What AERS does

AERS LLC is a private American aviation consulting firm established in 1983 that specializes in analytical investigations of aircraft engine failures, helicopter dynamic component failures, and aviation accident reconstruction. The firm serves three primary enterprise client segments — insurance companies, legal professionals, and aviation industry operators/owners — providing services that range from simple damage evaluations to complex failure analysis and accident reconstruction requiring expert witness testimony. Its core offering is the determination of root cause when individual or interacting engine and dynamic components fail and result in accidents or incidents.

The firm operates from a single office at 18 Willis Way, Malta, New York, and is led by founder Jim Irvin, who holds over 50 years of combined aviation experience across the team. AERS personnel hold multiple FAA certifications including ASEL, AMEL, Part 107 (UAV operator), Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic (A&P 2162931), and Inspection Authorization. The firm has completed over 2,200 analytical aviation investigations and is distinguished by industry recognition including the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor. Underlying technical capability rests on domain expertise in turbine engines, reciprocating engines, fixed-wing aircraft systems, and helicopter failure dynamics.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements priced on a quote basis reflecting each investigation's unique scope and complexity. The business runs on a sales-led, referral-driven go-to-market motion targeting insurance claims handlers, plaintiff and defense attorneys, and aviation operators through direct outreach and professional networks. With 1-10 employees, no external funding history, and no disclosed partnerships, AERS operates as a lean, founder-led boutique independent of institutional capital.

Name

AERS

Legal name

AERS LLC

Website

https://aersllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AERS LLC is a private aviation consulting firm specializing in aircraft engine failure analysis, helicopter dynamic component investigation, and accident reconstruction, serving insurance companies, legal professionals, and aviation industry clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saratoga Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Aviation Investigation Services: Professional consulting fees for aviation accident investigation, failure analysis, and reconstruction services. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements with insurance companies, law firms, and aviation industry clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

AERS LLC is a specialty aviation investigation firm that investigates and reconstructs aircraft engine failures and related aviation accidents. The firm delivers forensic failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and expert witness testimony to insurance carriers, law firms, aircraft operators, manufacturers, and government agencies, drawing on more than 50 years of combined aviation experience and a reference collection cited by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Product overview

AERS is a single-service consulting firm offering specialized aircraft engine investigation and reconstruction expertise. The core offering is Aircraft Engine Investigation & Reconstruction Services, which encompasses accident investigation, reconstruction, failure analysis, and onsite investigation capabilities. This core service is complemented by three additional service modules: Insurance Claims Assistance, Legal Consultation & Support, and Aircraft Updates & Costs Analysis. The company focuses exclusively on aviation engine analysis, with particular expertise in both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter dynamic components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Engine Failure Analysis Forensic examination and determination of the root cause of failed aircraft engines and components, delivered to insurance carriers, law firms, operators, and manufacturers.
• Aviation Accident Reconstruction Technical reconstruction of aircraft accidents, including engine-related events, used to support claims adjudication and litigation.
• Expert Witness Services Provision of qualified expert testimony based on AERS investigations, supporting aviation accident and product liability litigation.
• Aviation Forensic Investigation & Consulting Broader aviation forensic investigation and consulting engagements that draw on the firm's 2,200+ case archive and Smithsonian-recognized reference collection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ years of combined aviation industry experience in accident investigation, reconstruction, failure analysis, and onsite investigation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Exponent: Large scientific and engineering consulting firm with a dedicated failure analysis and accident reconstruction practice covering aerospace, mechanical, and materials failures. Comparable to AERS in core failure-analysis methodology and expert-witness delivery, but serves a far broader range of industries and client types at much larger scale.
• Bureau Veritas: International testing, inspection, and certification company with aerospace industry services including failure analysis and asset integrity work. Comparable to the analytical backbone of AERS's investigations but operates as a global, multi-industry TIC incumbent rather than a niche aviation expert-witness boutique.
• Element Materials Technology: Global testing, inspection, and certification firm with aerospace materials and failure analysis capabilities. Comparable in the underlying failure-analysis lab work that supports AERS's expert conclusions, though it operates at much broader industrial scale across many end markets.
• Intertek: Global testing, inspection, and certification provider with aerospace testing, failure analysis, and asset integrity services. Comparable to AERS in the analytical investigation workflow that insurance and legal clients rely on, though at vastly larger scale and across many industries.

Direct peers

• JDA Systems Engineering: Independent aviation engineering consultancy providing aircraft accident investigation, mechanical failure analysis, and expert witness support to legal and insurance clients. Comparable niche-scale peer with overlapping aviation failure-analysis service offerings.
• Engineering Research & Analysis (ERA): Aviation-focused engineering consultancy that conducts aircraft accident reconstruction, mechanical failure analysis, and provides expert testimony. Closely aligned with AERS in domain specialization (aviation only), service line-up, and reliance on principal-level expert credentials.
• Aviation Safety Engineering & Research: Specialized aviation safety and accident investigation consultancy offering accident reconstruction, failure analysis, and expert witness services to insurers, attorneys, and operators. Directly comparable to AERS in service mix, customer segments (insurance, legal, aviation), and project-based forensic engagement model.

Others

• ARINC (Collins Aerospace): Provider of aviation communications, data, and engineering services that supports accident/incident data capture and analysis workflows. Indirectly comparable as an aviation infrastructure participant whose data systems feed the kind of investigations AERS conducts.
• Flight Safety Foundation: Non-profit aviation safety organization focused on accident prevention, safety intelligence, and training. Not a direct competitor but is an ecosystem participant that influences the demand environment for independent aviation accident investigators like AERS.

Emerging players

• Conklin & de Decker: Aviation cost, performance, and lifecycle data consultancy serving operators, insurers, and legal professionals with aircraft operating cost analysis and operational data. Partially overlaps with AERS's aircraft updates and costs analysis service module, and shares insurance/legal customer overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

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 AERS