Professional Aviation Associates

What Professional Aviation Associates does

Professional Aviation Associates is a privately held U.S. business headquartered in Forest Park, founded in 1985, that operates in the aircraft parts aftermarket. Per the firm's own positioning, it specializes in aircraft exchange programs and inventory support solutions, implying a model in which operators receive serviced/exchange units in return for their unserviceable cores, alongside stocking and on-demand parts supply.

The company is small by enterprise scale, with a headcount band of 11-50 employees and a single named executive in the available record, Daniel Lafrance, serving as Vice President and General Manager. There is no public disclosure of pricing, customer list, geographic footprint, or revenue. The corporate website (proaviation.com) returned a loader/verification placeholder at the time of data collection, leaving technology stack, digital channels, and product line depth unsubstantiated.

Commercially, PAA functions as a specialized distribution and exchange-pool intermediary between aircraft operators/MROs and parts suppliers, monetizing via core exchanges, outright sales, and likely consignment or pool arrangements typical of aviation rotables distributors. The 38-year operating history supports continuity of supplier relationships and customer qualifications, but the absence of disclosed financials, segments, or partnerships in the source material limits further granularity on business model mechanics.

Name

Professional Aviation Associates

Legal name

Professional Aviation Associates

Website

https://proaviation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Professional Aviation Associates is a privately held U.S. aviation aftermarket firm, founded in 1985 and based in Forest Park, that provides aircraft exchange programs and inventory support solutions to operators and MROs with a staff of 11-50.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Forest Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Core offering

Professional Aviation Associates provides aircraft-industry exchange programs and inventory support solutions, supplying and rotating aviation components for operators and buyers in the commercial and general aviation aftermarket. The company combines a comprehensive parts exchange pool with ongoing inventory support to keep aircraft components available to customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Component Exchange Program Exchange program allowing aviation customers to swap aircraft components for serviced units, reducing downtime versus waiting for repairs. Targeted at aircraft operators, MROs, and parts buyers in the aviation aftermarket.
• Inventory Support Solutions Inventory support solutions that provide aviation customers with managed access to aircraft parts inventory, helping reduce carrying costs and ensure component availability. Targeted at operators, MROs, and parts buyers.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves1 record

Direct peers

• Dallas Avionics: Distributor of avionics, test equipment, and installation supplies with an exchange and repair program for avionics LRUs. Comparable exchange-based model and customer overlap in general aviation and helicopter operators.
• Global Parts Group: Aerospace parts distributor providing MRO support, exchange, and outright sales of components for commercial aircraft. Comparable exchange-pool model and customer base in airline and MRO segments.
• A.E.R.O. (Avionics Exchange & Repair Overhaul): Avionics exchange and repair company offering a pooled exchange program very similar to Professional Aviation Associates, serving commercial, business, and general aviation operators with overhauled avionics components. Directly comparable business model and customer base.
• EDMO Distributors: Avionics, instruments, and pilot supplies distributor serving the general aviation market with both outright sales and exchange services. Closely aligned customer base and product categories with Professional Aviation Associates.
• Pacific Southwest Instruments (PSI): Specializes in the repair, overhaul, and exchange of avionics instruments for commercial and business aviation. Directly comparable exchange-based service model for instrument components.
• Hollingsead International: Aerospace parts distributor and stocking supplier specializing in OEM and obsolete components for commercial, business, and military aviation. Overlapping parts distribution and inventory support model.
• Preferred Airparts: Aircraft parts distributor specializing in Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft components, including an exchange program for engines, accessories, and airframe parts. Closely comparable exchange-based service model targeting general aviation operators.
• SkyTech Aviation: Aircraft parts distributor and service provider specializing in helicopter and fixed-wing components, with exchange and outright sales programs targeting regional operators. Similar size and business model.

Emerging players

• PartsBase: Online marketplace and parts locator for the aviation industry, enabling operators and distributors to source and exchange parts digitally. Emerging as a digital channel that competes with traditional distributors like Professional Aviation Associates.

Broad incumbents

• Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. One of the largest general aviation parts distributors in the US, offering a much broader catalog across multiple aircraft categories. Comparable as an aircraft parts distributor, though significantly larger and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pro_aviation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Professional Aviation Associates