What Park Rapids Aviation does

Park Rapids Aviation is a privately-held, full-service aviation services company headquartered at Park Rapids Municipal Airport (301 Airport Rd Hwy 71 South, Park Rapids, MN 56470). The company specializes in aircraft maintenance, modification, and floatplane conversion services for piston and turbine aircraft, with deep expertise in Cessna 182/180/185/206 float conversions and Kodiak 100 modifications. Services span 100-hour inspections, annuals, phase inspections, engine overhauls, turbine engine repair, sheet metal repairs, and glass replacement, alongside a complete Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) offering that includes Avgas and Jet A fuel, hangar storage, tie-downs, courtesy car, and flight instruction support.

The company's core differentiator is its claimed position as the world's largest sales and installation center for Aerocet 6650 TSO-approved composite aircraft floats, established through a partnership with Aerocet Float Company. It has extended its service surface into Northwoods Aircraft Painting (using the Axalta Aviation Imron process in three dedicated hangars), ADA-certified aircraft detailing, custom interior refurbishment through third-party craftsmen, and an aircraft sales brokerage with 30+ years of market experience. With work completed on over 50 Kodiak aircraft, the company has built scale in both legacy Cessna platforms and newer turbine floatplane modifications, positioning itself as a one-stop facility that minimizes aircraft downtime.

Commercially, Park Rapids Aviation generates revenue through professional services (maintenance, modifications, paint, detailing, interiors), transactional aircraft sales, and hardware sales (fuel, hangar rentals). Pricing is quote-based for custom modifications and unit-based for routine services, with shop labor at $135/hour, fuel at $5.75/gal (Avgas) and $5.00/gal (Jet A), and monthly hangar rates ranging from $80 (single-engine) to $300 (jets). The company operates from a single physical location, requires customers to bring aircraft on-site, and relies primarily on direct relationships and industry reputation within the floatplane community for customer acquisition, with no meaningful digital marketing footprint beyond its content website.

Name

Park Rapids Aviation

Legal name

Park Rapids Aviation

Website

https://parkrapidsaviation.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Park Rapids Aviation is a privately-held, full-service aviation services company at Park Rapids Municipal Airport in Minnesota, specializing in Cessna and Kodiak floatplane conversions, aircraft maintenance, paint (Northwoods Aircraft Painting), detailing, and FBO services for seaplane owners and operators across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Maintenance and Floatplane Modification Services

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720), Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Amphibious & Seaplane Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAF)

Keywords

• Aircraft maintenance services
• Floatplane modifications
• Aircraft sales
• Fixed base operator
• Aircraft painting detailing

Headquarters

HQ city

Park Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Maintenance Services: Full aircraft maintenance services including 100-hour inspections, annuals, phase inspections, engine overhauls, turbine engine repair, and routine inspections. Services reduce customer downtime due to full range of capabilities.
2. Aircraft Sales: Aircraft sales staff helping customers choose the right aircraft. Includes aircraft buying and selling analysis with over 30 years of market experience.
3. Floatplane Modifications and Conversions: Specialized Cessna 182 float conversions, Cessna 180/185/206 modifications, and Kodiak 100 advanced floatplane installations. Includes engine upgrades, speed mods, and wing modifications.
4. Aircraft Detailing Services: ADA-certified aircraft detailing including exterior wash, interior detail, de-ice boot restoration, ceramic coatings, paint correction, and brightwork polishing.
5. Aircraft Paint Services: Northwoods Aircraft Painting using Axalta Aviation Imron painting process with three specialized hangars for paint and preparation.
6. Interior Services: Custom aircraft interior design and refurbishment partnering with skilled craftsmen for customized aircraft interiors.
7. FBO Services: Fixed Base Operator services including fuel sales (Avgas, JET A), hangar storage, tie-downs, courtesy car, and flight instruction.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Park Rapids Aviation operates a full-service aircraft maintenance, paint, and detail facility at Park Rapids Municipal Airport. The company specializes in floatplane conversions and modifications, particularly Cessna 182/180/185/206 models and Kodiak 100 aircraft, and serves as the world's largest sales and installation center for Aerocet composite floats. It also provides aircraft sales, FBO services (fuel, hangar storage, tie-downs), custom interiors, and ADA-certified detailing and painting.

Product overview

Park Rapids Aviation operates as a full-service aviation company offering a comprehensive suite of aircraft services. The company is organized around core service areas: FBO services (fuel, hangar storage, tie-downs, courtesy amenities), aircraft maintenance (from routine inspections to turbine engine repair), floatplane modifications (Aerocet float installations and Cessna model conversions), aircraft detailing (ADA-certified), Northwoods Aircraft Painting (Axalta Imron-based paint services), custom interiors, and aircraft sales. The company specializes in piston-engine seaplanes with particular expertise in Cessna 182 float conversions and holds the distinction of being the world's largest Aerocet float sales and installation center for TSO-approved composite floats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Northwoods Aircraft Painting: State-of-the-art paint facility utilizing Axalta Aviation Imron painting process with three specialized hangars for aircraft painting and preparation.

Products and services

• Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) Services
• Aircraft Maintenance
• Floatplane Modifications and Conversions
• Aircraft Detailing
• Northwoods Aircraft Painting
• Custom Aircraft Interiors
• Aerocet Composite Floats
• Aircraft Sales

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Aerocet Float CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Aerocet Float Company for sales and installation of Aerocet 6650 COMPOSITE aircraft floats. Park Rapids Aviation became the largest sales and installation center in the world for Aerocet floats, offering TSO-approved composite floats for aircraft modifications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Leading Edge Air Foil: Leading Edge Air Foil specializes in Cessna 185 and 206 modifications, including STOL kits and floatplane conversions. It competes with Park Rapids Aviation for Cessna float-conversion work and serves a similar owner-operator customer base across North America.
• Kenmore Air Express: Kenmore Air operates seaplane services and aircraft maintenance in the Pacific Northwest, servicing float-equipped Cessna aircraft. It overlaps directly with Park Rapids Aviation's floatplane maintenance and modification expertise while also serving a similar customer base of floatplane owners and operators.
• Banyan Air Service: Banyan Air Service is an FBO and aircraft maintenance provider at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, offering avionics, paint, and interior services. Like Park Rapids Aviation, it bundles multiple aircraft service lines under one facility to capture owner-operator wallet share.
• Wipaire: Wipaire is a leading designer and manufacturer of amphibious floats for Cessna aircraft and operates its own FAA-certified installation center. Like Park Rapids Aviation, Wipaire specializes in float installations, Cessna float conversions, and related modifications, making it the closest direct competitor and a parallel one-stop float specialist.
• Eagle Creek Aviation: Eagle Creek Aviation is an FBO and Cessna service center in Indianapolis providing maintenance, avionics, paint, and interior services. It competes with Park Rapids Aviation in the general aviation MRO, paint, and detailing categories for single-engine and twin Cessna aircraft.

Broad incumbents

• Million Air: Million Air is an FBO chain offering fuel, hangar, and concierge services at airports across the U.S. It competes for FBO and transient-customer revenue that Park Rapids Aviation also captures at Park Rapids Municipal Airport.
• Signature Flight Support: Signature Flight Support operates a global network of FBOs providing fuel, hangar, and line services to general aviation. It overlaps with Park Rapids Aviation's FBO offering but at much broader scale and without the float-conversion specialization.
• Atlantic Aviation: Atlantic Aviation is one of the largest FBO networks in North America, offering fuel, hangar, maintenance, and aircraft management services. While not specializing in floatplanes, it competes for FBO customers, transient aircraft, and general aviation maintenance business at airports nationwide.

Others

• Aerocet Float Company: Aerocet is the manufacturer of the composite aircraft floats that Park Rapids Aviation sells and installs. As Park Rapids's core strategic partner, Aerocet is directly comparable in the float-product category and shares revenue via Park Rapids's distribution and installation services.

Emerging players

• Texas Air Salvage: Texas Air Salvage specializes in Cessna aircraft parts, salvage, and related maintenance services. While narrower in scope, it overlaps with Park Rapids Aviation's Cessna-focused customer base and general aviation MRO market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/park-rapid-aviation

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 Park Rapids Aviation