Northwest Aerospace News magazine

What Northwest Aerospace News magazine does

Northwest Aerospace News (NWAN) is a privately held, bimonthly trade publication covering the aerospace manufacturing industry in the Pacific Northwest, distributed internationally to over 11,000 aerospace professionals via print and digital formats with an additional 4,500+ newsletter subscribers and 15,000+ social followers. The magazine is the flagship of a multi-platform media business operated by parent company Top Drawer Media (owned by Dean and Pam Cameron): complementary revenue lines include the Let's Go Aerospace youth publication, the Northwest Aerospace News Live video interview series, the Aerospace Vendors digital supplier directory (premium subscriptions), and the annual Manufacturing Suppliers Expo in Spokane Valley. Core technology is the Joomag digital publishing platform with embedded video integration and ad-to-video links, alongside FAA Part 107 certified drone video production services sold to advertisers.

Revenue is generated primarily through 12-month bundled print-and-digital advertising plans structured as five tiers ($400-$1,500/month, Level I to Level V), with separate pricing for digital/web placements ($300-$900/month), premium placements (inside front/back covers sold out through 2026), event booths ($750-$850 each, capped at 25), and Aerospace Vendors directory subscriptions. The go-to-market is sales-led via an in-house team (including Sales Specialist Kelsey Arnold), supplemented by event-driven demand generation through the Manufacturing Suppliers Expo and content marketing via newsletter, social, and earned media in outlets such as The Spokesman-Review, King5 News, and the Spokane Journal.

Customer segments are vertically oriented within aerospace manufacturing: primary buyers are Pacific Northwest aerospace suppliers (small/mid-sized machine shops and parts manufacturers), tier 1 suppliers, and OEMs (most notably Boeing), with aerospace industry associations (PNAA, I-90 Aerospace Corridor/NIMA, AJAC, AFA) and students reached through the youth publication as secondary segments. The company appears bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, a headquarters in Spokane, WA, and a headcount in the 11-50 range.

Name

Northwest Aerospace News magazine

Legal name

Northwest Aerospace News Magazine

Website

https://northwestaerospacenews.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northwest Aerospace News magazine is a bimonthly trade publication covering the Pacific Northwest aerospace manufacturing industry, distributing to 11,000+ industry professionals worldwide via print, digital, video, and live events under parent Top Drawer Media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Trade Media and Advertising

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJAEAM

Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Magazine Publishing (Consumer & B2B/Trade Magazines)

Keywords

• Aerospace trade publication
• Aerospace manufacturing news
• Print and digital advertising
• Aerospace vendor directory
• Aerospace trade show

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print and Digital Advertising: The primary revenue stream comes from selling advertising space in the print and digital magazine. Multiple ad sizes and placements are offered, from quarter-page to full-page and premium placements (inside front/back covers). Advertising is sold through 12-month bundled marketing plans and individual issues. Digital advertising on the website (letterboard, footer, sidebar placements) is sold separately.
2. Event Sponsorships and Vendor Booth Sales: Revenue generated from the annual Manufacturing Suppliers Expo through vendor booth sales ($850 each) and sponsor packages. The event is capped at 25 booths to maintain exclusivity.
3. Aerospace Vendors Premium Subscriptions: Aerospace Vendors platform offers premium subscriptions to aerospace suppliers for enhanced business profiles, multimedia hosting, and digital marketing visibility.
4. Let's Go Aerospace Magazine: A youth-oriented companion publication targeting Jr. High and High School students to inspire aerospace careers. Distributed to schools and colleges alongside the main magazine, potentially generating sponsorship revenue.
5. Video Production Services: Top Drawer Media (parent company) offers FAA Part 107 certified cinematic drone video production, guided videography, and factory tours for advertising clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Northwest Aerospace News magazine is a bimonthly print and digital trade publication covering aerospace manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest, sold primarily through bundled 12-month advertising plans to aerospace manufacturers, suppliers, and OEMs. Supporting revenue-generating offerings include the Let's Go Aerospace youth publication, the NWAN Live video series, the Aerospace Vendors digital supplier directory, FAA Part 107 certified video production services through parent Top Drawer Media, and the annual Manufacturing Suppliers Expo trade show.

Product overview

Northwest Aerospace News Magazine operates a multi-platform media business consisting of its core bimonthly print and digital publication (Northwest Aerospace News Magazine) covering aerospace manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest, distributed to over 10,000 aerospace professionals worldwide. The company also publishes Let's Go Aerospace Magazine as a youth-focused sister publication targeting students to inspire aerospace careers. Supporting offerings include Northwest Aerospace News Live video series featuring company profiles and industry insights, the Aerospace Vendors digital supplier directory platform, FAA Part 107 certified video production services, and the annual Manufacturing Suppliers Expo trade show event. The company is published by Top Drawer Media and has been operating for over eight years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Let's Go Aerospace Magazine: A publication highlighting aerospace careers and innovations in a fun way intended to inspire Jr. High and High School students. Features content from Boeing, Xplore, Minds-i and others with worldwide distribution to aerospace professionals, schools and colleges.
• Aerospace Vendors
• Northwest Aerospace News Live
• Manufacturing Suppliers Expo

Products and services

• Northwest Aerospace News Magazine The flagship bimonthly print and digital magazine covering aerospace manufacturing industry news in the Pacific Northwest, featuring articles on companies, workforce development, and industry trends. Published six times per year with international distribution to over 11,000 aerospace professionals.
• Let's Go Aerospace Magazine A sister publication targeting Jr. High and High School students to highlight aerospace careers and innovations in an engaging, fun format. Includes content from Boeing, Xplore, and Minds-i, featuring fun facts and quizzes. Distributed to aerospace professionals, schools, and colleges worldwide.
• Northwest Aerospace News Live A video series featuring stories behind manufacturing companies, providing insights into what makes them tick. Covers aerospace careers, culture, and manufacturing trends through interviews with company executives and industry leaders.
• Aerospace Vendors An aerospace industry supplier information repository providing businesses with full profiles including logos, multimedia, custom keywords for search, video advertisement assistance, and the ability to post articles and white papers.
• Manufacturing Suppliers Expo An annual trade show event connecting aerospace buyers and suppliers in a focused, high-value environment. Held at Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center in Spokane Valley, limited to 25 vendor booths at $850 each ($750 early bird) with attendee tickets at $35.
• Video Production Services High-quality video production services including FAA Part 107 certified cinematic drone videography, guided videography, factory tours, and aerial shots. Offered through Top Drawer Media for advertising clients.
• Annual Aerospace Industry Resource Guide An annual resource guide edition included with the magazine, providing a comprehensive collection of aerospace manufacturers and support networks in the Pacific Northwest region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000+ subscribers worldwide
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aerospace VendorscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 August 2019Joint marketing relationship agreement between Northwest Aerospace News Magazine (Spokane, WA) and Aerospace Vendors (Seattle, WA). Both companies share the same value proposition in serving the aerospace industry from complementary angles. Aerospace Vendors provides the digital supplier directory platform while NWAN provides print and editorial coverage. The partnership enhances visibility for aerospace suppliers across both platforms.
• Let's Go Aerospace MagazinecoreOthersA sister/youth publication of Northwest Aerospace News Magazine that highlights aerospace careers and innovations in a fun, accessible way targeting Jr. High and High School students. It features content from Boeing, Xplore, Minds-i and others, with worldwide distribution to aerospace professionals, schools, and colleges. Sponsored through aerospace companies and available at 517 retail locations.
• Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual conference special issue publishing partnership. NWAN produces the PNAA Advance conference edition magazine featuring speakers, exhibitors, and award winners. PNAA represents aerospace education programs and fosters industry collaboration. PNAA has awarded over $393,000 in scholarships since its program began.
• Northwest I-90 Manufacturing Alliance (NIMA / INWAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual I-90 Aerospace Corridor Conference & Expo collaboration. NWAN produces conference edition magazines and promotional materials for the event held at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The alliance connects aerospace manufacturers across the I-90 corridor of Washington and Idaho.
• Aerospace Futures Alliance (AFA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFA serves as the unified advocate for Washington State's aerospace industry. NWAN provides media coverage for AFA initiatives and policy efforts to ensure companies, workforce, and innovations continue to lead in the region.
• Military Entities (Multiple)minorOthersNorthwest Aerospace News Magazine partners with a number of military entities to highlight the latest developments affecting communities. The magazine covers military aerospace programs including the P-8A Poseidon, KC-46A tanker, and F-15EX.
• The Boeing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBoeing is the largest aerospace OEM in the Pacific Northwest and NWAN's primary editorial subject and advertising client. Boeing provides exclusive news content and industry insights for the magazine. The company's presence in the region is a key reason for the magazine's existence and readership base.
• Top Drawer MediacoreOthersParent company and publisher of Northwest Aerospace News Magazine. Owned by Dean Cameron. Provides video production services (FAA Part 107 certified drone videography), digital marketing, and event management for the magazine and its clients.
• Washington State Department of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government economic development agency supporting Washington's aerospace industry through supply chain initiatives, workforce development, and international trade support. NWAN covers Commerce's aerospace initiatives and events including the 'Flightpath: Building the Future Together' series.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Defense News: A B2B defense industry publication covering Pentagon procurement, defense industry primes, and allied nations' militaries. Adjacent peer given NWAN's coverage of military aerospace partners (P-8A, KC-46A, F-15EX) and its audience overlap with defense suppliers in the PNW cluster.
• SpaceNews: A B2B trade publication focused on the commercial, civil, and military space industry, covering space startups, launch providers, and government programs. Comparable as a vertical trade media brand serving a growing aerospace adjacency that NWAN is also beginning to cover (Stoke Space, Starfish Space).
• Composites World: B2B trade publication serving the composites and advanced-materials segment of aerospace and other manufacturing. Comparable as a niche vertical trade media brand monetizing via advertising and content marketing to aerospace suppliers such as those NWAN covers (e.g., Continuous Composites).

Broad incumbents

• Aviation Week Network: The largest global aerospace and aviation trade publication and events portfolio, operating across commercial aviation, defense, MRO, and space. Comparable as a B2B aerospace media brand and event operator, though its scope is global and tier-1-OEM-focused rather than a single regional cluster.
• Informa Markets (Aerospace events): Global trade events operator running major B2B aerospace expos (e.g., Farnborough, Paris, Dubai Airshow programs via partnerships). Comparable as a competitor for aerospace trade-show sponsorship and exhibitor dollars, though operating at significantly larger scale than NWAN's Manufacturing Suppliers Expo.

Direct peers

• Aerospace Testing & Industrial Controls Magazine: B2B trade publication covering aerospace testing, inspection, and quality processes for component manufacturers. Comparable in format and target audience (aerospace component suppliers) though focused specifically on test/inspection rather than the broader PNW aerospace ecosystem narrative.
• FlightGlobal: Long-running aviation/aerospace trade media brand delivering news, data, and analysis to airlines, OEMs, and the supply chain. Directly comparable as a B2B aerospace publication, though broader in scope (commercial aviation, MRO, defense) and global rather than regionally focused like NWAN.
• Aerospace Manufacturing & Design (BNP Media): A B2B trade magazine and digital publication dedicated specifically to aerospace manufacturing process, tooling, and materials, covering machining, composites, automation, and finishing. The closest format-comparable peer to NWAN, with a national/international supplier-base focus rather than regional cluster focus.
• AINonline (Aviation International News): B2B aviation trade publication covering business aviation, commercial, and defense aerospace across print, digital, and video. Comparable as a multi-channel aerospace media brand monetizing through advertising, subscriptions, and events.

Others

• Boeing Aeromagazine: OEM-published customer magazine by Boeing featuring employees, suppliers, and innovation stories. Comparable in format and editorial subject (PNW aerospace industry, supplier profiles) but is in-house corporate content rather than an independent trade publication.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nwaerospacenews
• Facebookfacebook.com/northwestaerospacenews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwest-aerospace-news-magazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Northwest Aerospace News magazine