What Contrail Aviation Support does

Contrail Aviation Support is a commercial aircraft trading, leasing, and parts solutions provider founded in 2000 and headquartered in Verona, Wisconsin. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air T, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRT), the company focuses on creative asset management for mid-life to older narrowbody aircraft — primarily Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320 family airframes — and their associated engines (CFM56-3/-5/-7 and IAE V2500-A5). The business holds ASA (Aviation Suppliers Association) certification and operates from a 21,000 sqft inventory and teardown facility in Verona, WI, with satellite marketing offices in France, Ireland, the UK, and Shanghai, China. Since inception the company has executed more than 176 aircraft and engine transactions.

The business operates through three interconnected revenue streams. First, Trading & Leasing handles commercial aircraft and engine asset management, including speculative purchases of "naked" assets, sale-and-leaseback arrangements, and stub leases with no term-length restrictions. Second, Engine Parts supplies Used Serviceable Material (USM) — FAA-authorized overhauled components, including Life Limited Parts (LLPs) and turbine components — for CFM56-3/-5/-7 and V2500-A5 engines to engine MROs worldwide. Third, aircraft and engine lease transactions generate rental income on the company's owned asset base. All engagements are quote-based, B2B, and executed through a direct enterprise field sales team targeting airlines, aircraft and engine lessors, engine MROs, and aircraft trading entities. Contrail is an approved vendor to virtually every CFM and V2500 engine shop globally.

Contrail generates revenue primarily through transaction fees, asset gains on trading activity, lease rentals, and parts margins, with a small global team of 11-50 people. Recent strategic activity includes the August 2022 spin-off of Crestone Air Partners to refocus on core CFM56/V2500 engine leasing, trading, teardown, and USM operations; significant asset portfolio expansion in 2022 across A318s, A320s, CFM56-5B engines, and V2500-A5 spare engines; and three senior leadership additions from 2022 through 2025 (Ger Browne as SVP Marketing & Origination, Ben Jacques as VP Marketing & Acquisitions, and Tom Keeler as VP Technical) to scale origination and technical diligence capacity.

Name

Contrail Aviation Support

Legal name

Contrail Aviation Support, LLC

Website

https://contrail.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Contrail Aviation Support, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air T, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRT), provides commercial aircraft trading, leasing, and USM engine parts for CFM56 and V2500 narrowbody engines. It serves airlines, lessors, and engine MROs worldwide via direct enterprise B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aircraft Trading, Leasing and Engine Parts

NAICS

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (3364), Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing (532411)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Parts & Materials Support (Rotables Pooling, Distribution, Repair Management) (TLAKAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parts Distribution & Spares Management (Aftermarket) (IMABALAK), Aviation MRO Parts & Consumables Distribution (TLAKAOAI)

Keywords

• Aircraft trading
• Engine leasing
• Used serviceable material
• CFM56 engine parts
• Narrowbody asset management

Headquarters

HQ city

Verona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Aircraft Trading: Trading of mid-life to older commercial aircraft including speculative purchases of 'naked' assets, sale and lease-back arrangements, and stub leases with no limitations on term length
2. Aircraft and Engine Leasing: Lease transactions for commercial aircraft and engines with flexibility on term length
3. Used Serviceable Material (USM) Parts Sales: Global supply of certified USM engine parts and components to MROs worldwide, including Life Limited Parts (LLP) and turbine components

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Contrail Aviation Support trades, leases and provides parts for commercial jet engines and narrowbody aircraft. The company specializes in creative asset management — speculative purchases of "naked" assets, sale and lease-back arrangements, and stub leases of mid-life to older commercial aircraft and engines — and supplies FAA-authorized, certified Used Serviceable Material (USM) for CFM56-3/-5/-7 and V2500-A5 engines powering Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320 family aircraft to MROs worldwide.

Product overview

Contrail Aviation Support operates as a commercial aircraft and engine trading, leasing, and parts solutions provider. The company offers two core service lines: Trading & Leasing (commercial aircraft and engine asset management including speculative purchases, sale-lease-back, and stub leases) and Engine Parts (USM - Used Serviceable Material supply for CFM56 and V2500 engines). Both services are focused on the narrowbody 737NG/A320 aircraft segment and are offered under the unified Contrail Aviation Support brand as a business unit of Air T, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRT).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trading & Leasing Commercial aircraft and engine trading and leasing service focused on creative asset management strategies for mid-life to older commercial aircraft and engines powering the Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320 family. Includes speculative purchases of "naked" assets, sale and lease-back arrangements, and stub leases with no limitations on term length. Targets airlines, lessors and aircraft trading entities globally.
• Engine Parts (USM - Used Serviceable Material) Supplier of high-quality commercial jet engine used serviceable material (USM) and components to engine MROs worldwide, with all components overhauled by fully accredited FAA authorized repair agencies. Primary focus is on CFM56-3/-5/-7 and IAE V2500-A5 engines powering Boeing 737 Classic/737NG and Airbus A320 family aircraft. Contrail is an approved vendor to virtually every CFM and V2500 engine shop worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 176+ aircraft and engine transactions completed since inception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Air T, Inc.flagshipOthersContrail is a business unit/subsidiary of Air T, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRT), an American holding company with a portfolio of businesses. Air T provides capital resources and operational backing enabling Contrail to execute large-scale transactions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AerFin: AerFin is a direct competitor in the trading, leasing, and USM supply market for CFM56 and V2500 engines, with a similar focus on mid-life commercial engine assets and MRO parts distribution.
• Willis Lease Finance Corporation: Willis Lease is a publicly-traded engine-leasing specialist and Contrail alumnus Tom Keeler's prior employer; it competes head-on for CFM56/V2500 engine leases and USM supply to MROs.
• GA Telesis: GA Telesis is a global aerospace aftermarket provider operating a USM parts distribution and aircraft/engine leasing platform that overlaps directly with Contrail's narrowbody parts and asset-management offering.
• WNG Capital: WNG Capital is a direct competitor in aircraft and engine trading/leasing and USM parts, with overlap in narrowbody assets; several of Contrail's recent hires came directly from WNG Capital.

Broad incumbents

• GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) — AerCap: The historical GE-affiliated lessor is now part of AerCap but remains a peer reference point; Ger Browne previously held an executive role there and Contrail pitches the same airline and lessor customers.
• Jackson Square Aviation: Jackson Square Aviation is a global narrowbody-focused aircraft lessor with comparable customer base to Contrail; competes for airline sale-leaseback and secondary asset purchase transactions.
• AerCap Holdings: AerCap is the world's largest aircraft lessor (and absorbed GECAS), competing broadly in commercial aviation leasing — including narrowbody engine leasing — though its portfolio spans all platforms.
• Aviation Capital Group (ACG): ACG is a Tokyo-based global aircraft lessor with broad narrowbody and widebody exposure; competes for secondary trading and lease transactions in the same narrowbody asset class as Contrail.
• Avolon: Avolon is a top-tier global aircraft lessor; while broader in scope, it competes for the same mid-life narrowbody trading and lease-return opportunities that drive Contrail's deal flow.

Emerging players

• IBA Group: IBA is an aviation consulting, appraisal and asset-management firm intersecting Contrail's customer base; Ben Jacques previously worked there. Comparable as a transaction enabler and market-intelligence provider for engine/aircraft trading.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/contrail-aviation-support-llc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Contrail Aviation Support