Zenith Aviation
Zenith Aviation is a Fredericksburg, Virginia-based aviation parts distributor founded in 2002 that supplies spare parts, exchange pools, consignment inventory, and MRO logistics to regional airlines, corporate flight departments, and federal/state/foreign government customers, operating from an SDVOSB-certified, ISO 9001 and AS9120 credentialed facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersFredericksburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Zenith Aviation does
Zenith Aviation, Inc. is a Fredericksburg, Virginia-based aviation parts distributor founded in 2002 that serves domestic and international regional airlines, corporate flight departments, and federal, state, and foreign government entities. The company originated from Stanford & Associates (established 1982), pivoting into spare parts distribution after securing sole distributorship rights for Dornier 328 aircraft and parts in December 2002. It operates as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), holds ISO 9001 and AS9120 quality certifications (since September 2008), is AC-00-56B certified, and is registered with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) for international defense trade, enabling prime and subcontractor government work.
The company's core offering is a large spare parts inventory and exchange pool covering multiple aircraft platforms, supported by 24/7 Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) emergency support. Its 50,000 square foot climate-controlled warehouse, scaled via a $3 million expansion in 2012, employs Pick-to-Light systems (99.9% pick accuracy), SAFERAK density storage, and Kardex-Remstar vertical and horizontal carousels. Beyond parts distribution, Zenith offers logistic management of MRO services through a partner network with FAA-approved Designated Engineering Representative (DER) solutions and tackles parts obsolescence through reverse engineering, design, forging, testing, machining, and Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) capabilities, alongside parts consignment programs.
Revenue is generated through transaction-based parts sales priced by condition code (NE, OH, RB, IN, NS, RP, MO, TST, SV, AR), exchange program fees, consignment arrangements, and logistics management services, distributed direct-to-customer B2B via a 24/7 AOG support line and online payment portal. Government contracting is facilitated through System for Award Management (SAM) registration under CAGE Code 4WMF1 and DUNS 149041662 with multi-NAICS coverage. Recent capital investments include a 400-kW industrial diesel backup generator installed in December 2024 and a 149.9-kW rooftop solar system interconnected in January 2025 to support operational continuity and energy independence, and the company exhibited at Paris Air Show 2025 and the AUSA 2025 Annual Meeting to pursue international and defense sector opportunities.
Zenith Aviation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zenith Aviation
- Legal name
- Zenith Aviation, Inc.
- Website
- https://zenithaviation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zenith Aviation is a Fredericksburg, Virginia-based aviation parts distributor founded in 2002 that supplies spare parts, exchange pools, consignment inventory, and MRO logistics to regional airlines, corporate flight departments, and federal/state/foreign government customers, operating from an SDVOSB-certified, ISO 9001 and AS9120 credentialed facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zenith Aviation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Parts Distribution
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)
- SIC
- Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Parts Distribution & Spares Management (Aftermarket) (IMABALAK)
Keywords
Where Zenith Aviation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fredericksburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zenith Aviation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Aircraft Spare Parts Sales: Direct sale of commercial and government aircraft spare parts from large inventory stock. Transaction-based revenue from stocking distributor model serving regional airlines and corporate flight departments.
- Parts Exchange Program: Exchange program where customers return cores (used parts) for rebuilt/repaired units. Customers pay exchange fee with core due by specified date; late fees apply for delayed returns. BER (Beyond Economical Repair) pricing options available.
- Parts Consignment: Consignment programs where inventory is held on behalf of customers, providing flexible inventory management solutions.
- Logistics Management Services: Management of MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) services and obsolete parts handling including reverse engineering, design, forging, testing, machining, and PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based parts pricing determined by condition code and transaction type |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Zenith Aviation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zenith Aviation is a stocking distributor of commercial and government aircraft spare parts, supplying regional airlines, corporate flight departments, and government entities from a 50,000-square-foot climate-controlled automated warehouse. The company complements parts distribution with a spare parts exchange program, parts consignment programs, logistics management of MRO services, and logistics management of obsolete parts manufacturing (including reverse engineering, forging, testing, machining, and PMA). 24/7 AOG (Aircraft on Ground) emergency support and ISO 9001, AS9120, AC-00-56B, and SDVOSB certifications round out the offering.
Product overview
Zenith Aviation is an aviation parts distributor offering a unified portfolio of products and services for commercial and government aircraft operators. The core offering centers on the Commercial & Government Aircraft Parts Supply program, which provides a large spare parts inventory with a multi-platform exchange pool and 24/7 AOG support. This is supported by a Spare Parts Exchange Program enabling economically repairable cores to be exchanged for certified units. Complementary services include Logistic Management of Manufacturing Services (covering reverse engineering, forging, machining, testing, and PMA for obsolescence management) and Logistic Management of MRO Services (leveraging a network of MRO partners with FAA-approved DER solutions). The company also offers Government Contracting Solutions and Parts Consignment Programs, all managed through a climate-controlled, automated warehouse facility with ISO 9001 and AS9120 certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial & Government Aircraft Parts Supply Stocking-distributor supply of commercial and government aircraft spare parts from a 50,000 sq ft climate-controlled automated warehouse, including a large exchange pool covering multiple aircraft platforms and supported by 24/7 AOG (Aircraft on Ground) emergency support. Targets regional airlines, corporate flight departments, and federal/state/foreign government operators.
- Spare Parts Exchange Program Exchange program in which customers return cores (used parts) for rebuilt/repaired units; covers condition codes NE, OH, RB, IN, NS, RP, MO, TST, SV, AR with BER (Beyond Economical Repair) pricing options for non-repairable cores. Available to commercial and government aircraft operators.
- Parts Consignment Programs Inventory consignment programs allowing customers to hold Zenith Aviation parts on-site to minimize downtime and maximize aircraft availability. Targeted at regional airlines and corporate flight departments seeking capital-efficient inventory management.
- Logistic Management of Manufacturing Services End-to-end management of obsolete parts manufacturing logistics, including reverse engineering, design, forging, testing, machining, and PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) services for operators dealing with parts obsolescence.
- Logistic Management of MRO Services Coordination of maintenance, repair, and overhaul services through a network of MRO partners, offering discounted pricing, FAA-approved DER solutions, and capabilities for hard-to-support parts. Available to commercial and government aircraft operators.
- Government Contracting Solutions Government contracting services delivered as both a prime and subcontractor to federal, state, and foreign governments with SAM registration (Cage Code 4WMF1, DUNS 149041662), DDTC export compliance, and SDVOSB set-aside eligibility across multiple NAICS codes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.9% pick accuracy through Pick-to-Light system
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Zenith Aviation
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Zenith Aviation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Zenith Aviation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HutchcoreStrategic partner supplier providing aviation parts and components to support Zenith Aviation's domestic and international client fleets.
- ThalescoreStrategic partner providing avionics and aerospace technology products as part of Zenith Aviation's supplier network.
- Qualified Distributor NetworkcorePart of Zenith Aviation's qualified distributor network ensuring authorized parts distribution channels.
- HartzellcoreStrategic supplier partner providing aerospace propulsion and component solutions.
- SkylinecoreStrategic partner supplier for aviation parts supporting regional aircraft operations.
- Aviation Holdings Group (AHG)coreStrategic partner in the aviation parts distribution network.
- Virginia Economic Development PartnershipminorState economic development organization that coordinated Virginia exhibitor presence at Paris Air Show 2025, including Zenith Aviation.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Zenith Aviation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Av-DEC: Av-DEC is a niche aerospace parts and engineering solutions provider focused on certified components and MRO support. It competes in adjacent PMA/DER service lines that Zenith offers through its Logistic Management of Manufacturing Services.
- Avtron Aerospace: Avtron Aerospace is a smaller aerospace aftermarket parts specialist focused on components and rotables for commercial aircraft platforms. It competes with Zenith in the commercial spare parts exchange and stocking distributor space with comparable scale.
Broad incumbents
- StandardAero: StandardAero is one of the world's largest independent MRO providers with deep engine and component overhaul capabilities. It overlaps with Zenith's Logistic Management of MRO Services offering and competes for the same regional airline and corporate flight department customers.
- TransDigm Group: TransDigm is a dominant designer, producer, and supplier of highly engineered aerospace components with proprietary and sole-source positions. While primarily a manufacturer, it competes for the same fleet spare parts budgets that Zenith addresses through distribution and PMA.
- HEICO Corporation: HEICO is a major aerospace and electronics company operating FAA-approved PMA parts manufacturing and parts distribution segments. It competes with Zenith in the FAA-approved DER / PMA / replacement parts space, but operates at vastly greater scale across multiple aerospace niches.
Direct peers
- AAR Corp: AAR Corp is a leading aerospace aftermarket solutions provider offering aircraft parts distribution, MRO services, and supply chain logistics to commercial and government operators. It directly competes with Zenith in commercial and government aircraft parts supply, with substantially larger scale and a global footprint.
- Aircraft Spruce & Specialty: Aircraft Spruce is a broad aviation parts and accessories distributor serving general aviation, corporate, and regional operators. It competes with Zenith in the corporate flight department and small commercial parts segment, though with a more general aviation focus.
- GA Telesis: GA Telesis is a global aerospace aftermarket specialist with a large parts distribution, leasing, and MRO ecosystem serving commercial and government customers. It is the closest scaled analog to Zenith's stocking-distributor + exchange-pool + MRO-coordination model.
- Wencor Group: Wencor is a leading aerospace parts distributor specializing in PMA development, distribution, and MRO support for regional and commercial aircraft. Its PMA and parts distribution model directly parallels Zenith's stocking distributor and PMA capabilities.
Regional players
- Pattonair (now part of Deloitte / sold): Pattonair is a global aerospace parts distribution and supply chain services company serving engine and airframe platforms with international footprint. Comparable to Zenith in distribution model and government/defense exposure, though significantly larger and Europe-headquartered.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zenith Aviation social profiles
Digital presenceZenith Aviation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Zenith Aviation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zenith Aviation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Zenith Aviation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zenith Aviation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zenith Aviation
What does Zenith Aviation do?
Zenith Aviation is a stocking distributor of commercial and government aircraft spare parts, supplying regional airlines, corporate flight departments, and government entities from a 50,000-square-foot climate-controlled automated warehouse. The company complements parts distribution with a spare parts exchange program, parts consignment programs, logistics management of MRO services, and logistics management of obsolete parts manufacturing (including reverse engineering, forging, testing, machining, and PMA). 24/7 AOG (Aircraft on Ground) emergency support and ISO 9001, AS9120, AC-00-56B, and SDVOSB certifications round out the offering.
Is Zenith Aviation a public or private company?
Zenith Aviation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Zenith Aviation founded?
Zenith Aviation was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zenith Aviation based?
Zenith Aviation is headquartered in Fredericksburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Zenith Aviation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Aircraft Spare Parts Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts Exchange Program, parts Consignment and logistics Management Services.
Who are Zenith Aviation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Av-DEC and Avtron Aerospace. Broad incumbents are StandardAero, TransDigm Group and HEICO Corporation. Direct peers are AAR Corp, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, GA Telesis and Wencor Group. Pattonair (now part of Deloitte / sold) is listed as a regional player.
Does Zenith Aviation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zenith Aviation.
What industry is Zenith Aviation in?
Zenith Aviation's product category is Aviation Parts Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABALAK, Parts Distribution & Spares Management (Aftermarket). Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3728.