Aero Tech

What Aero Tech does

Aero Tech is a private, third-generation family-owned aviation services company headquartered in Clovis, New Mexico, founded in 1988. The company operates a specialized fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to deliver aerial services across nine functional service lines: aerial firefighting and fire control, fire reclamation and aerial hydromulching, wildlife management, brush and noxious plant control, forest protection, wind turbine operations and maintenance, film production support, aerial surveys (including LiDAR mapping), and charter air transportation. Its primary customers are federal, state, and local government agencies — including the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Wildlife Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and state game and fish departments — supplemented by timber companies, ranchers, farmers, wind energy operators, and film production companies.

The company operates under FAA Part 137 (fixed-wing aerial application), Part 133 (rotorcraft external load), Part 135 (air carrier/charter), and Helicopter 137 certifications, with two distinct legal entities (Aero Tech, Inc. and Aero Tech, LLC) holding the respective licenses. Core technical assets include SATLOC Differentially Corrected GPS (DGPS) guidance systems mounted on its AT-802 air tankers for precision aerial application, and LiDAR-based aerial mapping for geotechnical, mining, and environmental surveys. Its fleet comprises nine Air Tractor AT-802 single-engine air tankers, Bell 407 and MD530FF helicopters, Pilatus Porter PC-6 H4 STOL aircraft, a Quest Kodiak 100, Cessna Citation CJ-1, and Cessna 310R — supported by a roster of SAG-carded pilots for film production work.

The business model is contract-based, built on on-call and task-order contracts with federal and state agencies plus private enterprise engagements. Pricing is custom and quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market relies on direct relationships with government procurement officers, demonstrated past performance (e.g., 180,000+ helicopter loads delivered during the Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon fire, 7 million gallons of reseeding mixture distributed during the Cerro Grande fire reclamation), and industry reputation, including the BLM Air Tanker Operator of the Year award. Revenue is concentrated in the government sector but diversified across multiple federal agencies, state departments, and nine service lines, with operational bases in New Mexico (HQ), Alaska, Arkansas, Wyoming, Chile, and Mexico.

Name

Aero Tech

Legal name

Aero Tech, Inc.

Website

https://aerotechteam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aero Tech is a third-generation, family-owned aviation services company operating helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for aerial firefighting, fire reclamation, wildlife management, brush control, wind turbine O&M, film support, and charter services across the U.S., Chile, and Mexico, primarily serving federal, state, and local government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Aviation Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Manned Aerial Application (Fixed-Wing & Helicopter Crop Dusting) (AFACAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aerial Pesticide/Herbicide/Fungicide Application (AFACAIAE), Aerial Spreading (Seed, Granular Inputs, Baits) (AFACAIAL), Helicopter Air Taxi / Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Services (TLAFACAC)

Keywords

• Aerial firefighting services
• Aerial application services
• Wildlife management aviation
• Brush and noxious plant control
• Fire reclamation hydromulching

Headquarters

HQ city

Clovis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aerial Firefighting Services: Rapid-response aerial firefighting services including single-engine air tanker (SEAT) operations, helicopter support, aerial reconnaissance, and fire mapping. Operates on-call contracts with federal, state, and local agencies.
2. Brush & Noxious Plant Control: Aerial application of herbicides and chemicals for brush control, including mesquite, broom snakeweed, cholla cactus, salt cedar, and Russian olive. Services for government agencies, tribal land managers, and private corporations including large ranching operations.
3. Wildlife Management: Aerial wildlife management services including habitat evaluation, aerial census, animal capture, predator eradication, and population management. Supports USDA Wildlife Services and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs.
4. Forest Protection: Aerial applications of insecticides, biological agents, and fertilizers for timber resource protection. Services include pest control for budworm and Asian gypsy moth eradication.
5. Wind Turbine O&M: Helicopter-based inspection and maintenance services for wind turbines including blade inspections, pressure washing, emergency response, and component removal/replacement.
6. Film Production Support: Air and ground support for film production including location scouting, VIP charter, aerial filming, crew shuttle, and production staging. Includes use of 48,000 sq ft heated hangar facility.
7. Charter Air Transportation: Aircraft charter services renting entire aircraft to businesses and organizations for various aviation needs.
8. Aerial Surveys: Aerial reconnaissance and surveying services using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for site inspection and surveying.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Aero Tech delivers specialized aerial aviation services using a mixed fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Core offerings include rapid-response aerial firefighting with AT-802 single-engine air tankers, fire reclamation and aerial hydromulching, brush and noxious plant control, wildlife management, forest protection, wind turbine operations and maintenance, film production aviation support, aerial surveys, and charter air transportation. Services are delivered through GPS-guided precision application, FAA-certified flight operations, and on-call contracts with government agencies and private enterprises across the United States and select international locations.

Product overview

Aero Tech is an aviation services company operating a fleet of specialized aircraft including Air Tractor Turbine AT-802 single-engine air tankers, Pilatus Porter PC-6 H4 STOL aircraft, Quest Kodiak 100, Cessna Citation CJ-1, and Cessna 310R. The company provides a comprehensive suite of aerial services: aerial firefighting and fire control, fire reclamation with aerial hydromulching, wildlife management, brush and noxious plant control, forest protection, wind turbine operations and maintenance, film production support, aerial surveys, and charter air transportation. Services are delivered across the United States with operational bases in Alaska, Arkansas, New Mexico, and international sub-bases in Southern Chile and Guadalajara, Mexico. The company is a three-generation family business led by the Stallings family, operating FAA Part 137 (fixed-wing) and Part 133/135/137 (helicopter) certified flights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Control of Brush & Noxious Plants
• Wildlife Management
• Firefighting & Fire Control
• Fire Reclamation & Aerial Hydromulching
• Film Production Support
• Wind Turbine O&M
• Forest Protection
• Aerial Surveys
• Charter Air Transportation

Quantifiable outcome

• 180,000+ helicopter loads delivered during major fire operations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coulson Aviation: Privately held aerial firefighting operator with SEATs, retardant-carrying fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters serving U.S., Canadian, Australian, and Chilean government agencies. Direct peer to Aero Tech in SEAT-based wildfire response and in operating across North and South America.
• Leading Edge Aerial Services: Aerial application operator providing agricultural spraying, fertilizing, and seeding services across the Western U.S. Comparable to Aero Tech's brush control, forest protection, and reseeding/hydromulching service lines.
• Erickson Incorporated: Helicopter operator with deep expertise in aerial firefighting, utility/O&M, and government services. Comparable to Aero Tech's helicopter-based firefighting, wind turbine O&M, and external-load operations (FAA Part 133).
• Bridger Aerospace: Public aerial firefighting operator running a mixed fleet of SEATs, large air tankers, and helicopters under multi-year government contracts. Highly comparable to Aero Tech across SEAT operations, government customer base, and on-call contract model, though at significantly larger scale and with external capital.
• 10 Tanker Air Carrier: Aerial firefighting operator flying very large air tankers (DC-10 VLATs) on U.S. government contracts. Direct peer in retardant-based wildfire response though operating a different, larger aircraft class.
• Minden Air Corporation: SEAT operator providing Air Tractor-based aerial firefighting and aerial application services across the Western U.S. Closely comparable to Aero Tech on platform choice, mission type, and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• PHI Aviation: Major helicopter services provider with strong government and energy exposure. Overlaps with Aero Tech on helicopter charter and utility missions but is materially larger and more diversified.
• Bristow Group: Large publicly traded helicopter operator serving offshore energy, SAR, and government customers. Comparable to Aero Tech in helicopter external-load and utility work, but at substantially larger scale and with broader end markets.

Emerging players

• Pyka: Autonomous electric fixed-wing agricultural UAS manufacturer targeting crop dusting and aerial application. Represents the long-term technological substitution risk to manned aerial application operators like Aero Tech.

Others

• Air Tractor: Manufacturer of the AT-802 and other agricultural/firefighting aircraft. While not a competitor, Air Tractor is the OEM whose platform underpins much of Aero Tech's fleet and is therefore a critical supplier and ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aerotechteam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aero-tech-inc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Aero Tech