What Wilder Engineering does

Wilder Engineering is a Reno, Nevada-based private software firm founded in 1991 by electrical engineer Ron Wilder. The company develops automated scheduling and reservation systems delivered primarily through Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and Computer Telephony Integration (CTI). Its core products are the Flight Scheduling System (FSS) for aircraft operators and the Computerized Auto Reservation System (CARS) for shared-vehicle fleets, both supporting touch-tone telephone, modem, and console access. The company also provides custom scheduling development using a proprietary reusable codebase exceeding 50,000 lines.

The underlying technology stack is dated: DOS, Windows, and NT operating environments; Access, Paradox, and Clipper databases; and DAX/Visual Voice with proprietary voice-card hardware. This is a deterministic, rule-based automation platform, not an AI/ML system. Customers include the Federal Aviation Administration (300,000+ reservations/year), the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (94% pilot adoption), Fixed Base Operators, flying clubs, fractional-ownership communities, and at least one car-sharing startup. Operational scale per deployment ranges from 1–3 aircraft partnerships up to 1,000 aircraft serving 10,000 members across 1,000 clubs.

Revenue derives from a mix of one-time perpetual licenses ($1,500 base system for up to 3 aircraft/vehicles), recurring monthly subscription fees for hosted service ($15–$25 per aircraft per month), and custom development services ($80–$130/hour). Distribution is direct sales via phone and trade shows (notably AOPA Expo), with no partner/reseller channel and no modern self-serve or PLG motion. The FSS product site is marked "ARCHIVE SITE: No longer selling," indicating the aviation flagship is in wind-down while CARS and custom development carry current activity.

Name

Wilder Engineering

Legal name

Wilder Engineering

Website

https://wilderengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wilder Engineering is a Reno, Nevada private firm founded in 1991 that builds automated scheduling and reservation software — primarily the Flight Scheduling System (FSS) and Computerized Auto Reservation System (CARS) — delivered via touch-tone IVR to aviation operators, flying clubs, government agencies, and car-sharing companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Causeway Bay

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (FSS, CARS): One-time perpetual license sale for scheduling software. Base system pricing at $1,500 for up to 3 aircraft/vehicles. Scales with additional capacity.
2. Monthly Service Fees: Recurring monthly fees for hosted scheduling service. Flying clubs paying $15-$25 per aircraft per month for the service. Service includes backup power and nightly tape backups.
3. Custom Development Services: Custom development at $80-$130 per hour. Company builds custom scheduling systems for specific customer requirements using their proven software components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wilder Engineering develops and sells automated scheduling and reservation software, with two flagship products: the Flight Scheduling System (FSS) for aircraft operations and the Computerized Auto Reservation System (CARS) for automobile fleets. The software uses proprietary IVR/computer telephony technology to allow members and operators to schedule, cancel, and check availability 24/7 via touch-tone telephone, modem, or walk-up terminals. The company also provides custom scheduling system development using its library of over 50,000 lines of proven reusable code.

Product overview

Wilder Engineering offers a portfolio of automated scheduling and reservation solutions centered on two core products: the Flight Scheduling System (FSS) for aircraft and the Computerized Auto Reservation System (CARS) for automobiles. Both products share similar multi-modal access architectures supporting touch-tone telephone, modem, and console interfaces. The company also provides custom scheduling system development services using their reusable software components. The FSS product line includes three editions targeting different market segments: Partnership Edition (small ownership groups), Flying Club Edition (single clubs up to 10,000 members), and Multi-Club/Entrepreneur Edition (for FBO operators and service providers).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flight Scheduling System (FSS) Automated scheduling system for aircraft used by Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) and Flying Clubs. Supports scheduling via console interface, touch-tone phone interface, or modem interface. Multiple editions available: Partnership (1-3 aircraft), Flying Club Edition (up to 10,000 members, multiple aircraft), and Multi-Club Edition (for entrepreneurs/FBOs scheduling multiple clubs/partnerships).
• Computerized Auto Reservation System (CARS) Automated scheduling system for automobiles used by car sharing clubs. Scheduling is available via console interface, touch-tone phone interface, or modem interface. Basic system lists at $1,500 for scheduling up to 3 cars.
• Custom-built Scheduling Systems Custom scheduling systems development services. Wilder Engineering designs and deploys low-cost, low-maintenance scheduling systems tailored to customer requirements, using its 'toolbox' of over 50,000 lines of proven software.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of pilots chose automated system over calling human operators for Denver Ski Country reservations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Genesys: Major IVR and computer telephony integration platform. Comparable in the voice/IVR technology foundation that Wilder's touch-tone scheduling systems rely on, but at significantly greater scale and with modern cloud delivery.
• Acuity Scheduling: Widely adopted online scheduling and appointment-booking SaaS. Comparable horizontal scheduling automation product, but delivered via modern web/cloud architecture versus Wilder's proprietary on-premise/IVR model.
• FlightAware: Aviation data and operations platform used by ATC, FBOs, and operators. Comparable in serving aviation reservation and traffic-management workflows that Wilder addresses via its FAA deployment.
• Mindbody: Broad membership and resource scheduling platform for fitness, wellness, and member-based organizations. Comparable in automating bookings, member accounts, and recurring reservations at scale, though serving different end verticals.
• ForeFlight: Dominant aviation operations and flight planning platform serving pilots and FBOs. While focused on pre-flight workflows rather than scheduling, it competes for the same aviation customer wallet share as Wilder's FSS.
• Calendly: General-purpose scheduling automation platform. While consumer/business oriented rather than resource scheduling, it represents the modern, frictionless UX direction Wilder's legacy IVR scheduling approach is moving away from.

Emerging players

• Arbox: Vertical SaaS for managing shared resources, memberships, and bookings in clubs and small organizations. Comparable to Wilder's club-focused scheduling and member management functionality, delivered as modern cloud software.
• ClubExpress: Club management software serving member-based organizations including aviation clubs. Competes for the same flying club member management and scheduling use case as Wilder's FSS Flying Club Edition.
• Skedda: Cloud-native booking and scheduling SaaS for shared spaces and resources. Comparable to Wilder's resource-scheduling engine but delivers a modern web/mobile experience versus Wilder's legacy IVR architecture.

Direct peers

• Zipcar: Car sharing operator whose scheduling and reservation technology overlaps directly with Wilder's CARS product. Wilder's Portland car-sharing deployment targeted the same member-vehicle reservation workflow Zipcar pioneered.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilder-engineering

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 Wilder Engineering