AeroTEC

AeroTEC is an American aerospace engineering and flight testing company providing flight test, certification, engineering, and prototyping services to aircraft manufacturers, startups, and research institutions. The firm conducts flight test programs, systems integration, and experimental testbeds for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and electric vertical takeoff and landing projects. AeroTEC collaborates with major aerospace companies, government agencies, and academic partners on developmental programs and certification campaigns.

History

AeroTEC was founded in 1998 and grew alongside aerospace programs involving Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, NASA, and DARPA. Early work included subcontracted flight test support for programs tied to Boeing 737, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 derivatives, as well as research contracts with NASA centers like NASA Ames Research Center and NASA Langley Research Center. The company expanded through the 2000s with projects connected to General Electric (GE), Rolls-Royce, and Pratt & Whitney engine test campaigns. Throughout the 2010s AeroTEC engaged with emerging companies such as Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Wisk Aero during the eVTOL development surge, while maintaining ties to legacy programs like the Cessna 208 Caravan and Pilatus PC-12. Strategic collaborations included partnerships with research universities such as Washington State University, University of Washington, and Purdue University for curricula and testbed projects. The company has been involved in regional aviation initiatives linked to Port of Seattle and state economic development programs in Washington (state). AeroTEC’s history intersects with regulatory milestones at the Federal Aviation Administration and international standards bodies like European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Services and Capabilities

AeroTEC offers flight test planning, data acquisition, category A test pilot services, systems engineering, simulation, and certification program management for clients including Boeing, Airbus, Sikorsky, and startups such as Beta Technologies. Its avionics integration work has supported suppliers like Honeywell International, Collins Aerospace, and Garmin. The company provides structural testing in collaboration with laboratories such as Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory for fatigue and damage-tolerance analysis tied to aircraft like the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and Pilatus PC-24. AeroTEC’s capabilities include flight test instrumentation from vendors such as National Instruments and data analysis using tools from MATLAB developers and systems from ANSYS for computational fluid dynamics and stress modeling. Services extend to electric propulsion development with partners including Tesla, Inc.-adjacent suppliers, battery firms like Panasonic Corporation and electric motor specialists linked to Siemens initiatives. The company participates in certification processes with FAA delegated authorities and collaborates on compliance frameworks referenced by RTCA, Inc. and SAE International standards.

Fleet and Test Programs

AeroTEC operates a mixed fleet of instrumented test aircraft and helicopters, often modifying platforms such as the Cessna 208 Caravan, Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante, Beechcraft King Air, and Bell 407 for research roles. Test programs have included stability and control programs associated with historical projects like the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 family and modern programs tied to Pilatus PC-12 derivatives. The company supports engine testbeds derived from General Electric GE90 test rigs and collaborates on auxiliary power unit testing related to manufacturers like Honeywell. AeroTEC’s rotary-wing operations interface with programs connected to Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk legacy knowledge and light helicopter platforms from Robinson Helicopter Company. Test equipment and telemetry systems follow protocols from ARINC specifications and employ airborne data recorders by firms such as Goodrich Corporation.

Notable Projects and Achievements

AeroTEC participated in high-profile programs including experimental test support for eVTOL demonstrators developed by Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Wisk Aero. The company supported flight test phases for the modernization of commuter aircraft linked to Cape Air fleet transitions and retrofit programs for operators like FedEx Express and UPS Airlines. AeroTEC contributed to military-related developmental work with primes such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman on unmanned and optionally piloted systems connecting to RQ-4 Global Hawk-class mission profiles. The firm has been recognized for flight test leadership and pilot safety training in venues such as Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE) conferences and has served as a contractor on public-private initiatives connected to regional air mobility studies by NASA and Transport Canada.

Organizational Structure and Locations

AeroTEC’s corporate headquarters is in Seattle, Washington, with flight test bases and engineering centers in locations including Spokane, Washington, Wichita, Kansas, and test ranges adjacent to Paine Field (Snohomish County Airport). The company’s organizational structure comprises flight operations, engineering, regulatory affairs, and business development teams that liaise with prime contractors such as Boeing Global Services and Airbus Defence and Space. AeroTEC employs test pilots and engineers who are members of professional organizations like Society of Experimental Test Pilots, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Regional workforce development partnerships link AeroTEC to community colleges such as Spokane Community College and technical institutes like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Safety, Certification, and Regulatory Work

AeroTEC conducts certification support activities under the oversight of Federal Aviation Administration procedures and has interfaced with international authorities including European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada Civil Aviation. Safety management systems align with standards promulgated by ICAO and reporting practices recommended by organizations such as Flight Safety Foundation. The company’s test pilots and engineers hold qualifications recognized by FAA designated pilot examiner programs, and AeroTEC contributes to advisory circular discussions and technical working groups with stakeholders like RTCA, Inc. and SAE International on issues ranging from flight test instrumentation to eVTOL airworthiness.