Coffman Associates

What Coffman Associates does

Coffman Associates is a specialized airport planning consulting firm founded in 1979 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, with a second office in Scottsdale, Arizona. The firm exclusively focuses on airport planning services rather than engineering, providing airport master plans, environmental planning (NEPA/CEQA compliance), noise and land use compatibility studies (Part 150), site selection studies for new or relocated airports, and project-specific studies including FAA grant applications and capital improvement plans. The company has completed over 1,700 planning assignments across the United States and internationally, serving 29% of U.S. commercial service airports with a 70% repeat client rate, reflecting deep multi-decade relationships with airport authorities and municipal aviation departments.

The firm's core technology platform is built on Geographic Information System (GIS) tools with FAA-compliant noise modeling software including the Airport Environmental Design Tool (AEDT). Coffman developed AIRS (Airport Internet Resource Suite), a customizable airport management software suite with eight integrated applications covering digital inspections, lease management, airspace analysis, wildlife hazard management, zoning, noise incident monitoring, capital improvement planning, and utility mapping. The firm has been involved with the FAA Airports-GIS program since its inception, including developing the second electronic Airport Layout Plan (eALP) ever approved by the FAA. Its team includes airport planners, GIS specialists, graphic designers, and administrative staff, with 46% of employees having been with the firm for at least 15 years.

Coffman generates revenue through professional services fees on project-based contracts awarded via government RFP processes directly to airport authorities and municipal aviation departments. The firm is sales-led through established client relationships and industry reputation rather than commercial marketing. In November 2025, Coffman Associates was acquired by Pape-Dawson, a civil engineering and environmental services firm, joining the Pape-Dawson family while retaining its specialized brand and operating autonomy.

Name

Coffman Associates

Legal name

Coffman Associates, Inc.

Website

https://coffmanassociates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coffman Associates is a specialized airport planning consulting firm founded in 1979, providing master plans, environmental assessments, noise studies, and site selections to U.S. commercial service and general aviation airports, with proprietary GIS-based AIRS management software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainability Governance, Reporting & Compliance (ESG reporting, CORSIA/EU ETS readiness) (THABANAM)

Keywords

• Airport master planning
• Aviation consulting services
• Airport noise studies
• Environmental planning aviation
• Airport site selection

Headquarters

HQ city

Overland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Airport Planning Consulting Services: Professional consulting fees generated through airport master planning, environmental planning, noise and land use studies, site selections, and project-specific studies. Revenue is project-based and contract-driven, typical of professional services firms serving government clients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Coffman Associates is a specialized airport planning consulting firm that prepares FAA-compliant airport master plans, NEPA/CEQA environmental documentation, Part 150 noise and land use compatibility studies, site selection feasibility analyses for new or relocated airports, and project-specific studies such as capital improvement plans and FAA grant applications. The firm also licenses AIRS, a proprietary GIS-based airport management software suite, to airport operators for inspections, leasing, airspace analysis, wildlife hazard management, zoning, noise monitoring, capital improvement planning, and utility mapping.

Product overview

Coffman Associates is a specialized airport planning firm that offers a single unified product: AIRS (Airport Internet Resource Suite), a GIS-based airport management software platform. AIRS consists of eight integrated applications (Digital Inspections, Lease Management, Airspace Analysis, Wildlife Hazard Management, Zoning, Noise Incident Monitoring, Capital Improvement Plan, and Utility Mapping) that work together as a customizable solution for airports. In addition to this software product, the company provides airport planning consulting services including Airport Master Plans, Environmental Planning, Noise & Land Use Compatibility studies, Site Selections, and Project-Specific Studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AIRS: AIRS (Airport Internet Resource Suite) is a customizable solution for airports built on a Geographic Information System platform, including Digital Inspections, Lease Management, Airspace Analysis, Wildlife Hazard Management, Zoning, Noise Incident Monitoring, Capital Improvement Plan, and Utility Mapping applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% repeat client rate indicates high client satisfaction and trust
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pape-DawsoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Coffman Associates has joined the Pape-Dawson family. Pape-Dawson is a civil engineering and environmental consulting firm. This acquisition combines Coffman Associates' specialized airport planning expertise with Pape-Dawson's broader infrastructure capabilities, creating a more comprehensive service offering for airport clients.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Landrum & Brown: Specialized aviation planning consultancy focused on airport master planning, environmental planning, and Part 150 noise compatibility studies. Among the closest direct competitors to Coffman's core service lines.
• RS&H: Engineering and aviation consulting firm offering airport master planning, environmental, and noise services alongside broader aviation design work. Directly competes for the same municipal and airport authority RFPs as Coffman.
• Mead & Hunt: Multi-disciplinary engineering and planning firm with a dedicated aviation group providing master planning, environmental, and architectural services to airports across the U.S.
• C&S Companies: Engineering and planning firm offering airport master planning, environmental documentation, and Part 150 noise studies. Comparable size and specialty focus.

Broad incumbents

• Kimley-Horn: Large national consulting firm with a substantial aviation practice offering airport planning, environmental, and engineering services. Provides Coffman-like specialty offerings but as part of a much broader consulting portfolio.
• HNTB Corporation: National infrastructure consulting firm with an established aviation practice providing airport planning, environmental, and program management services to airport authorities.
• Burns & McDonnell: Kansas City-based engineering firm with aviation practice serving airport planning and infrastructure needs. Geographic and segment overlap with Coffman.
• WSP: Global professional services firm offering airport planning, environmental, and engineering services as part of a broad infrastructure portfolio. Competes for larger hub and program management work.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with an aviation practice providing planning, environmental, and engineering services. Competes for large-scale airport programs.
• Jacobs Engineering: Global professional services firm with aviation capabilities spanning planning, environmental, and program management for airport authorities and federal agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CoffmanAssoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Coffman Associates