The Aircraft Group

What The Aircraft Group does

The Aircraft Group (TAG), branded as A VSE Aviation Company, is a U.S.-based technical advisory and consulting firm specializing in commercial aviation asset and transaction management. Founded in 1989, TAG operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of VSE Corporation (NASDAQ: VSEC) under the VSE Aviation division, with its headquarters at 3430 Davie Road, Suite 302, Davie, Florida. The firm serves airlines and airline start-ups, OEMs, lessors and asset owners, freighter conversion markets, and banks and insurance companies across more than 195 countries through a remote deployment model that places staff at MROs and storage facilities worldwide.

TAG's core offering is a suite of eight integrated services: Aircraft Technical Record Audits, Freight Conversion Oversight & Management (passenger-to-freighter), Aircraft Transition Event Management, Aircraft & Engine Heavy Maintenance Oversight, Industry Conformity Audits, Pre-Acquisition & Lease Return Audits, Quality Records Resolutions, and On-Site Representative Services. The technical differentiator is a patented Records Archive System for organizing aircraft technical records, supported by 300+ years of combined team expertise and regulatory experience spanning FAA, EASA, Irish CAA, JCAB, and Transport Canada. TAG claims sole on-site representative roles at many cargo conversion facilities and participation in first-of-kind conversion programs across 737 Classic, A321 PCF, and 777-300ER platforms, with 2,000+ aircraft records audited historically.

The business model is professional services revenue generated through custom, quote-based engagements under multi-year contracts. Sales motion is enterprise field sales targeting airlines, lessors, banks, OEMs, and insurance counterparties, with delivery via direct technical consulting engagements. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the firm is currently mid-restructuring with rebuilding efforts in hiring, QA, and accounting. In 2024 TAG deepened its relationship with RTX Corporation's Pratt and Whitney Engine Leasing under a 5-year Master Terms Agreement, while parent VSE Corporation separately acquired Kellstrom Aerospace for approximately $200 million to expand VSE Aviation's commercial engine aftermarket footprint.

Name

The Aircraft Group

Legal name

The Aircraft Group

Website

http://www.theaircraftgroup.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Aircraft Group is a U.S.-based technical advisory firm serving commercial aviation clients worldwide, offering aircraft records audits, passenger-to-freighter conversion oversight, heavy maintenance oversight, and lease transition management. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of VSE Corporation under the VSE Aviation division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Asset Management Consulting

akta.pro primary industry

Fixed-Wing Aircraft Conversion & Modification (STC/Completions) (IMABAAAI)

Keywords

• Aircraft technical consulting
• Aviation asset management
• Aircraft record audits
• Heavy maintenance oversight
• Passenger-to-freighter conversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Technical Advisory and Consulting Services: Professional services revenue generated through specialized consulting engagements including aircraft technical record audits, freight conversion oversight, aircraft transition management, heavy maintenance oversight, industry conformity audits, pre-acquisition and lease return audits, quality records resolutions, and on-site representative services. Services are delivered to airlines, lessors, banks, insurance companies, OEMs, and freighter conversion markets globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Aircraft Group is a full-service technical advisory firm providing specialized consulting services for commercial aviation asset and transaction management. Its portfolio covers aircraft and engine technical record audits, passenger-to-freighter conversion oversight, heavy maintenance oversight, lease transition and re-marketing event management, pre-acquisition and lease return audits, industry conformity audits, quality records resolutions, and on-site representative services. Services are delivered globally to airlines, lessors, banks, insurance companies, OEMs, and freighter conversion markets.

Product overview

The Aircraft Group (TAG) is a technical advisory and consulting firm offering a comprehensive suite of commercial aviation asset management services. The portfolio consists of eight core service offerings: Aircraft Technical Record Audits, Freight Conversion Oversight & Management, Aircraft Transition Event Management, Aircraft & Engine Heavy Maintenance Oversight, Industry Conformity Audits, Pre-Acquisition & Lease Return Audits, Quality Records Resolutions, and On-Site Representative Services. These services are designed to work together to provide end-to-end technical advisory support for airlines, lessors, banks, and insurance companies, covering the entire aircraft lifecycle from pre-acquisition through lease returns and conversions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Technical Record Audits Comprehensive auditing of aircraft records aligned with global regulatory expectations, enabling customers to develop and present industry-leading records packages for remarketing aviation assets.
• Freight Conversion Oversight & Management Technical advisory and oversight for Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft conversions, including heavy maintenance representation, cargo modifications management, and regulatory compliance audits.
• Aircraft Transition Event Management Management of aircraft transitions including off-lease re-marketing events, project management and coordination, and transactional support for aircraft sales.
• Aircraft & Engine Heavy Maintenance Oversight Oversight and management of airframe heavy maintenance activities, including maintenance planning, workscope review, budgeting, quality control, and technical inspections.
• Industry Conformity Audits Guidance through Safety Management System (SMS) and other industry conformity audits, including fuel station audits (ATA 103) and regulatory compliance assessments.
• Pre-Acquisition & Lease Return Audits Physical inspections and records reviews for pre-acquisition due diligence and lease return compliance, including technical evaluation, aircraft configuration confirmation, and risk mitigation.
• Quality Records Resolutions Comprehensive Life-Limited Parts (LLP) records management, including tracking from installation, regulatory compliance assurance, and customized reporting for aviation operators and lessors.
• On-Site Representative Services Deployment of skilled on-site aircraft representatives at MROs and storage facilities to provide maintenance oversight, regulatory compliance assurance, and operational coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2000+ aircraft records audited
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RTX Corporation - Pratt and Whitney Engine Leasing (PWEL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20245-year Master Terms Agreement for technical records services. The Aircraft Group gathers, researches, and audits technical records, and assembles records packages to assist PWEL with management of their fleet of commercial aviation engines. This contract extension and deepening of the relationship demonstrates the high-quality and efficient work of the TAG team.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AAR Corp: AAR Corp is a large, publicly-traded aviation aftermarket services provider offering MRO, parts distribution, and integrated supply chain solutions—comparable as a broad incumbent in the same commercial aviation aftermarket and asset management space.
• Oliver Wyman: Oliver Wyman has a substantial aviation practice providing strategy, operations, and asset management consulting to airlines, lessors, and OEMs—comparable to TAG at the high-end strategic/advisory layer, though it does not perform hands-on technical records audits or on-site MRO oversight.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Booz Allen Hamilton operates a large aerospace and defense consulting practice serving airlines, OEMs, and government aviation clients—comparable as a broad incumbent in aviation technical and strategic advisory, though much larger and broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Cirium (Ascend by Cirium): Cirium (owner of Ascend) provides aviation data, fleet intelligence, and asset valuation services to airlines, lessors, and financiers—comparable to TAG on the data, valuation, and advisory side of aviation asset management, though Cirium is data-led rather than service-led.

Direct peers

• Avtrade: Avtrade provides component services, leasing, and aftermarket support to airlines and lessors globally—comparable in customer base and commercial aviation aftermarket focus, with overlap in transition and MRO support services.
• Avitas (BCG): Avitas, now part of Boston Consulting Group, provides aviation consulting, asset valuation, and market advisory to airlines, lessors, OEMs, and financiers—overlapping with TAG's pre-acquisition audits, lease return support, and asset value advisory work.
• AerFin: AerFin provides aircraft end-of-life solutions, engine and component services, and lessor support including MRO oversight and transition management—directly overlapping with TAG's aircraft transition, lease return, and heavy maintenance oversight services.
• Kellstrom Aerospace: Kellstrom Aerospace provides aviation technical services including engine and aircraft component MRO and aftermarket support, and is now part of VSE Corporation (TAG's parent). It is the most direct internal comparable and a key sibling business.
• Magnetic MRO: Magnetic MRO provides aircraft MRO, line maintenance, and transition management services, with heavy involvement in P2F and storage programs—directly comparable to TAG's heavy maintenance oversight and transition event management services.
• GA Telesis: GA Telesis is a global aviation services group offering MRO, component services, aircraft leasing support, and lifecycle management—closely comparable to TAG's aircraft asset management, transition, and technical advisory offerings for airlines and lessors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-aircraft-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 The Aircraft Group