial gains in terms of performance and efficiency, lead times, standardisation and access to operational information. 

The increasing use of robotics in Airbus’ industrial system will substantially contribute to reduce production costs and increase quality standards. It will also enable teams in the manufacturing areas to concentrate on added-value activities, letting robots do the repetitive, difficult or low added-value tasks, increasing safety and overall well-being in the manufacturing areas.

The industrial system’s transformation is also driven by the ambition of Airbus to decarbonise its overall industrial activities, further limiting their impact on the environment. This includes reducing or eliminating harmful materials and chemicals on the shop floors, cutting back on the use of water and energy in manufacturing areas, and increasing the use of 3D printed parts – even with reused materials.

Learn more about the life cycle of an aircraft

A starting point for the innovations of tomorrow

Test and Certification

Approvals for entry-in-service

Building aircraft on time and at top quality

Culminating the production process

Operating life

From delivery to service retirement

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Airframe Manufacturing Technology - BACHELOR'S DEGREE

Airframe manufacturing technology - afmt.

Baccalaureate Degree Program

News and Announcements:

Information session dates announced. 

Beginning summer 2024 student eligibility for admission to the program will be determined by multi-screening criteria (see rubric under program forms and documents). Students are highly encouraged to attend an information session before applying to the program.  The application period for fall 2024 admission will open on Monday, May 6, 2024 . See below under the application dates and application process sections for further details. Submission of an application for enrollment form does not guarantee a student's admission to the program.

Media Coverage:

As featured in the Los Angeles Times and Spectrum News 1, the AFMT program is highlighted for its affordability and accessibility. The AMFT program is providing opportunities within reach in the Antelope Valley. 

• Los Angeles Times Article
• Spectrum News 1 Video and Article

Upcoming In-Person Information Sessions:

• October 6, 2023, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Discovery Lab (DL), Room 111
• October 10, 2023, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Discovery Lab (DL), Room 111
• November 7, 2023, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Discovery Lab (DL), Room 111
• November 17, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Palmdale Center, Room 147
• January 12, 2024, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Discovery Lab (DL), Room 111
• February 9, 2024, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Palmdale Center, Room 147
• March 5, 2024, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Discovery Lab (DL), Room 111
• April 5, 2024, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Discovery Lab (DL), Room 111   this event has been canceled 
• May 17, 2024, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Discovery Lab (DL), Room 111

AFMT Program Description: 

AVC's Airframe Manufacturing Technology Program (AFMT) is designed to meet the need in the aerospace industry for multi-skilled individuals who understand, perform, and serve as first-line leads in the major processes of manufacturing the structural components of an aircraft for civilian and military specifications. The program's curriculum addresses airframe manufacturing, aircraft fabrication (structures and composites), and electronics.

The AFMT Bachelor's Degree Program is a one-of-a-kind program specifically designed to meet aerospace industry needs for individuals who serve as first-line leads in the major processes of aircraft manufacturing, with a focus on manufacturing and industrial engineering.

The AFMT Bachelor's program is geared toward students who have completed or are in progress of completing a two-year program in Aircraft Fabrication and Assembly, and who are interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree in Aircraft Manufacturing Technology. Students will enter directly as juniors (3rd-year track students). AVC is very interested in Veterans and people working at locations, such as Edwards Air Force Base.  

Program Cost: 

Complete this degree for $11,000 or less! Financial aid and scholarships are available for eligible students admitted to the AFMT Bachelor of Science Degree Program. For more information, please click here  for a link to the financial aid department. 

Tuition fees per Education Code, Sections 76300 and 78042 , are $46 per unit, plus $84 per unit for upper-division coursework. You may click on each of the section's codes for additional information. 

For more information regarding CCPG or FAFSA please visit this link: https://www.avc.edu/financial-aid-scholarships/california-college-promise-grant .

Current Eligibility to the AFMT Program:

Prerequisites for the Airframe Manufacturing Technology Program (AFMT), baccalaureate degree: Completion of the Aircraft Fabrication & Assembly Technician (AFAB) associate degree coursework. In addition, the associate’s degree coursework must follow the general education requirements for the CSU system. Students must have a 3.0 minimum GPA in all AFAB/AERO courses and a 3.0 minimum GPA in all college courses taken for credit (overall GPA). Students should have all prerequisites completed by the end of the spring term, the year of enrollment intent. 

For a full list of prerequisite courses visit the AFMT  catalog pages, under recommended pathway, first through fourth semesters. 

Application Dates for Fall 2024 Admission:  

May 6, 2024 - June 21, 2024

Deadline to apply is Friday, June 21, 2024, by 11:30 a.m. 

Application Process: 

All students applying for enrollment in the AFMT program should follow these instructions. All required forms are available under the Program Forms and Documents section (bottom of page). 

Complete an Application for Enrollment form.

Complete the AFMT Rubric - Student Questionnaire form. 

Attach official college transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended, including Antelope Valley College. If you have Advance Placement (AP) credits, an official transcript must also be included. "Official" college transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope that has not been opened by the student. 

One set of transcripts is to be turned in with your application and one set must also be on file with the AVC transcript office. 

Attach a copy of your updated Education Plan and Evaluation Form completed by one of the listed AVC Counselors or Advisors assigned to the AFMT program (see list below).  Appointments should only be made with the assigned personnel listed below. Appointments can be made through email at [email protected] or by calling (661) 722-6300 ext. 6338. Request to meet with one of the following: 

Monica Carreon 

Rosa Fuller * 

Patty King * 

• Submit items 1 through 4 to the Career Technical Education division office, Enterprise Lab, Room 129. Items 1 through 4 are considered your "application packet". You may also mail your application packet to: Antelope Valley College, Attn: Rosie Heasley, 3041 W. Avenue K, Lancaster, CA 93536. 

* Approved to evaluate transcripts from other institutions 

Selection Procedure:  

Beginning summer 2024, student eligibility for admission to the program will be determined by multi-screening criteria. Applications will be ranked based on their scholastic eligibility. Scholastic eligibility is determined by the multi-screening criteria listed below under Program Forms and Documents - Application Rubric. Students are advised of eligibility to enroll in the AFMT program by electronic mail. Incomplete packets will not be considered. Students not admitted need to reapply the following year. 

Program Additional Notes:  

• Submission of an application for enrollment form does not guarantee a student's admission to the program. 
• Applications are accepted once a year during the designated application period only.

There is currently one track available - Junior Track (3rd & 4th Year - 2 years).

Classes are offered in the evenings, during the fall, spring, and summer terms. 

Cohorts are admitted annually in the fall semester.

The program is limited to 18 students per year. 

Part-time students must meet with the program's Lead Faculty to discuss progression as part-time students. 

Types of Jobs Obtained with the AFMT Degree:

The types of jobs students will be able to obtain upon graduation are: 

Aircraft Assembler, Airframe/Systems Technician, Composite Fabricator, General Mechanic, Industrial Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, and Multi-skilled Composite Low Observable Technician.  

Location, Day, and Times for Class Offerings : 

The majority of classes will be held at the main AVC campus in Lancaster, with a few classes located at our Fox Field location. Classes are scheduled Monday through Saturday evenings and are subject to change. Please check the AVC Class Schedule for the upcoming dates, times, and locations of our next available classes.

Time to Degree: 

The program will take two to four years depending on the track the student initially chooses. Part-time track students should make an appointment with the AFMT program Faculty Lead to discuss progression as part-time students.  

Program Requirements

The AFMT Bachelors Degree is a one-of-a-kind program specifically designed to meet aerospace industry needs.

Program Forms and Documents: 

• AFMT Brochure
• Application Rubric  
• AFMT Rubric - Student Questionnaire
• Tuition Cost
• The Application for Enrollment form will be made available by May 6, 2024.    

Contact Us: 

• Office Location - EL (Enterprise Lab) Room 129 
• Telephone - (661) 722-6300 ext. 6327

College Catalog 

AFMT Faculty Bios

Alfred Brubaker I joined AVC in the fall of 2018 and I am the Lead Faculty for the AFMT Baccalaureate program. I began my aerospace journey by joining the U.S Air Force as an F-16 crew chief and gained experience in Flight tests, combat, phase, and depo level maintenance. After the Air Force, I received a commission in the U.S. Army where I served as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Regimental officer. After leaving the military, I transitioned to Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (Skunk Works) where I worked as a Project Manager and Integrator. I focused on process improvement, budgets, planning, and resource maximization. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State and my Master of Business Administration from The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management (KSOM).

Elaine Clinton

On the road so far…

I started my aerospace journey here at AVC back in 2007 with the Aircraft Fabrication and Assembly (AFAB) certificate program. After course completion, I was hired by Lockheed Martin as a composite trainee. Throughout my employment, I have gained experience in Fabrication, Assembly, Modifications, System Integrations, and Advance Development Programs. Later in 2016, I joined AVC as an Adjunct Instructor for the AFAB certificate program.

Continuing with my education and career advancement, I returned to AVC as a student to enroll in the Airframe Manufacturing Technology Baccalaureate Degree graduating in 2019 as part of Cohort 1. After graduation, I advanced at Lockheed Martin as a Quality Engineer and in my current position as a Program Manager and Planning Operations. As of Fall 2023, I have now joined the Full-Time Faculty team here at AVC. 

StartupBoeing

Prepare for takeoff.

Starting an airline is tough. Running a profitable airline is even tougher. From startup airlines to established industry leaders, the process involves constant learning and adaptation.

Few businesses have as many variables and challenges as airlines. They are capital-intensive. Competition is fierce. Airlines are fossil fuel dependent and often at the mercy of fuel price volatility. Operations are labor intensive and subject to government control and political influence. And a lot depends on the weather.

But the intrepid entrepreneur is not alone. The StartupBoeing team assists entrepreneurs in launching new airlines. From concept through launch, StartupBoeing offers guidance, review, analysis, data, resources, contacts, and referrals to qualified startup airlines.

For further questions or dialogue, please e-mail us at [email protected] .

Market Analysis

Entrepreneurs who are considering a startup airline launch are wise to study the commercial aviation market. Three comprehensive publications are very useful in providing a detailed analysis of traffic growth, regional trends, and airplane requirements. They are produced by Boeing and highly regarded throughout the industry.

Commercial Market Outlook World Air Cargo Forecast Current Aircraft Finance Market Outlook

Operating Environment

Startup airlines must be aware of and operate within a framework of regulations, standards and guidelines. Included here is basic information on some of the primary international agreements and programs that shape the operating environment for commercial aviation.

Learn about the " Freedoms of the Air ," a set of international rights that allow a country's airlines to enter the airspace of another country or land there.

Find out more about ETOPS , or Extended Operations, a collaborative industry/government program allowing airplanes to fly routes with longer diversion times.

Business Planning

Successful startup airlines begin with a sound business plan. This detailed planning document typically includes:

• Analysis of the market and competition
• Brand positioning
• Description of the business and opportunity
• Details about the operation
• Management team biographies
• Discussion of risks and obstacles
• Pro forma financial statements/projections
• Capitalization plan
• Brand development
• Implementation strategy.

The business plan is the fundamental starting point for working effectively with theStartupBoeing consulting team. StartupBoeing provides free review services of the business plan and corresponding financials. We offer constructive suggestions, question assumptions, and challenge the entrepreneur to prove the concept just as prospective investors might. For entrepreneurs requiring assistance in preparing the plan itself, StartupBoeing can suggest advisors worldwide who specialize in such services.

The Structural Plan

The Airline Planning Roadmap (PDF) offers a conceptual sense of the necessary steps in launching an airline from idea through launch.

Business Plan Questions (PDF) provides a list of important questions to consider when writing the business plan.

Brand Foundation Overview (PDF) provides a list of steps to take to position your emerging brand based on your market analysis and a need to differentiate from existing competitors.

Structuring the Plan

The Airline Business Plan Outline (PDF) is a tool for capturing many of the important elements for successfully starting and operating an airline. While it is not a comprehensive structure for all airline concepts, it can serve as a starting framework for a business plan.

Airplane Selection

Target markets and frequencies are determined through traffic analysis and route/schedule planning. The startup airline is now positioned to select the appropriate airplane. Included here is basic airplane data a startup-airline can use to make a preliminary aircraft selection and complete a compelling business plan.

Interactive Aircraft Comparator

In-Production Airplanes

Out of production airplanes, passenger airplanes.

• 727 (727-100/-100C/-200)
• 737 (737-200/-200C)
• 737 (737-300/-400/-500)
• 737 (737-600/-700/-800/-900ER)
• 747 (747-100/-200/-300/SP)
• 747 (747-400/-400ER)
• 757 (757-200/-300)
• 767 (767-200/-200ER/-300/-300ER/-400ER)
• 777 (777-200/-200ER/-200LR/-300/-300ER)

Freighter Airplanes

• 707-320C Freighter
• 727-100/-200 Freighter
• 737-200/-300 Freighter
• 747-200F/-200SF/-100SF
• 747 Freighter (747-400/-400ER)
• 757-200 Freighter
• DC-8 Freighter
• DC-9 Freighter
• DC-10 Freighter
• MD-11 Freighter

Boeing Converted Freighters

• 747-400 BCF

Airplane Support

Visit Boeing Support and Services to learn more about Boeing global customer support, including spares & logistics support, maintenance and engineering services, fleet enhancements and modifications, and flight operations support.

The Boeing Airport Compatibility Group assists the aviation community to address their airport-related issues regarding our airplanes, providing Boeing and McDonnell Douglas commercial airplane product information needed to promote the continued and timely development of the world's airports.

Boeing provides a variety of documents that provide Airplane Characteristics data for General Airport Planning . Sections within each document include airplane description, airplane performance, ground maneuvering, terminal servicing, operating conditions, and pavement data.

Learn more about the pallets and containers used to carry cargo on-board large Boeing aircraft, including specific designations, dimensions, descriptions and visuals.

View a glossary of airplane terms .

Airplane Sourcing

Selecting the optimal airplane based on market, network plan, traffic estimates, interior layout, economics, and performance requirements is a good start. But now the airline entrepreneur must source the airplane. Decisions must be made about lease-versus-buy and new-versus-used. Airplane availability may be a challenge. Such factors may drive the airplane selection or even change the business model.

An important first step in sourcing the airplane is to consider financing options . The two most common methods of financing airplanes are direct purchase and operating lease.

New Airplanes

Depending on current production line availability, financing, business plan, and desired launch date, a startup airline may consider purchasing a new production airplane.

Leasing New or Used Airplanes

Boeing works with major airplane leasing companies worldwide. StartupBoeing is able to match qualified startup airlines with Boeing's leasing partners.

Lease Rates

Boeing does not regularly track airplane market lease rates. However, a range of lease rates can be provided to qualified startup airlines.

Through Boeing Commercial Aircraft Customer Finance, qualified startup airlines can be matched with third party sellers/lessors of used airplanes.

Third Party Used Airplanes

Through Boeing's internal Trading Floor, qualified startup airlines can be matched with third party sellers/lessors of used airplanes. Other sources of used airplane availability include:

Operating Your Airline

Boeing offers startup airlines the industry’s largest portfolio of commercial aviation support and services essential for running a successful airline. Through Boeing Global Services startup operators have access to everything from training and interior modifications to aircraft maintenance and high-tech enhancements.

The following solutions are available to suit your specific startup plans and requirements.

Maintenance & Parts Solutions

Boeing’s Maintenance and Part solutions help you to manage maintenance, modification, repair, overhaul and upgrades of your fleet while simplifying your supply chain. One of the services most applicable to a new airline is Global Fleet Care.

Boeing’s Global Fleet Care gives you the most comprehensive maintenance program available.

Global Fleet Care can:

• Help a new entrant operator conserve startup maintenance program capital
• Provide a competitive hourly maintenance rate that reduces airline staffing requirements.
• Include initial parts provisioning
• Supply engineering services
• Provide 24/7 Customer Support and Airplane Health Monitoring

Flight Operations Solutions

Boeing’s Flight Operations Solutions provide full flight operations support that is scalable to grow as your airline expands and your operational complexity increases. From pilot training to start of operations and beyond, our suite of products will provide the highest quality tools for your crews to deliver an efficient flight operation.

Services most applicable to a new airline:

• Flight Planning
• Charts and Navigation
• Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)
• Pilot training and Simulator
• Performance Planning

Boeing Aviation Consultants

Boeing’s staff of experienced airline and consulting professionals can advise and assist with all activities associated with a new entrant airline.

Boeing’s Consultants can:

• Assist with securing an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) as well as other regulatory requirement filings
• Design and structure an efficient operations organization
• Advise in the development and regulatory approval of a maintenance program
• Design a parts optimization program
• Assist with route analysis and payload improvements
• Develop a fuel efficiency program
• Select Information Technology elements that are appropriate for the size of operation
• Prepare an airline for eventual transition to ‘smart’ airplanes

Once an airline is up and running, Boeing’s Aviation Consultants can also provide periodic, detailed operations analysis that can assist with optimizing your maintenance and fuel efficiency programs, as well as provide crew management solutions for best scheduling and utilization of crewmembers.

When you are ready to start your airline, Boeing is ready to help you every step of the way.

Boeing offers startup airlines a comprehensive array of tools and services for running a successful airline. Everything from training to interior design to financing to maintenance to high-tech enhancements and more. Available resources include:

• Aviation Partners Boeing : Fuel saving and performance enhancing Blended Winglets for a number of current production Boeing airplanes and out-of-production models
• Boeing Business Jets : Private, Business, and Government VIP configured Boeing production airplanes
• Boeing Support and Services : Customer Support, Material Management, Maintenance Services, Fleet Enhancement, Flight Operations
• Fuel Conservation Services : Optimizing your operations to maximize airplane fuel efficiency
• Jeppesen : Aviation Training, Charts & Navigation Services, Flight Planning and Custom Services
• Training & Flight Services : Maintenance and Flight Crew Training

Becoming a Customer

Whether you are starting a new airline with Boeing aircraft, adding your first Boeing aircraft to your existing fleet, or you are new to maintaining Boeing aircraft, we have the products, services, and information resources needed to get you off the ground and keep you flying.

Relationship

Creating a business relationship with Boeing can provide access to:

• Boeing expertise
• Support services needed for the introduction, operation and maintenance of your aircraft

What do you need?

If you are a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) or repair station, please see the Intellectual Property Management - Licensing Questionnaire .

In order to obtain Boeing goods and services, it will be necessary to enter into an agreement with Boeing and set-up an account. To begin the account set-up process, complete and submit a Boeing Customer Questionnaire . This questionnaire must be completed and submitted electronically.

Upon receipt of the completed questionnaire and based upon the information you submit, Boeing will:

• Start the process of establishing an account so your company can do business with Boeing.
• Assign your company a Boeing customer code which will identify your company within Boeing for future business transactions.
• Identify you as the owner, operator, or lessee of the aircraft.
• Supplemental Agreement for Electronic Access (SA-EA)
• Supplemental Agreement for Electronic Enabling (SA-eE)
• Provide you with certain documents at no charge when the CSGTA and its supplements are signed and appropriate insurance is obtained.

Access to Boeing Part Page

Boeing Material Services offers the advantage of buying from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Boeing also provides customers with access to the aftermarket for a wider breadth of resources to locate hard-to-find parts. From single transactions to supply chain management, Boeing provides you with the right part, at the right place, at the right time. For more access information, please contact [email protected] .

Intellectual Property Management - Licensing Questionnaire

Aircraft owner/operators and third-party service providers have particular needs for OEM products and services as they support the industry. These products and services may require the use of information that is created during the development and certification of Boeing products. Comments from the industry have helped us to establish a set of Intellectual Property licensing standards that address specific requirements and establish a fair and consistent fee structure for the use of the information developed.

Take the Intellectual Property Management - Licensing Questionnaire .

Customer Services General Terms Agreement (CSGTA)

The Customer Services General Terms Agreement (CSGTA) incorporates articles applicable to various Boeing products and services into a blanket-type agreement so that, once in place, only unique terms and conditions need to be negotiated when a customer requires a specific product or service. The benefits of this approach are:

• Faster responses to requests from customers for products and services.
• A reduction in resources and effort needed to implement and manage all Customer Support related agreements for both customer and Boeing.

Some examples of the products and services covered by the CSGTA are lease of parts and tools, purchase of spare parts and standards, retrofit kit changes, repair, modification, technical assistance/consulting, training services and technical data.

Two Supplemental Agreements are associated with the CSGTA. The Supplemental Agreement to the CSGTA for Electronic Access (SA-EA) incorporates articles specific to granting you electronic access to Boeing goods and services, specifically technical data available on MyBoeingFleet.com. The Supplemental Agreement to the CSGTA for Electronic Enabling (SA-eE) incorporates articles specific to software licensing.

Part 125 Airplane Operating Certificate (AOC)

To apply for a part 125 AOC you will need to provide certain documents to your regulatory agency such as the Maintenance Planning Document (MPD), Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), and Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM). Our business operations group will help you get access to these documents on a temporary basis to help you with your AOC application.

MyBoeingFleet (MBF)

MyBoeingFleet is Boeing's secure internet portal, providing authorized customers with access to the industry's most comprehensive range of support products and services for Boeing commercial aircraft.

Aircraft owners and operators - as well as maintenance providers, leasing companies, regulatory agencies and other third party service providers - use MyBoeingFleet to order parts, collaborate with Boeing experts, and obtain essential information such as drawings, documentation, manuals, and operational data and procedures.

Owner/operators and licensed maintenance providers can also access productivity solutions such as Maintenance Performance Toolbox and Airplane Health Management.

Frequently Asked Questions

I want to start an airline. how can the startupboeing site help.

The StartupBoeing site is filled with information that will be useful in starting an airline. In starting an airline, there are specific steps that should be followed, and they are laid out in order to help you along your journey.

• Step 1:  Market Analysis
• Step 2:  Operating Environment
• Step 3:  Business Planning
• Step 4:  Airplane Selection
• Step 5:  Airplane Sourcing

How can we obtain Boeing aircraft performance data for our planned operations?

The StartupBoeing team has found that this usually is not the first question to ask when starting an airline. The market opportunity and business plan will help shape what aircraft to fly. Once an understanding of the market opportunity and competitive environment are established, the StartupBoeing team can assist in providing suggestions for aircraft and ultimately performance data to fit the market opportunity.

Can Boeing lease me an aircraft?

Boeing generally does not lease aircraft. Aircraft leasing is usually done by third parties not associated with Boeing. To help you find these leased aircraft, Boeing has provided links to these parties found in the Airplane Sourcing section.

I want to buy a used aircraft from Boeing. How much does it cost?

Boeing generally does not sell used aircraft. Used aircraft are usually sold by third parties not associated with Boeing. To help you find these used aircraft, Boeing has provided links to these parties found in the Airplane Sourcing section.

Where can I find information on Boeing airplanes?

Information on passenger and freighter airplanes, along with information on cargo hold sizes can be found in the Airplane Selection section.

Where can I find a definition of aircraft terms?

A glossary of aircraft terms can be found here .

Where can I find airplane market data?

The Boeing Current Market Outlook (CMO) and World Air Cargo Forecast can be found in the Market Analysis section.

Where can I find information on business planning?

Information on business plans can be found in the Business Planning section.

Where can I find information about regulatory requirements?

Information about regulatory requirements can be found in the Operating Environment section.

Manufacturing & Wholesale Business Plans

Cleaning & cosmetics manufacturing business plans.

• Chemical Laboratory Business Plan
• Cleaning Products Business Plan
• Cosmetic Herbal Sundries Business Plan
• Cosmetics Manufacturing Business Plan
• Diaper Manufacturer Business Plan
• Pet Products Manufacturer Business Plan
• Soap Manufacturer Business Plan
• Water Purification Business Plan

Clothing & Accessories Manufacturing Business Plans

• Artificial Flowers Import Business Plan
• Clothing Manufacturer Business Plan
• Custom Pottery Business Plan
• Custom Printed T-Shirts Business Plan
• Export Watch Manufacturer Business Plan
• Promotional Products Maker Business Plan
• Surf Clothing and Sportswear Business Plan

Construction Manufacturing Business Plans

• Building Construction Business Plan
• Construction Manufacturer Business Plan
• Formwork Construction Business Plan
• Wholesale Landscape Products Business Plan

Food Manufacturing Business Plans

• Brewery Business Plan
• Pasta Manufacturer Business Plan
• Salsa Manufacturer Business Plan
• Vending Services Business Plan
• Wholesale Food Manufacturer Business Plan
• Wholesale Juice Business Plan

Furniture Manufacturing Business Plans

• Drapery Fabricator Business Plan
• Furniture Import Business Plan
• Furniture Manufacturer Business Plan
• Garden Furniture Maker Business Plan
• Office Furniture Manufacturer Business Plan
• Pet Supplies Business Plan
• Retail Furniture Manufacturer Business Plan
• UK Furniture Manufacturer Business Plan

Machine & Equipment Manufacturing Business Plans

• Aircraft Equipment Maker Business Plan
• Commercial Catalog Sales Business Plan
• Electronic Engineering Business Plan
• Heavy Equipment Maker Business Plan
• Internet Media Advertising Business Plan
• Machine Tooling Business Plan
• Manufacturing - Custom Parts Business Plan
• Solar Water Heater Distributor Business Plan
• Surveyor Instrument Business Plan
• Tracking Device Maker Business Plan

Medical Equipment Manufacturing Business Plans

• Eye Surgery Equipment Maker Business Plan
• Hearing Testing Systems Business Plan
• Lift Bed Manufacturer Business Plan
• Medical Equipment Business Plan
• Medical Equipment Developer Business Plan
• Medicine Dispenser Business Plan
• Surgical Medical Equipment Business Plan

Recycling Business Plans

• Garden Products Recycling Business Plan
• Pallet Manufacturer Business Plan
• Plastics Recycling Business Plan
• Recycling Energy Conversion Business Plan
• Recycling Waste Materials Business Plan

Sporting Goods Manufacturing Business Plans

• Bicycle Manufacturer Business Plan
• Golf Club Manufacturer Business Plan
• Inline Skating Products Business Plan
• Outdoor Gear Designer Business Plan
• Sports Medical Equipment Business Plan

Tobacco & Cannabis Manufacturing Business Plans

• Cannabis Dispensary Business Plan
• Cigar Manufacturing Business Plan
• Tobacco Retail Business Plan

Wholesale & Distributor Business Plans

• Coffee Distribution Business Plan
• Farm Machinery Manufacturer Business Plan
• Fire Rescue E-commerce Business Plan
• Wholesale Bicycle Distributor Business Plan

With more and more small to medium-sized businesses emerging, the need for efficient and reliable suppliers grows with it. This means there is plenty of opportunities for modern manufacturers and wholesalers to step up to the plate.

If you’re planning to start a manufacturing, fabrication, or production business you’ll need a business plan to do it. To help you get started, check out our library of sample plans to be sure you’re covering everything from sourcing your raw materials to budgeting for plant and equipment.

If you’re looking to develop a business plan that will make planning as efficient as your new supply business, we recommend you try LivePlan . It contains the same templates and information you see here, but with additional guidance and management tools to help maintain your business.

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Testimonials

Top 10 aircraft manufacturers in the world (commercial & private).

 October 17, 2019

In this article, we provide a breakdown of the major aircraft manufacturers and their prominent airplane models. We offer two lists of the top 10 aircraft manufacturers. The first list of the top 10 aircraft manufacturers pertains to commercial aircraft manufacturers. Then, the second list of the top 10 aircraft manufacturers concerns to business and private aircraft manufacturers.

Next, we provide a list of the top three jet engine manufacturers. These aircraft engine manufacturers produce engines for various aircraft manufacturers in the USA. German aircraft manufacturers and European aircraft manufacturers also use these engines. Then we’ll discuss how Assets America® can help you purchase aircraft. Finally, we’ll answer a couple of frequently asked questions about aircraft manufacturers.

Top 10 Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers

This is a general introduction to the top 10 commercial aircraft manufacturers. In particular, we’ll address factors such as aircraft quality, sales, and reputation.

Company Overview

Boeing, headquartered in Chicago, is the largest of the commercial aircraft manufacturers. In 2018, it produced 806 commercial aircraft and 96 military aircraft. Furthermore, it earned revenue of $101.127 billion in 2018, for a net income of $10.46 billion. Importantly, it employs more than 150,000 workers, has total assets in excess of $117 billion, and $410,000 in equity.

The Boeing Commercial Aircraft division builds the company’s commercial aircraft — jet airliners and business jets. Specifically, the division headquarters resides in Renton, Washington. Note that its commercial airliners maintain the 7X7 naming convention, from 707 through 787.

Boeing and Airbus are a duopoly controlling the worldwide supply for large commercial jets. Boeing’s output includes narrow-body, wide-body, and jumbo aircraft.

Recent News

Until recently, Boeing commercial aircraft had a good reputation for qualify and safety. However, hardware and software problem in the 737 Max and 737 NG lines of jets caused a couple of crashes and grounded the fleet. Unquestionably, this has given Boeing a public relations black eye.

In 2019, Boeing’s aircraft shipments are far behind those for 2018. Naturally, one big reason for the shipment slump is that it suspended 737 Max deliveries after the two crashes.

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Airbus is the other major manufacturer of large commercial aircraft along with Boeing. Notably, its headquarters reside in Leiden in the Netherlands. Interestingly, it offers a lineup of 11 commercial aircraft with the A2XX or A3XX naming convention. In 2018, it earned revenues of €63.70 billion ($70.58 billion) and net income of €3.05 billion ($3.38 billion).

Specifically, about 74% of Airbus revenues stem from its commercial aircraft division. Indeed, analysts expect Airbus to edge out Boeing as the top commercial aircraft manufacturer. As of 2018, Airbus had more than 133,000 employees. To be sure, Airbus, founded in 1970, is a consortium with 36% owned by France, Germany, and Spain.

Clearly, Airbus has a large presence in the North American market. For example, North American customers purchased about 2,000 of the 5,300 jets sold by Airbus. Currently, Airbus delivers 60 aircraft/month, and hopes to deliver 63/month by 2021.

Airbus will probably pull ahead of Boeing as the number one manufacturer by 2020. The Airbus A380 superjumbo jet competes head-to-head with the Boeing 737. In fact, the 380 outsells the 737, partly due to its flexible choice of engines.

Embraer is a Brazilian manufacturer of commercial aircraft, headquartered in Sao Paulo. It also manufactures military, agricultural, and executive aircraft. In 2018, Embraer had revenues of $5.071 billion and a net loss of $18.1 million. Notably, it delivered 90 commercial jets in 2018, with an order backlog worth $16.3 billion.

Aircraft Models

Embraer’s major products are the ERJ, E-Jet, and E-Jet E2 series of narrow-body jets. In terms of passenger capacity, these jets seat:

• ERJ: 37 to 50 passengers
• E-Jet: 66 to124 passengers
• E-Jet E2: 80 to 146 passengers

These are twin-engine jets with short-to-medium flying ranges. In February 2019, Embraer entered into a joint venture with Boeing. Explicitly, the new venture, called Boeing Brasil-Commercial, belongs 80% to Boeing to 20% Embraer.

Notably, the merger includes only the commercial division of Embraer, which will retain its executive business jet business. Unsurprisingly, analysts see the merger as a reaction to the Airbus-Bombardier merger in 2017.

Embraer claims to be the leader in the sub-150-seat jetliner market, which 100 operators fly. The biggest of its commercial jetliners is the E-Jet E2 family, composed of the E175, E190, and E195-E2 jets. Note that these are medium-range jet airliners, launched in 2013 at the Paris Air Show.

4. Bombardier

Bombardier is a Canadian aircraft manufacturer founded in 1989. Indeed, in 2017, Airbus took a 50.1% majority stake in Bombardier. It manufactures the CSeries jet airliner that Airbus markets as the 130-passenger A220. Importantly, Airbus can buy out the rest of Bombardier in 2024. However, the CSeries product must remain in Canada through 2041.

In 2019, Bombardier divested its Q400 aircraft program, of which 41 aircraft are on order. Impressively, the 84-seat Q400 is the world’s largest commercial turboprop plane and is a staple model for Alaska Airlines.

Bombardier earned 2018 revenues of 1.8 billion for commercial aircraft sales, a 24% year-over-year slump. Tellingly, it delivered 35 aircraft in 2018 vs 56 in 2017. Moreover, it received in 2018 47 orders for commercial aircraft, creating a backlog of 97. In 2019, Bombardier expects to deliver 35 commercial aircraft.

Notably, in June 2019, Bombardier sold its remaining regional jet business to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for $550 million. In addition, Mitsubishi assumed $200 million in Bombardier debt.

Clearly, the sale represents an end to its commercial aircraft competition with Airbus and Boeing. Instead, it will focus on trains and private planes. However, it will continue to assemble regional jets for Mitsubishi through mid-2020.

Comac, which stands for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, started business in Shanghai, China in 2008. To no one’s surprise, the Chinese state owns Comac. Specifically, Comac designs and builds large airliners seating more than 150 passengers. Logically, China established Comac as a way to reduce its dependence on Airbus and Boeing.

Interestingly, its two first aircraft are the ARJ21 and the C919, with seating for up to 168 passengers. In fact, the single-aisle C919 competes with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

Nevertheless, future plans call for two wide-body, twin-engine, twin-aisle, long-rang jets. First is the C929 with a passenger capacity between 250 and 290. Second is the C939 that will hold 390 to 400 passengers.

At the start of 2019, Comac had registered more than 1,000 orders for the C919. Impressively, this plane has a flight range up to 3,450 miles. While manufactured in China, the C919 components flow mostly from Western sources. Incredibly, analysts predict that, by 2037, Comac will provide transportation for 1.6 billion passengers per year.

6. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MAC)

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MAC) will build the Mitsubishi SpaceJet passenger airliners. MAC is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with investments from Toyota, Sumitomo, and Mitsui. Headquartered in Komaki, Japan, MAC came into being in 2008.

As we mentioned above, Mitsubishi acquired the Bombardier CRJ program, which will boost the SpaceJet program. In fact, MAC may build the SpaceJet at Bombardier facilities in Canada.

MAC designed the SpaceJet with assistance from Subaru Corporation. For the record, its maiden flight was in November 2015, as the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).

Expect a 76-seat M90 version, and a lighter version, the 88-seat M100, with a range of 1,910 nautical miles. Critically, M90 delivery should begin in the middle of 2020, while the M100 will enter service in 2023 or 2024.

UAC (United Aircraft Corporation) is a Russian aircraft manufacturer established in 2006 by decree of Vladimir Putin. Specifically, it produces airliners, cargo planes, military aircraft, and special-purpose aircraft. Indeed, UAC employs 100,000 workers.

To be sure, UAC’s first airliners were Tupolev and Ilyushin models, holdovers from the Soviet Union. Indeed, the first UAC model from the Russian Federation was the Ilyushin Il-96, but UAC only produced 30.

Today, UAC produces the Tupolev Tu-214, a modern, narrow-body, medium-range jet with a glass cockpit and fly-by-wire controls.UAC builds the Tu-214 in the Russian city of Ulyanovsk. Notably, Kazan Aircraft produces the same plane in Kazan, Russia. Also, UAC can produce the Ilyushin Il-114, a regional turboprop, but production is currently suspended.

UAC exports the Sukhoi Superjet 130, a competitor for the Bombardier CSeries and Embraer E-Jet. Impressively, it is developing the Irkut MC-21, its most modern effort to date. Indeed, the MC-21 will compete the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737.

Moreover, other planned products are the 52-seat Il-114-300 regional turboprop and the CRAIC CR-929, a wide-body twinjet seating 416. Understand that CRAIC is a joint venture of UAC and Comac.

8. Aviastar-SP

Aviastar-SP is the Russian manufacturer of the Tupolev Tu-204. Historically, Aviastar-SP started in 1976 as the Ulyanovsk Aviation Production Complex in the city of Ulyanovsk. However, they renamed it Aviastar-SP in 1991.

Notably, the company produces a long-range heavy transport aircraft and the Tu-204 jetliner. Aviastar-SP started producing the Tu-204 in 1995. This is a medium-range, twin-engined jet seating 210 passengers. Aviastar-SP shares production of the Tu-204 with the Kazan Aircraft Production Association.

The Tu-204SM, which competes with the Boeing 757, started production at the end of 2010. Indeed, it is one of numerous Tu-704 variants previously or currently in production.

Critically, the Tu-204SM meets international standards such as Eurocontrol and ICAO. It has a two-pilot cockpit, upgraded systems, new displays, and an electronic flight bag (an electronic information management gadget).

The Tu-204SM has two PS-90A2 engines featuring a unified twin-spool turbofan. No doubt, this is a reliable and efficient improvement over an earlier model. Stunningly, the cost of one ranges from $40 to $47 million.

Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPA)

The Kazan Aircraft Production Association is a historic aviation factory in Kazan, Russia. Established in 1927 as a joint venture with Junkers, KAPA has built 34 types of aircraft throughout the years.

Today, Kazan produces the Tupolev Tu-214. The Tu-214 is a modern, narrow-body, medium-range jet with a glass cockpit and fly-by-wire controls.

Kazan, along with UAC, also produces the Tu-204, a variant with a lower gross weight. For what it’s worth, the Russian airline service Rossiya flies the Tu-214.

9. GippsAero

GippsAero is an Australian producer of aircraft, founded in 1977. India’s Mahindra Aerospace owns GippsAero, which builds the GA8 Airvan, a small commercial and utility aircraft. Specifically, the piston-engined GA8 seats eight passengers and provides reliable transportation for short flights and service to remote areas.

Excitingly, GippsAero has developed a newer model, the GA10 Airvan, a single-engine turboprop with room for 10 occupants. Indeed, in 2018, Major Blue Air of Botswana became the GA10’s first customer.

Top 10 Private Aircraft Manufacturers

This is a list of the top 10 private aircraft manufacturers, including business and corporate jets.

1. Airbus Corporate Jets

Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) is a business unit of Airbus that produces corporate jets derived from airliners. To be sure, it is located in Toulouse, France and builds a range of single-aisle jets.

Indeed, ACJ markets its products as the world’s most modern and comprehensive corporate jets. Flexibly, they feature spacious and customizable cabins that allow you to select a size that suits your needs. Doubtlessly, ACJ customers benefit from access to the Airbus global support network.

Historically, ACJ introduced the A318 corporate jet in 1997. Currently, 213 ACJ jets are in operation, and another 222 aircraft are on order. ACJ manufactures narrow-bodied aircraft based on the Airbus A320 family. Happily, you can buy a corporate version of any A320 model, including the ACJ319, ACJ320.

Note that these models carry the “neo” nomenclature denoting “new engine option.” Impressively, they have roughly triple the cabin space as that found in traditional business jets.

ACJ also produces the ACJ330neo and ACJ35-XWB VIP widebody jets based on Airbus airliners. To be sure, both offer considerable space and luxury, with the latter featuring carbon composite materials. Indeed, you can flexibly configure ACJ jets to include fully equipped offices, beds, bathrooms, and shower areas.

2. Boeing Business Jet

Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) produces VIP corporate jets based on Boeing airliners, primarily the 737 series. Typically, BBJ jets offer large cabins, long flying ranges, and seating for 25 to 50 passengers in luxurious configurations. Clearly, these jets are highly customizable for the business, private, or governmental sectors, with good records for reliability.

Impressively, BBJ models can include conference/dining areas, bedrooms, washrooms with showers, and living areas. Other models are variants of the 777, 787 and 747. Altogether, BBJ produces 11 jets models in both narrow-body and wide-body versions.

For 2018, BBJ had 261 orders, 237 deliveries, and 210 jets in service. In 2018. BBJ launched the BBJ 777X that can fly half way around the globe before refueling. Indeed, that’s the longest distance available from any business jet. Clearly, for many corporations with international business, the BBJ 777X solves the problem of efficient travel.

Specifically, the BBJ 777X class includes the BBJ 777-8 and BBJ 777-9. The 777-8 has the longer flying range (11,645 nautical miles) and 3,256 square feet of cabin space. In contrast, the 777-9 has more cabin space (3,689 square feet) and a 11,000-nautical-mile flying range.

3. Bombardier Business Aircraft (BBA)

The portfolio of BBA business jets includes the Learjet, Challenger, and Global families.

The Learjet 75 is a light business jet featuring modern avionics, an efficient engine, and canted winglets. Importantly, it is the first Learjet with a private executive suite, and the size allows passengers to travel in comfort. Indeed, the advanced wing design provides a smooth ride and reduces operating costs.

The Challenger series includes the 350 and 650 models. Specifically, the 350 belongs to the super midsize category of jets. Over the last decade, the 350 has been the sales leader in its segment. In contrast, the 650 is a large business jet with worldwide reach and the widest cabin in its class.

The Global series contains the 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, and 7500 models. BBA markets the 7500 as the world’s largest business jet with longest range. That pits it against the Boeing BBJ 777X model family. Impressively, the 7500 has room for four interior living spaces, a crew suite, and a full-size kitchen. Note that the 7500 is a stretched version of the 6000 but has a new transonic wing.

4. Beechcraft

Beechcraft is a subsidiary of Textron Aviation, but started as the Beech Aircraft Corporation in 1932. Historically, Textron acquired Beech Aircraft in 2013 after the latter went bankrupt. Today, Beechcraft produces four lines of private aircraft:

• Bonanza Series: Powered by a single piston engine, the Bonanza has been in continuous production since 1947. Beechcraft has produced more than 17,000 Bonanza planes in various configurations, including V-tail models. Impressively, the Bonanza G36 has a range of 920 nautical miles and can hold six occupants.
• Baron: A twin-engined piston airplane first introduced in 1961. With room for eight, the Baron G58 can travel 1,480 nautical miles.
• King Air: This is a family of twin-turboprop models, comprised of Models 90, 100, 250, and 350i.
• T6 Texan II: This is a single-engine turboprop trainer.

Patriotically, Beechcraft builds its airplanes at its factory in Wichita, Kansas.

Cessna, founded in 1927, is another subsidiary of Textron and currently produces three lines of aircraft:

• Citation: This line comprises several models, from the entry-level M2 to the recently certified Longitude. The Longitude is a stretched version of another Citation model, the Latitude, with a new swept wing and T-tail. Also, the Citation Sovereign+ holds 12 passengers and has a maximum range of 3,200 nautical miles.
• Turboprop: Cessna’s single engine turboprop models are the Denali, Caravan, Grand Caravan EX, and SkyCourier. The Denali is a model with room for up to 11 occupants. Caravan offers rugged flexibility and utility for up to 14 occupants. Grand Caravan EX offers a maximum range of 964 nautical miles. SkyCourier can handle heavy payloads and up to 19 passengers.
• Piston: The Skyhawk is a trainer with a sophisticated glass cockpit. Skylane, with a 230-horsepower engine, is a favorite first airplane for new pilots. The Turbo Stationair HD holds six occupants and features dual aft cargo doors.

6. Dassault Aviation

Headquartered in Paris, Dassault’s history traces back to 1929 and founder Marcel Dassault. Specifically, it produces military and civil aircraft, the latter including the Falcon, Breguet, Hirondelle and Communaute.

Falcon is the primary family of business jets, dating back to the first delivery in 1965. Incredibly, Falcon jets have accumulated more than 18 million hours of flight time across 90 countries.

Current Falcon models include the 7X, 8X, 900, and 200. The 8X is the newest model, with a range of 6,450 nautical miles powered by three PW307D turbofans. Moreover, it can hold up to 16 passengers, two pilots and one crew member and achieve 516 knots.

Embraer Executive Jets, a subsidiary of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, offers four executive jet families:

• Legacy: Offers three midsize business jets; the 450, 500 and 650E. The 450/500 pair were the first midsize Embraer models with fly-by-wire and a flat-floor, stand-up cabin. Even more impressively, the 650E offers a largest-in-class cabin and best-in-class warranty.
• Praetor: The 500 and 600 are improved variants of the Legacy, selling for $17 and $21 million, respectively. The 500 seats 9 passengers with a cruise speed of 466 knots and a range of 3,340 nautical miles. In contrast, the 600 has the same cruise speed, but seats 12 passengers and can cover 4,018 nautical miles.
• Lineage: The Lineage 1000 entered service in May 2009. Indeed, through the end of 2018, Embraer has built 28 1000’s, and you can buy one for $50 million. Moreover, it can hold 16 occupants, achieve a 472-knot cruise speed, and fly up to 4,600 nautical miles.
• Phenom: The Phenom 100 is a light jet with more than 350 units in service. It can hold up to seven passengers and can accommodate an optional belted toilet. The Phenom 300 can hold 11 occupants and fly 1970 nautical miles.

8. Gulfstream Aerospace

Gulfstream Aerospace is a subsidiary of General Dynamics. For the record, it is located in Savannah, Georgia and employs 13,313 workers. Historically, it has been manufacturing business jets since 1958. Notably, all six Gulfstream jets hold up to 19 passengers, except for the 10-passenger G280.

The top of the line model is the Gulfstream G650ER, with a range of 7,500 nautical miles. Furthermore, it can accommodate up to 4 living areas and reach a top speed of 0.925 Mach. This model offers premium features, such as 100% fresh air replenishment every two minutes, quiet cabin, and panoramic windows.

If you can settle for a cruising range of 6,500 nautical miles, the G600 offers similar features and capabilities. Other models are the G550, G500, and the G280.

9. Pilatus Business Aircraft

Stans, Switzerland is the headquarters for Pilatus Aircraft, which employs almost 2,000 workers. It builds several light personal jets in addition to short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft.

The PC-24 combines turboprop propulsion with a medium-size cabin and a range of 2,000 nautical miles. Furthermore, it accommodates 11 passengers and can land on runways only 2,375 feet long.

The PC-12 NG is a popular turbine-powered aircraft with low operating costs, single pilot operations, long-range, and high speed. Other models include the PC-6 STOL and three trainers.

Hawker is a subsidiary of Textron Corp that builds several business jets. The Hawker 4000 is a carbon composite model that can hold up to 14 occupants. It has six feet of standing room, with a range of 3,445 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 470 knots. Unfortunately, Textron cancelled most of the Hawker product line in 2013.

Jet Engine Manufacturers

The top three aircraft engine manufacturers are:

1. General Electric : Located in the U.S., GE has the largest share of the turbofan market. It supplies engines to Boeing, Airbus, and military aircraft. Major models include the CF6, GE90, and the GEnx. 2. Rolls Royce : The number two engine maker has headquarters in England. It is famous for its Trent and RB211 series. It makes engines for Airbus, Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Embraer, and others. 3. Pratt & Whitney: The third-largest engine maker is a division of the American company United Technologies. It supplies more than 25 percent of the world’s passenger aircraft and services many aircraft manufacturers. The PW4000 series powers craft from Airbus, Boeing, and McDonnell Douglas.

Engine manufactures with smaller market shares are:

4. CFM International 5. Engine Alliance 6. International Aero Engines 7. Williams International 8. Honeywell Aerospace 9. Aviadvigatel 10. Ivchenko-Progress

USA Aircraft Manufacturers

The top aircraft manufacturers USA situated are:

• Boeing • Lockheed Martin • Sikorsky Aircraft • Gulfstream Aerospace • GE Aviation • United Technologies

Canada is the home of Bombardier .

German Aircraft Manufacturers

Germany is a partial owner of Airbus.

European Aircraft Manufacturers

France has the leading aircraft industry in Europe, including:

• Airbus • Dassault Aviation • Safran • Thales Group • Snecma • ATR • Arianespace • MBDA

The United Kingdom owns a portion of Airbus , and is home to:

• BAE Systems • Leonardo Helicopters

Spain is also partial owner of Airbus .

Other European manufacturers, including Russian ones, include:

• Pilatus Aircraft • United Aircraft • Aviastar-SP • KAPA • Diamond Aircraft Industries

• You can keep up to date with aircraft manufacturer news on the Economist .
• Aerospace Manufacturing and Design also has an excellent blog on related news.
• Next, check out this Aircraft Manufacturing Marketing Report for 2019-2024 from MarketWatch, including trends, analysis, and forecasts.
• A similar roundup of market research reports is available at Ibis World’s Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing Industry Report

Aircraft Manufacturers FAQs

How many aircraft manufacturers are there in the world.

There are about a dozen aircraft manufacturers worldwide, but the two major ones are Boeing and Airbus. Besides full aircraft builders, there are many smaller companies that build aircraft components, systems, and parts.

Who are the largest aircraft manufacturers?

The largest ones are Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer and Comac, as well as Mitsubishi, UAC, Aviastar-SP, KAPA and GippsAero. In addition, large manufacturers of private aircraft include Textron, Dassault, Gulfstream, and Pilatus.

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Questionnaire

How Much Does It Cost To Start An Aircraft Manufacturing Business? (In 2024)

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

The cost of opening a an aircraft manufacturing business can vary based on several factors. However for a an aircraft manufacturing business you can expect to spend $7,529 to $60,032 with an average cost of $33,230.

• The minimum startup costs for an aircraft manufacturing business: $7,529
• The maximum startup costs for an aircraft manufacturing business: $60,032
• The average startup costs for an aircraft manufacturing business: $33,230

Here's a detailed list of an aircraft manufacturing business startup costs:

Learn more about starting an aircraft manufacturing business :

Where to start?

-> Pros and cons of an aircraft manufacturing business

Need inspiration?

-> Other aircraft manufacturing business success stories -> Examples of established aircraft manufacturing business

Other resources

Equipment & Supply Expenses

Starting an aircraft manufacturing business may require purchasing some equipment, whether that's for producing the product or packaging the goods, or equipment needed in the back office.

Retail Business Expenses

If you plan to have a brick & mortar location for your aircraft manufacturing business, you must weigh the costs of your rent, as it may be the most expensive part of running your business.

Rent costs for your aircraft manufacturing business very much depends on your location. This cost will vary by both region and specific areas of town: a lease in the heart of Manhattan could cost over $80,000/month in rent. Meanwhile, a storefront lease in Florida or Tennessee could cost less than $1,000/month.

Business Formation Fees

There are a few key costs associated with forming your business entity, such as setting up an LLC and getting trademarks, copyrights, and patents sorted.

Software Expenses

Your aircraft manufacturing business needs software to run efficiently!

Why spend money on software? Because it can help you save time and automate certain parts of the business, so you can focus on the most important matters. Software and technology can help you grow your business, and save you from expensive personnel costs.

Office Space Expenses

It will be your call to determine if you need office space. It is not a requirement but may be necessary as your aircraft manufacturing business grows.

Employee & Freelancer Expenses

Inventory expenses.

If you sell a physical good, you'll likely have to start with some inventory.

Vehicle Expenses

Training & education expenses, website costs.

Every business should have a website, and it's worth spending a bit of money to set it up right.

Food Business Expenses

Advertising & marketing costs, specific industry expenses.

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‘I would happily fly any Boeing aircraft’: Experts say travelers should feel safe flying

“We don’t have to worry that there’s something systemically wrong with aviation,” Clint Balog, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told USA TODAY.

It has been a year of heightened tension around air travel. A series of high-profile incidents has spotlighted safety at airlines and manufacturers, leading many travelers to wonder if flying is still the safest way to get around.

“We’re in a period the last couple months where there are more incidents happening, and because more incidents are happening, we’re now paying more attention to it,” Balog said. “We’re in a time frame where we have a cluster of these incidents.”

Laura Einsetler, a captain at a major U.S. airline and author of the Captain Laura blog , said people are also more aware of aviation incidents than they were in the past.

“One aspect is that now with social media and the internet, we’re seeing every single thing that we can possibly see that’s happening around the world. The perception is that more things are happening when at the same time, 2023 was actually the safest year in our industry of all time,” she said. 

Boeing, the vaunted airplane manufacturer, has been front and center in the wave of incidents. An explosive decompression on an Alaska Airlines flight in January brought renewed attention to its already muddied 737 Max program. Before the pandemic, two 737 Max jets crashed abroad, killing 346 people. Those early disasters cast a shadow over the latest iteration of the jet that Boeing was still trying to get out from under. The Alaska Airlines incident only narrowly avoided deaths or significant injuries, according to experts. 

Cruising Altitude: I've covered Boeing's 737 MAX for years. Here's a quick rundown of the issues.

In response to that incident, the Federal Aviation Administration opened an audit of Boeing’s manufacturing processes and found the company’s safety culture lacking.

Even so, Balog said, flyers should feel safe on Boeing planes.

“I would happily fly any Boeing aircraft, including the 737 Max. It’s a great aircraft,” he said. “No organization is flawless, and when errors occur in aviation … it’s not surprising they happen in groups like this. These instances are rarely spaced out evenly.” 

Einsetler, too, said passengers shouldn’t worry too much about taking to the skies.

“When you see pilots who are putting our lives on the line every day to keep everyone safe, then you can be assured that if we feel very safe and comfortable to be at the tip of the spear, to be at the front of the flight deck operating the aircraft for you, then you should feel confident that we will keep you safe,” she said. 

Boeing is hardly the only aviation company that has been in the spotlight.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby sent a letter to its customers Monday responding to a series of issues that have put the airline in the headlines. In just the past two months, United planes have experienced a stuck rudder pedal on landing, an engine fire and a wheel falling off a departing jet.

Kirby’s letter insisted that the incidents were unrelated and that United is renewing its focus on safety.

Balog said Kirby is right to assert that the incidents are one-offs.

“Fundamentally what they all have in relation is these are human-factors issues. These are human-error issues,” he said. “It’s not related to an aircraft, it’s related to the humans who are performing these functions. A tire falling off a Boeing 777 on takeoff is a human-factors issue; it’s a maintenance issue.” 

Balog said that a series of incidents like what has happened at United can point to an organizational failure, but that it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s some inherent danger in the way United runs its operation.

Ultimately, he said, human mistakes are easy enough to correct.

“There are going to be problems because you’ve got humans involved in these incidents and humans involved in this operation of flying the general public around. To feel safe you have to look at the overall picture,” Balog said. “No human endeavor is entirely safe. You’d be hard-pressed to find any operation that is safer than commercial aviation in the world today.”

Einsetler also said the aviation workforce has more new employees than it has had in a while, so there may be some regrowing or training pains as newer hires get up to speed.

What do the recent incidents mean for travelers?

While Boeing has been especially in the spotlight with aviation incidents, Balog and Einsetler said passengers need to understand that each incident is largely distinct.

“In most of these cases they are unrelated events. As an industry we take note, understand and learn from so that it doesn’t happen again,” Einsetler said.

Passengers may wonder if problems at Boeing or some maintenance problem is the root cause of a particular incident, but Balog said that’s the wrong question to ask.

“As far as the passengers understanding what the root causes are, they really can’t,” he said. That’s why regulators conduct monthslong investigations into aviation incidents to really dig down and analyze all the factors that contributed.

“I don’t think there’s anything particularly organizationally wrong at Boeing. It’s not surprising that a predominance of these issues would be on Boeing aircraft,” Balog said. “There are simply more Boeing aircraft out there.” 

Who is responsible for investigating aviation incidents?

In general, the National Transportation Safety Board has jurisdiction over accident and incident investigations, and the FAA, as the industry regulator, also has a role to play, including designing and enforcing new rules based on the NTSB’s findings. Industry stakeholders like airplane and parts manufacturers and airlines may participate in investigations based on the specifics of each incident. 

How many incidents has Boeing had this year?

The Alaska Airlines door plug failure was the main focus of Boeing’s problems, and while Boeing aircraft have been involved in some other high-profile incidents, including a LATAM 787 that took a dive, possibly because of an unexpected cockpit seat movement, the manufacturer has not been directly implicated.

▶ January: A midair cabin blowout compels Alaska Air to perform an emergency landing of its recently acquired 737 Max 9 aircraft, prompting the FAA to ground 171 of the jets and begin an investigation. The FAA also bars Boeing from increasing Max output, but lifts the grounding of Max-9s once inspections were completed.

▶ February: The NTSB publishes its preliminary report on the Alaska Air incident. According to the investigation, the door panel that flew off the jet midflight appeared to be missing four key bolts.

▶ March: The FAA's 737 Max production audit found multiple instances when Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would leave the company by the end of the year, and other executive changes were announced.

Contributing: Reuters

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]