Avionics Design Services

What Avionics Design Services does

Avionics Design Services Ltd. (ADS) is a Canadian aviation engineering and certification firm founded in 1996 by Robert (Bob) Gow and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with a secondary office in Surrey, British Columbia. The company holds Transport Canada Delegation of Authority (DAO) status and is recognized by Professional Engineers Ontario, enabling it to develop and approve Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs), Technical Standard Orders (TSOs), and Repair Design Approvals (RDAs) across virtually every aircraft type certified in Canada. Its core service offering covers glass cockpit retrofits (Garmin, Universal Avionics, Collins Aerospace), TCAS and ADS-B surveillance, FANS/CPDLC datalink certification, cabin avionics and connectivity, Wi-Fi/TPED qualification, environmental qualification testing to RTCA DO-160 and MIL standards, structural modifications, and interior refurbishments. ADS also produces reusable off-the-shelf design packages for common aircraft modifications.

ADS operates as a project-based professional services business, generating revenue through custom engineering and certification engagements with aircraft operators, owners, and avionics manufacturers. Pricing is quote-based and tied to the scope of each modification; the company does not publicly disclose rates. The go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct engagement with customers and 24/7 technical support, with light marketing through its website, case studies, and email newsletter. Customers span commercial airlines (Boeing 777, Airbus A310, Boeing 737), regional carriers (Perimeter Aviation), business aviation, special missions, rotary-wing operators, and avionics OEMs (Universal Avionics, Collins Aerospace, CMC Electronics). Projects have been delivered globally across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, with certifications accepted by TCCA, FAA, EASA, and other authorities. In October 2023, ADS and its sister organization Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2) were acquired by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, integrating ADS into an aircraft OEM and positioning its work for forward-fit programs such as the DHC-515.

Name

Avionics Design Services

Legal name

Avionics Design Services Ltd.

Website

https://avionicsdesign.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Avionics Design Services is a Transport Canada-authorized DAO providing STC, TSO, and RDA engineering and certification services across commercial, regional, business, special missions, and rotary-wing aircraft, serving operators and avionics OEMs globally. Acquired by De Havilland of Canada in October 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Engineering & Certification Services

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Avionics Software, Certification & Safety-Critical Systems (DO-178/DO-254) (IMABAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN), Surveillance & Identification Avionics (ADS-B/Transponders/TCAS) (IMABAFAM), Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link) (IMABAFAG)

Keywords

• Aviation certification services
• Supplemental type certificates
• Aircraft engineering design
• Avionics systems integration
• Environmental qualification testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Midland

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Certification Services: Professional services revenue generated through design, engineering, and certification of aircraft modifications. Services include STC development, TSO authorization, RDA approvals, environmental qualification testing, and engineering of aircraft interiors, structures, and avionics systems.
2. Design Packages: Off-the-shelf design packages for various aircraft modifications including interior completions, flight deck upgrades, and structural repairs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Avionics Design Services (ADS) provides engineering, design, and certification services for aircraft modifications, specializing in Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs), Technical Standard Orders (TSOs), and Repair Design Approvals (RDAs). The company delivers interior completions, glass cockpit upgrades, surveillance systems (TCAS/ADS-B), FANS/CPDLC, cabin avionics, Wi-Fi/TPED qualification, and RTCA DO-160/MIL environmental qualification testing across commercial, regional, business, special mission, and rotary-wing aircraft types as an authorized Transport Canada Design Approval Organization.

Product overview

Avionics Design Services (ADS) is a Canadian aviation engineering and certification organization offering a comprehensive suite of services rather than a software product platform. The company provides Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) development and certification, environmental qualification testing (RTCA DO-160/MIL standards), aircraft problem-solving, and complete design packages for interior completions, flight deck upgrades (glass cockpits), surveillance systems (TCAS/ADS-B), cabin avionics, Wi-Fi/TPED connectivity, and structural modifications. Services span commercial airlines, regional carriers, business aviation, special missions operators, rotary-wing aircraft, and avionics manufacturers. ADS operates as an authorized Transport Canada Design Approval Organization (DAO) with over 25 years of experience certifying modifications across virtually all aircraft types certified in Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supplemental Type Certificates (STC)

Quantifiable outcome

• First company to certify TCAS in Canada
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• De Havilland of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023In October 2023, De Havilland of Canada acquired both Avionics Design Services Inc. and Mid-Canada Mod Center. ADS and MC2 continue to grow as part of the De Havilland Canada family, bringing together certification expertise with aircraft manufacturing capabilities.
• Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2022Strategic partnership with Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2), an avionics maintenance and modification organization. In September 2022, ADS co-located its Ontario operations with MC2 at the Mississauga facility. ADS and MC2 operate as sister companies, both acquired by De Havilland of Canada in October 2023. Together they offer fully integrated services from Cessna Citation to Boeing Classic aircraft.
• Perimeter AviationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with Perimeter Aviation for Metro III aircraft Garmin 950 glass cockpit retrofit project. ADS worked with Perimeter as the service center partner for the modification.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Garmin Aviation: Avionics OEM that develops and certifies its own STC packages (e.g., Garmin 950 retrofit done with ADS on the Metro III), positioning it as both a customer and competitive certifier in the same glass-cockpit upgrade category.
• StandardAero: Large global aviation MRO with avionics modification, STC development, and engineering services across business jets and regional aircraft — overlapping with ADS's certification-and-installation offering at greater scale.
• HAECO: Large independent MRO group with interior completions, avionics modifications, and supplemental type certificate work on business jets and commercial aircraft, comparable to ADS's full-stack certification services.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Major avionics OEM that performs its own STC approvals and certification engineering for products like FMS and cockpit upgrades — overlapping with ADS's TSO/STC services for avionics manufacturers.
• Lufthansa Technik: Global MRO and completions provider that performs STC-grade avionics upgrades, interior completions, and connectivity retrofits on business and commercial aircraft — directly overlapping ADS's service portfolio.

Regional players

• Avmax Aviation Services: Canadian-headquartered aviation services firm providing MRO, avionics modifications, and engineering support across regional and business aircraft — comparable geographic and capability footprint to ADS.
• Cascade Aerospace: Canadian aerospace MRO and modification provider serving military, regional, and commercial aircraft with in-house engineering and certification capabilities comparable to ADS's STC/RDA work.

Direct peers

• Mid-Canada Mod Center: Sister company acquired alongside ADS by De Havilland Canada in October 2023; co-located with ADS in Mississauga and bundles MRO/installation with ADS's certification engineering on the same fleet modifications.

Emerging players

• Universal Avionics: Avionics OEM that engages ADS for STC development (e.g., first Canadian InSight Display System STC); it competes indirectly by certifying its own products but remains a key ADS partner.
• CMC Electronics: Canadian avionics manufacturer that partnered with ADS on the Airbus A310 FANS/ATN-B1 solution — overlaps with ADS's certification engineering for avionics manufacturers while also being a customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avionics-design-services-ltd

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Avionics Design Services