Insured Aircraft Title Service

What Insured Aircraft Title Service does

Insured Aircraft Title Service (IATS) is a privately held Oklahoma City-based LLC that provides specialized title search, escrow, lien clearing, FAA document preparation and filing, Cape Town Treaty International Registry administration, KYC/AML compliance, and multi-currency transaction support for aircraft transactions. Founded in 1963 and operating continuously for over 60 years, the firm is self-described as the largest and oldest aircraft title company in the world, claiming 350,000+ completed title searches and serving clients in 150+ countries. Its customer base spans aircraft buyers and sellers, dealers and brokers, financial institutions and lenders, and business aviation operators, with notable concentration on high-value, multi-jurisdictional deals where regulatory and banking complexity favor an experienced specialist.

The company's operating technology combines a domain-specialized title and escrow management platform with direct FAA Public Documents room access for real-time document review and filing, electronic Cape Town Treaty International Registry administration for priority registration of interests, and held bank accounts in the U.S., London, and Singapore that permit multi-currency closings. KYC/AML controls rely on advanced research tools to surface counterparty risk across financial crime, narcotics, and regulatory dimensions. There is no public API, SDK, mobile app, or disclosed AI/ML capability in the available data; the stack is best characterized as regulated workflow software plus banking integration.

IATS operates a sales-led, referral-driven go-to-market centered on dedicated escrow agents and face-to-face client engagement, with industry conference participation (NBAA, IADA, NAFA, HAI, GLADA) as the primary channel alongside a content-oriented website. Revenue is generated transaction-by-transaction through fees tied to deal value, complexity, and aircraft type, supplemented by professional service fees for title and lien clearing and specialized registration work. The firm is founder/management-owned, with Charles McGettigan (also managing director of boutique PE/advisory firm McGettigan, Wick & Co.) serving as Chairman, and has not raised institutional capital or completed any disclosed M&A.

Name

Insured Aircraft Title Service

Legal name

Insured Aircraft Title Service, LLC

Website

https://insuredaircraft.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IATS is a privately held Oklahoma City-based LLC founded in 1963 that provides aircraft title search, escrow, lien clearing, FAA filing, Cape Town Treaty International Registry administration, KYC/AML, and multi-currency transaction support to dealers, brokers, lenders, and business aviation operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Escrow Services: IATS acts as a neutral third-party escrow agent managing transaction funds, documents, and processes until all agreement conditions are met. Revenue is generated through transaction fees tied to the value and complexity of aircraft closings.
2. Title Search Services: Aircraft title history research and verification services to identify ownership, liens, and registration issues. Fees based on transaction complexity and aircraft type.
3. Document Preparation & Filing: FAA document preparation and filing services ensuring proper recordation of aircraft ownership documents. Professional service fees for documentation handling.
4. Title & Lien Clearing: Resolution services for clouded titles, unreleased security agreements, and mechanic liens to enable clear aircraft titles for transactions.
5. Special Registration Numbers: FAA filing services for personalized or transferred aircraft registration numbers including N-number changes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IATS provides aircraft title and escrow services, acting as a neutral third-party to verify aircraft ownership, clear liens, prepare and file FAA documents, and safeguard transaction funds and documents through closing. It also offers Cape Town Treaty International Registry administration, KYC/AML compliance, and multi-currency international banking for aircraft transactions.

Product overview

Insured Aircraft Title Service (IATS) operates as a single unified service offering centered on aircraft title and escrow services. The portfolio consists of eight integrated service modules: Worldwide Escrow Services (acting as neutral third-party for fund/document safekeeping), Title Search (ownership history research), Document Preparation & Filing (FAA compliance), Title & Lien Clearing (clouded title resolution), Special Registration Numbers (N-number personalization), International Registry (Cape Town Treaty compliance), KYC and AML Program (regulatory compliance), and Foreign Currency Accounts (multi-currency transaction support). These services work together to facilitate aircraft transactions from initial title search through closing, with international banking relationships in the US, Singapore, and London enabling global transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worldwide Escrow Services Escrow services for aircraft transactions where IATS acts as a neutral third-party to manage and safeguard transaction funds, documents, and processes until all conditions are met. Offers international accounts for multiple currencies.
• Title Search Aircraft title search service that researches the history of an aircraft's ownership and registration to identify outstanding liens or title issues, providing protection from fraud.
• Document Preparation & Filing FAA document preparation and filing service ensuring documents are properly formatted and filed in accordance with FAA requirements to prevent title problems and rejected filings.
• Title & Lien Clearing Aircraft lien and title clearing services to resolve clouded titles from unreleased security agreements, incorrectly signed bills of sale, mechanic liens, or other recorded or unrecorded interests.
• Special Registration Numbers Assistance obtaining and transferring special N-numbers for aircraft, including personalized numbers, commemorative registrations, and promotional markings.
• International Registry International Registry administrator services for Cape Town Treaty compliance, enabling parties to register as Transacting User Entity (TUE) and establish priority of interests in aircraft objects on a first-to-register basis.
• KYC and AML Program Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance services using advanced research tools to identify risks related to financial crime, narcotics, and regulatory issues.
• Foreign Currency Accounts International banking capabilities with accounts in London and Singapore enabling multi-currency aircraft transactions and facilitating closings in multiple currencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350,000+ title searches completed
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA)coreOthersIATS displays IADA membership logo on website footer, indicating active membership in the trade association for aircraft dealers. IADA provides industry networking, education, and certification programs for aircraft dealers.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)coreOthersIATS displays NBAA membership logo on website footer. NBAA is the leading organization for business aviation professionals. IATS staff members including Kim Thompson are active members and attend NBAA conferences.
• National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA)coreOthersIATS displays NAFA membership logo on website footer. NAFA represents aviation lenders and financial institutions. Membership indicates IATS serves as a trusted partner for aircraft financing transactions.
• Helicopter Association International (HAI)minorOthersIATS displays HAI membership logo on website footer. HAI is the primary trade association for the helicopter industry, indicating IATS extends its services to rotorcraft transactions.
• Great Lakes Aircraft Dealers Association (GLADA)minorOthersIATS displays GLADA membership logo on website footer. GLADA serves aircraft dealers in the Great Lakes region, indicating regional dealer network support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aviation Title Services: Specialized aircraft title search and escrow firm serving aviation buyers, sellers, and lenders; offers core title and escrow services that overlap directly with IATS's primary offerings.
• Essex Aviation Title Services: Regional aircraft title service firm providing title search and escrow support for aircraft transactions; operates in the same niche as IATS with overlapping customer base.
• The Title Company: Aircraft title and escrow service company based in Colorado offering similar title search and escrow services to the aviation industry; directly competes with IATS for aircraft transactions across the U.S.

Others

• Vref: Aircraft valuation reference and advisory services used by lenders, brokers, and operators in aviation transactions; complements IATS in the broader aircraft transaction value chain.
• Aircraft Bluebook: Aircraft valuation reference data widely used by dealers, lenders, and brokers in aircraft transactions; complementary in the transaction workflow alongside title and escrow services.

Broad incumbents

• Jeppesen (a Boeing Company): Boeing subsidiary providing aviation navigation data, charts, flight planning, and operational services; broad aviation services incumbent with adjacent capabilities to the transaction support IATS provides.
• Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. Aviation services company providing international trip planning, flight support, and ground handling for business aviation operators; broader incumbent serving overlapping business aviation customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/insuredaircraft
• Facebookfacebook.com/InsuredAircraft

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Insured Aircraft Title Service