Hi-Lite Airfield Services

What Hi-Lite Airfield Services does

Hi-Lite Airfield Services, LLC is a private airfield pavement maintenance contractor headquartered in Watertown, New York, that delivers a full suite of runway and taxiway services to commercial airports, general aviation facilities, military installations, and state departments of transportation across all 50 US states, Canada, and the Caribbean. Service lines include airfield markings (waterborne paint and preformed thermoplastic), runway rubber removal, surface preparation, friction testing using Airport Surface Friction Testers, paint removal, crack sealing, and seal coating, all delivered under the ThinkZero® safety framework adopted across Frontline Road Safety Group affiliates. The company differentiates through proprietary in-house equipment and processes: the Rubbernator waterblasting truck (six-foot wide pass clearing up to 30,000 square feet of rubber per hour), the R4 eco-friendly rubber removal method combining AEROGREEN pre-treatment with light waterblasting, the Gator cleaning machine developed for Florida airports in 2015, and the vertically integrated AEROGREEN chemical product line acquired in 2009.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model. Performance-based Airfield Maintenance Services (AMS) contracts with on-site personnel and a two-hour on-call response posture generate recurring managed-service revenue at major hubs (Miami International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, and a multi-year AMS+ program at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport under Aerostar Airport Holdings, which achieved zero FAA Part 139 inspection discrepancies). Project-based engagements for specific rubber removal, marking, or seal coating scopes provide transactional revenue, while the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract (#110122-HLA, valid January 2023 through January 2027) opens low-friction procurement to over 50,000 government, education, and non-profit organizations. Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales with channel partnerships and state DOT direct contracts (e.g., Florida Department of Transportation statewide airfield markings).

Hi-Lite is a subsidiary of Frontline Road Safety Group, itself a portfolio company of The Sterling Group, a private equity firm targeting basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services; Frontline has executed nine acquisitions since July 2020 and is described as the largest provider of pavement marking services in the United States. Hi-Lite has added three businesses to its platform since 2023 — Axtell's Inc. (January 2023, Pennsylvania airfield marking), Cyclone Technology's airport contracting services division (December 2023, western US), and HASCO Inc. (April 2026, North Carolina) — each retained under its established brand with continuity of leadership and customer relationships. Christopher Miller serves as President.

Name

Hi-Lite Airfield Services

Legal name

Hi-Lite Airfield Services, LLC

Website

https://hi-lite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hi-Lite Airfield Services, LLC provides comprehensive airfield pavement maintenance — including markings, runway rubber removal, surface preparation, friction testing, crack sealing, and seal coating — for commercial airports, military installations, and state DOTs across the US, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airfield Pavement Maintenance Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Line Maintenance & Turnaround Operations (EDAOAFAG)

Keywords

• Airfield pavement maintenance
• Runway rubber removal
• Airfield markings services
• FAA Part 139 compliance
• Runway friction testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Adams Center

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airfield Maintenance Services (AMS) Contracts: Performance-based maintenance contracts with ongoing maintenance and regular reporting. Contractors maintain on-call status within two hours of incident reporting at major airports. Includes multi-year agreements for airports like Miami International Airport.
2. Project-Based Services: Individual service engagements for specific airfield maintenance projects including runway rubber removal, markings application, friction testing, and surface preparation. Billed per project or service delivery.
3. Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing: Government procurement contract (#110122-HLA) enabling qualified entities to purchase airfield maintenance services without additional solicitations. Serves government, education, and non-profit organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hi-Lite Airfield Services provides airfield pavement maintenance services including runway markings, rubber removal, surface preparation, friction testing, paint removal, crack sealing, and seal coating for commercial airports, general aviation facilities, and military installations across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. The company operates performance-based AMS contracts delivering 24/7 FAA Part 139 compliance support and uses proprietary equipment and methods such as the Rubbernator waterblaster, the R4 rubber removal process, and AEROGREEN environmentally preferred chemical products.

Product overview

Hi-Lite Airfield Services is a best-in-class provider of comprehensive airfield pavement maintenance services operating throughout all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and the Caribbean. The company offers a unified suite of services organized around core airfield maintenance capabilities: Airfield Markings (runway, taxiway, apron markings using waterborne paint and preformed thermoplastic), Runway Rubber Removal (waterblasting, chemical, and R4 processes), Surface Preparation, Friction Testing, Paint Removal, Crack Sealing, and Seal Coating. The portfolio is unified under the ThinkZero® safety philosophy and supported by an Airfield Maintenance Services (AMS) program offering 24/7 Part 139 compliance. The company has expanded through acquisitions including Axtell's, Inc. (2023), Cyclone Technology's airport division (2023), and HASCO, Inc. (2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ThinkZero®: A safety and quality program adopted across all Frontline Road Safety Group affiliates, embodying the commitment to Zero Accidents, Zero Defects, and Zero Losses.

Products and services

• Airfield Markings High-quality, durable, and compliant airfield markings for runways, taxiways, aprons, and gates using waterborne paint and preformed thermoplastic materials, ensuring FAA Part 139 compliance and enhanced safety through retro-reflective markings. Target customers are commercial airports, general aviation airports, and military installations.
• Runway Rubber Removal Removal of carbonized rubber deposits from runway surfaces using advanced techniques including waterblasting via the proprietary Rubbernator system, chemical process with AEROGREEN products, and the R4 eco-friendly method to maintain optimal friction levels and runway safety. Serves commercial airports, military airfields, and state DOTs.
• Surface Preparation Comprehensive surface preparation services for concrete, asphalt, and painted surfaces including cure compound removal, oil/contaminant cleaning, and failing paint removal to ensure optimal paint adhesion and marking longevity. Targets airports and aviation facilities requiring surface readiness for coatings.
• Friction Testing Runway friction testing services using Airport Surface Friction Tester (ASFT) equipment to evaluate pavement skid resistance in wet and dry conditions, ensuring compliance with FAA recommendations for safe aircraft operations. Used by airports and aviation authorities.
• Paint Removal Removal of old or obsolete airfield markings using high-pressure water blasting, specialized chemical applicators, and vacuum recovery systems to create clean surfaces for new marking applications. Used at airports requiring marking refreshes.
• Crack Sealing Preventative crack sealing services using specially formulated materials to act as barriers against water, dirt, debris, and UV radiation, preserving pavement structural integrity and preventing costly repairs. Serves airport pavement maintenance programs.
• Seal Coating Protective seal coating services including Coal Tar (P-630, P-631), Emulsified Asphalt (P-623), Asphalt Rejuvenation (P-632), Asphalt Microsurfacing (P-629), and Gilsonite (P-608, P-608R) to protect runway surfaces from weather, UV radiation, and heavy traffic. Serves commercial airports and military airfields.
• AMS (Airfield Maintenance Services) Performance-based maintenance contract providing 24/7 Part 139 compliance support with ongoing maintenance, regular reporting, and on-call response within two hours of incident reporting at large hub airports. Includes multi-year AMS+ programs such as the one at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero Discrepancies on FAA Part 139 Inspection at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HASCO, Inc.coreOthers · 13 April 2026HASCO, Inc. acquired in April 2026. Founded 37 years ago, HASCO is an airfield pavement maintenance contractor based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Now operating as 'HASCO - A Hi-Lite Company' while maintaining its established brand, leadership, and customer relationships.
• Cyclone TechnologycoreOthers · 11 December 2023Acquisition of Cyclone Technology's airport contracting services division in December 2023. Strengthened Hi-Lite's presence in the western United States, bringing specialized equipment for efficient and environmentally responsible runway cleaning and paint/rubber removal.
• SourcewellcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 January 2023Sourcewell provides cooperative purchasing contracts enabling government, education, and non-profit organizations to procure Hi-Lite's airfield maintenance services without additional solicitations. Contract #110122-HLA valid from January 13, 2023 through January 13, 2027, covering airfield marking, rubber removal, friction testing, crack sealing, and related services.
• Axtell's, Inc.coreOthers · 13 January 2023Acquisition of Axtell's, Inc. airfield marking business in January 2023. Headquartered in Jermyn, Pennsylvania, Axtell's was a leading pavement marking business specializing in general airfield pavement maintenance. This was Frontline Road Safety's ninth acquisition since July 2020.
• Georgia Department of Human ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2017Partnership for workforce recruitment through the Fatherhood Program, assisting parents who are unemployed or underemployed. Hi-Lite provides job placement and training opportunities for airfield maintenance operations at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
• Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) where Hi-Lite provides AMS+ maintenance program. Collaboration includes weekly friction testing, rubber removal, FOD sweeping, and airfield markings maintenance. Partnership has achieved zero FAA Part 139 discrepancies.
• Miami Dade Airport AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year Airfield Maintenance Services (AMS) contract at Miami International Airport, one of the top 10 busiest US airports. Hi-Lite established dedicated operations center with personnel and equipment to maintain Part 139 zero discrepancy record.
• Florida Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide Airfield Markings Contract through FDOT for runway rubber removal, friction testing, and specialty markings across Florida airports. Includes addressing regional concerns like algae contamination affecting friction and visibility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Hi-Way Safety Systems: Pavement marking and traffic safety contractor serving highways, airports, and commercial properties across the US. Comparable to Hi-Lite in core service offering (markings, surface preparation, lane striping) and customer base (DOTs, municipalities, airports).
• Sweeping Corporation of America: Specialty sweeping and pavement maintenance services for airports, municipalities, and commercial facilities. Closely comparable to Hi-Lite because both deliver airfield sweeping, FOD control, and related pavement maintenance at major commercial airports under multi-year contracts.
• RoadSafe Traffic Systems: National pavement marking, traffic control, and roadway safety services provider. Directly comparable to Hi-Lite because both operate specialty pavement marking and roadway/airfield surface treatment crews, serve government and commercial customers, and compete for the same type of contract work.

Broad incumbents

• Clean Harbors: Large environmental and industrial services provider offering industrial cleaning, surface preparation, and specialty maintenance. Comparable to Hi-Lite as a broad industrial services incumbent with overlap in surface preparation and contaminant removal, though its aviation exposure is small.
• ABM Industries: Large public facility services company with a dedicated aviation segment providing airport facility maintenance, ground support, and janitorial services. Comparable to Hi-Lite as a broader incumbent that overlaps in airport maintenance, though ABM is not specialized in airfield pavement markings.
• PAE (Amentum): Government and aviation services contractor providing airfield operations, logistics, and base support, including for military installations. Comparable to Hi-Lite as an aviation services incumbent competing for military airfield work, though with a much broader scope.

Others

• Vulcan Line Construction / Vulcan Materials: Large infrastructure construction and materials supplier. Adjacent to Hi-Lite through the seal coating and asphalt pavement supply chain, but not a direct competitor in airfield maintenance services.
• Aerostar Airport Holdings: Strategic partner operating Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU). Comparable to Hi-Lite as a counterparty in the AMS+ contract and adjacent in the airport services value chain, though Aerostar's business model is airport operations rather than maintenance contracting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hi-lite-airfield-services-llc-111588885536232
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hi-lite-airfield-services-llc
• Xx.com/hiliteafs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hi-Lite Airfield Services