What Aviation Projects does

Aviation Projects is an Australia-based aviation consultancy founded in 2003 that delivers specialist advisory services to airport operators, government agencies, developers, and aviation stakeholders across the Australia-Pacific region. The firm operates as a boutique professional services practice under 30 staff, with team members positioned across Western Australia, Queensland, NSW/ACT, and Victoria, and a head office in Brisbane.

The company's core offerings span six integrated practice areas: airport planning and development (including master planning and operational risk reviews), aviation safeguarding (obstacle limitation surfaces, PANS-OPS protection, glint and glare assessments), airspace and instrument flight procedure design (Flight Procedure Design Organisation services), airport/heliport/vertiport operations advisory, built environment and renewable energy aviation impact assessments, and expert witness services. The technical differentiator is regulatory authorisation: Aviation Projects holds Flight Procedure Design Organisation certifications from CASA Australia, CASA Papua New Guinea, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, making it one of a small number of firms authorised to design terminal instrument flight procedures across multiple jurisdictions. The firm operates under an externally accredited Integrated Management System covering ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 45001 (OH&S), ISO 31000 (risk), and AS ISO/IEC 23894 (AI risk management).

The business model is project-based consulting with multi-year contract cadence. Revenue is generated through direct consulting engagements with enterprise airport operators (e.g., Brisbane West Wellcamp, Archerfield, Mackay), federal/state/local government agencies (e.g., City of Busselton, Fraser Coast Regional Council, Maranoa Regional Council), developers and renewable energy operators (e.g., ERM for wind farms), and resource companies operating remote airstrips. Go-to-market relies on direct enterprise field sales, industry conference presence (Australian Airports Association), thought-leadership content (quarterly newsletter "From the Ground Up" and blog), and professional training distribution (AP Academy). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted per-project based on scope and complexity. The firm is privately held, wholly Australian-owned, and led by Managing Director Keith Tonkin.

Name

Aviation Projects

Legal name

Aviation Projects

Website

https://aviationprojects.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aviation Projects is a privately held Australian aviation consultancy, founded in 2003, providing airport planning, aviation safeguarding, flight procedure design, and vertiport advisory services to airports, government agencies, developers, and resource operators across the Australia-Pacific region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Consulting Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC), Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)

Keywords

• Aviation consulting services
• Airport planning advisory
• Flight procedure design
• Aerodrome safeguarding services
• Aviation impact assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aviation Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for airport planning, development and operations, airspace and instrument flight procedure design, aviation safeguarding, aeronautical studies, and expert witness services. Revenue generated through project-based consulting engagements with government agencies, airport operators, developers, and aviation stakeholders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aviation Projects is a specialist aviation consultancy delivering trusted advice on airport planning, development and operations, airspace and instrument flight procedure design, aviation safeguarding, and aviation impact assessments for the built environment and renewable energy projects. The firm also provides expert witness testimony for aviation-related legal matters and runs the AP Academy training programme for aviation professionals. Services are delivered by a team of pilots, air traffic controllers, former airport operators and certified PANS-OPS designers across the Australia-Pacific region.

Product overview

Aviation Projects is a consulting firm offering a unified portfolio of aviation advisory services rather than a software product platform. The core offerings include Airport Planning and Development, Aviation Safeguarding, Airspace & Flight Procedure Design (FPDO), Airport | Heliport | Vertiport Operations, Built Environment & Renewable Energy services, Expert Witness services, and AP Academy training. These services are delivered as consulting engagements addressing airport planning, development, operations, compliance, and regulatory requirements across the Australia-Pacific region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AP Academy: Training services provided by Aviation Projects for aviation professionals including Flight Procedure Design Organisation (FPDO) training.
• AP After Hours

Products and services

• Airport Planning and Development Comprehensive airport planning, development and upgrades, including master planning, operational management, compliance inspections and operational risk reviews, delivered to airport operators and government agencies.
• Aviation Safeguarding Aviation safeguarding services for the built environment and renewable energy projects, including obstacle limitation surface (OLS) assessments, PANS-OPS protection and aviation impact assessments, delivered to developers, renewable energy operators and airport owners.
• Airspace and Instrument Flight Procedure Design (FPDO) Airspace assessment and instrument flight procedure design services covering terminal instrument flight procedures, terrain and obstacle analysis and procedure validation, delivered under CASA AU Part 173, CASA PNG Part 173 and CAAP Philippines FPDO certifications.
• Airport | Heliport | Vertiport Operations Operational management and advisory services for airports, heliports and vertiports, supporting site selection, operational assessments, airspace integration and future-ready infrastructure planning.
• Built Environment and Renewable Energy Aviation impact assessments and safeguarding advice for renewable energy projects including wind farms, solar farms and battery storage facilities, as well as for built environment developments near airports, including glint and glare assessments.
• Expert Witness Aviation expert witness testimony and evidence for court proceedings involving aviation law, planning disputes and regulatory matters, delivered by Managing Director Keith Tonkin and other qualified consultants.
• AP Academy Training Training services and professional development programmes for aviation professionals, including Aerodrome Safeguarding Masterclass courses and FPDO training, delivered to airport staff, consultants and regulators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aviation Projects has worked on successful funding applications totalling over $75 million for regional airports

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Equip-GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAviation Projects collaborated with Equip-Global to present Aerodrome Safeguarding Masterclasses in Singapore (2016-2017). Three masterclass programs delivered covering obstacle limitation surfaces, PANS-OPS protection, wildlife hazard management, safety management systems, and aerodrome compliance with ICAO Annex 14 standards.
• Australian Airports Association (AAA)coreOthersAviation Projects is an AAA Corporate Member. Actively participates in AAA National Conference and Industry Expo, safety forums, and division meetings. Team members contribute to industry panels and working groups.
• Aviation Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (ALAANZ)minorOthersAviation Projects is a member of ALAANZ, supporting the aviation legal community and staying connected with regulatory and legal developments.
• Civil Aviation Safety Authority Australia (CASA AU)coreOthersAviation Projects holds CASA AU Part 173 Flight Procedure Design Organisation (FPDO) Certification, authorising terminal instrument flight procedure design in Australia.
• Civil Aviation Authority of Papua New Guinea (CASA PNG)coreOthersAviation Projects holds CASA PNG Part 173 Flight Procedure Design Certificate, authorising terminal instrument flight procedure design in Papua New Guinea.
• Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)coreOthersAviation Projects received Flight Procedure Design Organisation Certification from CAAP, authorising terminal instrument flight procedure design in the Philippines.
• AviAssist FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAviation Projects contributes training resources and instructor expertise to AviAssist Foundation for airport engineering courses, including introduction to Obstacle Limitation Surfaces video used at Rwanda University. Managing Director Keith Tonkin delivering training at Walvis Bay International Airport, Namibia.
• Australian OwnedminorOthersAviation Projects is a wholly Australian-owned consultancy, verified through Australian Owned certification.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering and design firm with aviation advisory work spanning airport planning, terminal design, and airspace strategy. Comparable to Aviation Projects in delivering specialist aviation advice but within a broader multi-disciplinary offering.
• Jacobs: Global professional services firm with significant aviation advisory capabilities across planning, design, and programme management. Overlaps with Aviation Projects in airport master planning and airspace services but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• AECOM: Global multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm with a substantial aviation practice covering airport planning, master planning, and airspace advisory. Competes with Aviation Projects on larger integrated programmes while Aviation Projects focuses on specialist safeguarding and FPDO work.
• WSP: International engineering consultancy with dedicated aviation and airspace teams serving airports, regulators, and developers. Competes for safeguarding, planning, and FPDO-adjacent engagements in Australia-Pacific and globally.

Direct peers

• NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants): Specialist airport planning and design consultancy with deep expertise in master planning, terminal design, and airspace/flight procedure work. Comparable in being a focused aviation consultancy rather than a broad AEC firm.
• Landrum & Brown: Specialist aviation planning and development consultancy providing airport master planning, airspace and environmental planning, and FPDO-related services. Closest direct peer to Aviation Projects in pure-play aviation advisory focus.
• Airbiz Aviation Specialists: Boutique international aviation consultancy specialising in airport planning, terminal and apron design, and aviation strategy. Closely comparable to Aviation Projects in scale, specialist positioning, and project-based consulting model.

Regional players

• Beca: Asia-Pacific-headquartered engineering and advisory consultancy with aviation capabilities across Australia and New Zealand. Comparable geographic reach and similar mix of public-sector aviation clients.

Others

• Equip-Global: Aviation training and conference organiser that has partnered with Aviation Projects to deliver Aerodrome Safeguarding Masterclasses in Singapore. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• AviAssist Foundation: Africa- and Asia-focused aviation safety training foundation. Aviation Projects partners with AviAssist to deliver training resources, making it an ecosystem partner in aviation capacity building rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aviation-projects-pty-ltd

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Aviation Projects