FDS Avionics Corp
FDS Avionics Corp, based in Alpharetta, Georgia, designs and manufactures FAA/PMA-approved in-flight entertainment, cabin management systems, moving maps, and ruggedized LCD displays for private aviation, commercial aircraft, and military/special mission operators. The company is privately held by Harbert Private Equity Fund III under parent Argon FDS.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAlpharetta, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What FDS Avionics Corp does
FDS Avionics Corp, headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, designs and manufactures FAA/PMA-approved in-flight entertainment (IFE) and cabin management avionics for business jets, commercial aircraft, and military/special mission platforms. Its product portfolio centers on a Moving Map family (FD200CPU series with ARINC 232/429 interfaces and helicopter variants), a broad line of LCD monitors from 7" to 52" widescreen with HD variants, Cabin Management Systems (CMS) with OLED switches, cabin control modules, and audio/video crosspoint switches, plus ruggedized HD-SDI rack mount displays and the "Flipper" cockpit LCD line built to military specifications. Supporting infrastructure includes DAPS distribution amplifiers, satellite TV and XM/Sirius distribution modules, mounting hardware (arm, ceiling, slide, swivel, motorized lift), and in-flight cameras and entertainment peripherals (DVD/Blu-ray, jukebox, wireless audio).
The company was incorporated in November 2014 by Harbert Private Equity Fund III as the acquisition vehicle for Flight Display Systems, with Reed Macdonald appointed CEO (succeeding from the COO role) and additional capitalization from Cadence Bank and Fidus Investment Corporation. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales of FAA-approved avionics equipment plus parts and aftermarket/out-of-warranty repair support for legacy installations, distributed via a global dealer network and direct enterprise sales force with quote-based pricing and multi-year procurement cycles. As of 2025 the entity has been merged under parent Argon FDS and has shifted strategic emphasis toward military and special mission avionics, while legacy Flight Display Systems CMS manufacturing and support was discontinued in 2024.
FDS Avionics Corp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FDS Avionics Corp
- Legal name
- FDS Avionics Corp
- Website
- https://flightdisplay.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- FDS Avionics Corp, based in Alpharetta, Georgia, designs and manufactures FAA/PMA-approved in-flight entertainment, cabin management systems, moving maps, and ruggedized LCD displays for private aviation, commercial aircraft, and military/special mission operators. The company is privately held by Harbert Private Equity Fund III under parent Argon FDS.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FDS Avionics Corp industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Avionics Equipment
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Avionics Displays & Human-Machine Interface (EFIS/HUD/HMD) (IMABAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE), Avionics Software, Certification & Safety-Critical Systems (DO-178/DO-254) (IMABAFAK)
Keywords
Where FDS Avionics Corp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alpharetta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FDS Avionics Corp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Avionics Hardware Sales: One-time sales of FAA/PMA approved avionics equipment including LCD monitors, moving map systems, DVD players, cabin management systems, and military displays. Products are sold to aircraft operators through dealers and direct sales.
- Parts and Aftermarket Support: Sale of replacement parts and out-of-warranty repair services for legacy Flight Display Systems products
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Business aircraft avionics equipment - quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
FDS Avionics Corp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FDS Avionics Corp designs and manufactures FAA/PMA approved in-flight entertainment systems, cabin management systems, aircraft LCD monitors, moving map displays, and ruggedized avionics equipment for private, commercial, and military aircraft. Its product portfolio includes the Moving Map FD200CPU series, widescreen LCD monitors ranging from 7 to 52 inches, OLED-based cabin management systems, in-flight entertainment equipment such as DVD/Blu-ray players and jukeboxes, distribution amplifiers, and HD-SDI military/special mission displays.
Product overview
FDS Avionics Corp (formerly Flight Display Systems) manufactured FAA/PMA approved in-flight entertainment and avionics systems for private and commercial aircraft. The product portfolio centered on Moving Map systems (FD200CPU series with ARINC 429/RS-232 connectivity), complemented by Aircraft LCD Monitors (7" to 52" widescreen displays with HD variants), Cabin Management Systems (OLED switches, cabin control modules, audio/video crosspoint switches), In-flight Entertainment Equipment (DVD/Blu-ray players, wireless audio, jukeboxes), and Military/Special Mission Displays (ruggedized HD-SDI monitors). Products connected via Distribution Amplifiers (DAPS series) and various mounting solutions (arm, ceiling, slide, motorized lifts). The company was acquired by Harbert Private Equity Fund III in 2014 and specializes in military and special mission avionics equipment today.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Moving Map FD200CPU Series Flight Display Moving Map system with ARINC 429 or RS-232 connectivity, featuring satellite imagery and XM weather software upgrades and helicopter-specific variants, sold to aircraft operators for in-flight passenger flight information display.
- Aircraft LCD Monitors (FD70CV to FD520CV) FAA/PMA approved widescreen LCD displays ranging from 7 to 52 inches with various power options (12-28VDC, 28VDC) and HD variants for cabin entertainment and cockpit applications in business, commercial, and special mission aircraft.
- Cabin Management Systems (CMS) Comprehensive cabin management system including OLED switches (single/double/triple), cabin control modules (4.3, 7, and 10.2 inch), audio/video crosspoint switches, accessory interface nodes, and relay boxes for private jet cabin control.
- In-flight Entertainment Equipment Aircraft DVD/Blu-ray players (FD932DVD series), 6-channel genre music player (FDSDX6), 500GB audio/video jukebox (FD800JBOX), wireless audio transmitters (FD900X3, FD900X5), and wireless headsets sold to aircraft operators for cabin passenger entertainment.
- Distribution Amplifiers (DAPS Series) Audio/video distribution amplifiers including DAPS300 (2x4), DAPS321 (2x7), DAPS350 (VGA), DAPS440 (4x4), DAPSHDMI-1 (HDMI), and satellite radio distribution amps for XM and Sirius, sold to aircraft operators for cabin signal routing.
- Ellipse Direct Satellite TV In-flight satellite TV product for receiving DirecTV in aircraft cabins, sold to aircraft operators as part of the cabin entertainment portfolio.
- Jet Jukebox In-flight entertainment audio/video server for cabin music and media playback, sold to aircraft operators for cabin passenger entertainment.
- Military and Special Mission Displays Ruggedized HD-SDI rack mount displays and special mission monitors including FD215CV-C (21.5-inch HD-SDI), FD90AID/FD270AID 'Flipper' cockpit LCDs, and arm/rack mount configurations meeting military specifications, sold to defense and government special mission aircraft operators.
- In-flight Cameras (FD600CAM Series) Glareshield-mounted cockpit cameras available in standard and high-resolution variants with 12VDC or 28VDC options, sold to aircraft operators for cockpit recording and monitoring.
Quantifiable outcome
- First FAA/PMA approval achieved in 2002, First STC in 2002
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use FDS Avionics Corp
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FDS Avionics Corp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
FDS Avionics Corp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Smith, Gambrell & Russell (legal advisor)minorLegal advisor to HPEF III during the acquisition transaction.
- Habif, Arogeti & Wynne (accounting advisor)minorAccounting advisor to HPEF III during the acquisition transaction.
- Renaissance Strategic Advisors (market advisor)minorMarket advisor to HPEF III during the acquisition transaction.
- Wyatt Tarrant & Combs LLPminorLegal counsel to FDS during the acquisition transaction.
- Argon FDScoreParent company of FDS Avionics following restructuring after Harbert acquisition. Handles FDS Avionics support inquiries for legacy products.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
FDS Avionics Corp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Honeywell Aerospace: Diversified aerospace supplier with significant avionics, cockpit display, and cabin connectivity offerings. Competes with FDS in cockpit displays and broader IFE/cabin systems for business and commercial aviation.
- Thales InFlyt Experience: Major supplier of cabin management, IFE, and avionics displays to business jets and commercial aircraft. Overlaps directly with FDS's cabin electronics and cockpit display portfolio, particularly in business aviation.
- Collins Aerospace (RTX): Large aerospace prime offering avionics, cabin systems, and military cockpit displays. Comparable to FDS across both commercial cabin electronics and ruggedized military display categories.
- Panasonic Avionics Corporation: Dominant supplier of in-flight entertainment and cabin management systems for commercial airlines. Directly comparable to FDS in cabin electronics (IFE, CMS, displays), but at vastly greater scale and with global content/service bundling.
- Viasat: Provider of in-flight connectivity and cabin networking to commercial and business aviation. Adjacent to FDS's cabin entertainment portfolio, particularly the Ellipse Direct Satellite TV product line.
Direct peers
- Satcom Direct: Provider of satellite communications, cabin networking, and flight deck information services to business aviation. Comparable to FDS's moving map and cabin electronics offerings targeted at the same private jet operator segment.
- Gogo Business Aviation: Specialist in business aviation connectivity, entertainment, and cabin systems. Highly comparable to FDS's focus on private/business jet operators and cabin electronics, with overlapping moving map and IFE offerings.
- Astronics Corporation: Aerospace electronics manufacturer specializing in in-flight entertainment, cabin power, and connectivity products. Directly comparable product portfolio to FDS's cabin electronics, IFE, and ruggedized display business.
Regional players
- Lufthansa Technik: Provides aircraft MRO and cabin modification services including cabin management and IFE upgrades. Comparable to FDS in the cabin retrofit and parts business for business jets and commercial aircraft.
Emerging players
- digEcor: Niche provider of in-flight entertainment, cabin management, and LED lighting solutions for commercial and business aviation. Closely comparable niche focus to FDS, competing in similar IFE and CMS categories.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FDS Avionics Corp social profiles
Digital presenceFDS Avionics Corp compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
FDS Avionics Corp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FDS Avionics Corp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FDS Avionics Corp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FDS Avionics Corp M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FDS Avionics Corp
What does FDS Avionics Corp do?
FDS Avionics Corp designs and manufactures FAA/PMA approved in-flight entertainment systems, cabin management systems, aircraft LCD monitors, moving map displays, and ruggedized avionics equipment for private, commercial, and military aircraft. Its product portfolio includes the Moving Map FD200CPU series, widescreen LCD monitors ranging from 7 to 52 inches, OLED-based cabin management systems, in-flight entertainment equipment such as DVD/Blu-ray players and jukeboxes, distribution amplifiers, and HD-SDI military/special mission displays.
Is FDS Avionics Corp a public or private company?
FDS Avionics Corp is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently acquired.
When was FDS Avionics Corp founded?
FDS Avionics Corp was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is FDS Avionics Corp based?
FDS Avionics Corp is headquartered in Alpharetta, United States, in the North America region.
How does FDS Avionics Corp make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Avionics Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts and Aftermarket Support.
Who are FDS Avionics Corp's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Honeywell Aerospace, Thales InFlyt Experience, Collins Aerospace (RTX), Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Viasat. Direct peers are Satcom Direct, Gogo Business Aviation and Astronics Corporation. Lufthansa Technik is listed as a regional player. digEcor is listed as an emerging player.
Does FDS Avionics Corp have an API?
No public API is recorded for FDS Avionics Corp.
What industry is FDS Avionics Corp in?
FDS Avionics Corp's product category is Avionics Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAFAH, Avionics Displays & Human-Machine Interface (EFIS/HUD/HMD), with a secondary code of IMABAMAE, Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.