First Class Air Acquires Vertical Aerospace, Adding Structural Repair and Parts Manufacturing to Its Aftermarket Business
Why It MattersAftermarket consolidation is pulling structural repair and parts manufacturing under single platforms, as operators seek fewer vendors and faster turnaround to cut aircraft downtime.
O2 Investment Partners has invested in Vertical Aerospace through its platform company First Class Air, the firms announced on October 15. The deal adds Vertical Aerospace's structural repair, engineering and fabricated part manufacturing to First Class Air's aviation aftermarket business.
Vertical Aerospace provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), engineering and parts manufacturing for commercial, cargo and military aircraft. It specialises in nacelles, thrust reversers, flight control surfaces, and composite and metallic structural repair, and holds FAA and EASA repair station certifications.
First Class Air is building an integrated aftermarket company spanning distribution, MRO, DER repair, PMA manufacturing, teardown and exchange programs. Vertical Aerospace becomes its sixth specialised unit, alongside Cargo Repair, Cobalt Aero Services and Survival Products. First Class Air CEO Isac Roths said combining Vertical Aerospace's expertise with the company's existing capabilities would let it offer customers more solutions through one integrated company. Vertical Aerospace founder and general manager Tray Siegfried said the business would keep "the same team and commitment" its customers know while gaining a broader network for growth.
