Aerospace

Created by Rohit Chorghe, Modified on Thu, 6 Aug at 12:41 PM by Rohit Chorghe

The aerospace industry encompasses the research, design, manufacture, operation, and maintenance of aircraft and spacecraft, including all activities involving flight within the earth's atmosphere (aeronautics) and in outer space (astronautics).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace

Quick Industry Match Guide

Industry Tier	Company Types	Examples
Tier 1: Prime Manufacturers & Operators	Aircraft manufacturers, airlines, satellite operators	Boeing, Airbus, SpaceX, United Airlines, Emirates, Viasat, SES
Tier 1-2: Major Systems Integrators	Engine manufacturers, avionics, landing gear, defense contractors	GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin
Tier 2-3: Component & Specialized Suppliers	Hydraulics, electronics, fasteners, materials, semiconductors	Safran, RTX Corporation, Leonardo, Thales Group, BAE Systems
Tier 3: Raw Materials & Feedstock	Titanium, nickel, composites, tantalum, carbon fiber	Material suppliers, metal forgers, casting specialists

Aerospace Sub-sectors

1. Commercial Aviation

Aircraft and systems for passenger and cargo transport, plus airlines, cargo forwarders, and aircraft leasing companies.
Source: https://www.tstar.com/blog/aerospace-industry-overview.

Company Category	Examples
Aircraft Manufacturers	Boeing, Airbus
Engine Manufacturers	GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, Safran
Component Suppliers (Avionics, Landing Gear)	Honeywell, L3Harris, Thales Group
Airlines (Passenger & Cargo)	United, Delta, Southwest, FedEx, Emirates, Air France
Cargo Forwarders	DHL Supply Chain, Kuehne+Nagel, DB Schenker
Aircraft Leasing Companies	AerCap, SMBC Aviation Capital, Air Lease Corporation, BOC Aviation
Ground Handling & Airport Services	Swissport, Menzies Aviation, Worldwide Flight Services

Select if your company:

Manufactures commercial aircraft, engines, or components
Operates airlines or cargo services
Leases aircraft to airlines
Provides cargo handling or ground services
Supplies specialized components for commercial aviation

2. General Aviation

Smaller aircraft for private, business, and specialized services.

Source: https://www.tstar.com/blog/aerospace-industry-overview

Company Category	Examples
Small Aircraft Manufacturers	Cessna, Beechcraft, Piper
Component & System Suppliers	Avionics specialists, engine manufacturers for smaller aircraft
Business Operators	Business jet operators, air ambulance services

Select if your company:

Manufactures smaller aircraft or components
Operates business aviation services

3. Airport Infrastructure

Ground handling, air traffic control systems, and airport support services.

Source: https://www.tstar.com/blog/aerospace-industry-overview

Company Category	Examples
Ground Support Equipment	Baggage handling systems, aircraft tugs, refueling equipment manufacturers
Air Traffic Control Systems	Navigation systems, communication equipment providers
Airport Authorities	Airport management and operations

Select if your company:

Manufactures ground support or navigation equipment
Provides air traffic control systems
Operates airport infrastructure services

4. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Drones and unmanned aircraft for military, commercial, and consumer applications.

Source: https://www.tstar.com/blog/aerospace-industry-overview.

Company Category	Examples
Military Drone Manufacturers	Northrop Grumman, General Atomics
Commercial Drone Manufacturers	DJI, Parrot
Component Suppliers	Sensors, flight controllers, cameras, propulsion systems
Drone Operators	Delivery services, surveying, agriculture monitoring

Select if your company:

Manufactures drones or UAS components
Operates commercial or military drone services

5. Military Aircraft

Fighter jets, bombers, helicopters, and transport aircraft for defense purposes.

Source: https://www.tstar.com/blog/aerospace-industry-overview

Company Category	Examples
Military Aircraft Manufacturers	Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Raytheon Technologies
Defense Engine & Systems Suppliers	Military-grade propulsion, weapons systems, electronic warfare
Defense Component Manufacturers	Armor systems, communications, specialized hardware
Government Defense Departments	Armed forces, national security agencies worldwide

Select if your company:

Manufactures military aircraft
Supplies defense systems or military aerospace components
Is a government defense department

6. Space (Rockets & Satellites)

Launch vehicles, satellites, and spacecraft for communications, exploration, and commercial space activities.

Source: https://www.tstar.com/blog/aerospace-industry-overview

Company Category	Examples
Launch Service Providers	SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, United Launch Alliance, Arianespace
Satellite Manufacturers	Boeing Space, Lockheed Martin Space, Thales Alenia Space
Satellite Operators	Viasat, SES, Inmarsat, Iridium, Telesat, EchoStar
Spacecraft Component Suppliers	Propulsion systems, solar panels, transponders, antennas
Space Agencies	NASA, ESA, JAXA, commercial space tourism companies

Select if your company:

Provides launch services
Manufactures or operates satellites
Manufactures spacecraft or launch vehicle components
Is a space exploration organization

Additional Industries to Select Alongside Aerospace

Based on supply chain dependencies, we also select these industries:

Related Industry	Why You Might Select It
High Tech	Semiconductor manufacturers supplying aerospace electronics, microprocessors, and radiation-hardened components
Natural Resources & Mining	Suppliers of titanium, nickel, tantalum, rare earth materials for aerospace manufacturing
General Manufacturing	Tier 2-3 suppliers making fasteners, fittings, hydraulic components, or castings for multiple aerospace tiers
Automotive	Cross-sector supply chain overlap; lean manufacturing principles borrowed from auto suppliers
Industrial Chemicals	Composite materials, coatings, adhesives for aircraft and spacecraft [12]
Telecommunications	Satellite communication service providers and ground network operators [7][8]
Defense	Military aircraft programs, defense contractors, weapons systems integration
Freight & Logistics	Air cargo operators, cargo forwarders, ground handling services
Research & Development	Aerospace engineering firms, testing facilities, design bureaus

Do NOT Select Aerospace If Your Company:

Situation	Select This Industry Instead
Only ships products via air cargo but manufactures in another sector	Select your primary industry (e.g., Retail, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals)
Makes general fasteners, electronics, or materials for multiple industries	Select General Manufacturing or High Tech
Provides IT, software development, or consulting services to aerospace	Select Technology, SaaS, or Professional Services
Operates airport terminals, duty-free retail, or hospitality	Select Retail or Hospitality
Manufactures cosmetics, textiles, or consumer goods shipped by air	Select your product industry instead
Provides insurance or financing services	Select Insurance & Finance

Why Select Aerospace

Selecting Aerospace ensures your organization receives EventWatch bulletins about:

Aircraft production delays, engine shortages, component supply bottlenecks
Airline operational disruptions, strikes, regulatory changes
Satellite launches, space mission developments, communications disruptions
Aerospace supply chain disruptions at any tier level
Defense procurement changes and military aerospace developments
Material shortages (titanium, semiconductors, composites)
Cargo disruptions affecting air freight operations

These alerts help your company anticipate and respond to events that directly impact operations, supply chain continuity, and business strategy.