Chicago is home to O’Hare International Airport, one of the busiest air transport hubs in the world. Aerospace is a growing fixture in the city, where Boeing’s headquarters serve as a regional anchor for the industry. The city and its surrounding areas are home to numerous other aerospace and defense enterprises, including hubs for some major airlines. The area also serves as home for military installations like Scott Air Force Base. To learn more about aerospace in Chicago, read on.
Aerospace Companies in Chicago
- Boeing
- United Airlines
- Helios Visions
- Priester Aviation
- American Airlines
Top Aerospace Companies in Chicago
United Airlines is a leading enterprise airline with headquarters in Chicago. It operates a comprehensive global route and partner network that allows it to serve destinations around the world. The company flies over 140 million people annually and additionally runs a fleet of cargo planes that support supply chain movement.
Broetje Automation is an engineering firm that specializes in high-precision assembly processes. It serves the aerospace industry by offering robotic automation systems for factory assemblage of aircraft and their component parts. It works with many leading airlines and aviation companies to enable precision and accuracy via automated equipment and smart processes.
Boeing is an enterprise that’s recognized as a leader in the global aviation industry. Known for innovations such as the development of the Boeing 747 jet, which is nicknamed “Queen of the Skies” for its twin aisle and wide body construction, the company has products in service around the world through commercial airlines and military organizations.
The private jet company Priester Aviation is a boutique provider of charter jet and aircraft management services. It also consults on safety, efficiency and business processes in the private aviation vertical. The company’s originated as a flight school, which informs its continued commitment to education and transparency.
Jet Support Services, Inc. is a provider of essential support services to the aviation industry. Its primary function covers third-party repair and maintenance for business jet fleets. It provides these services via an hourly cost containment program that allows clients to pay on a usage basis. The company also offers air craft parts and jet engine leasing and connects its customers with data platforms.
Skyworks Aeronautics Corp. on research and development gyronautics, which is the study and development of gyrocopters and gyroplanes. This technology supports sustained autorotative flight as well as vertical lift for aircraft. The company aims to disrupt the helicopter industry by providing a simpler, more sustainable and ultimately more cost-effective flight solution.
American Airlines is one of the world’s leading airlines. With a history that traces back to the 1920s, the company has long led the aviation industry in technology implementation and service innovations such as rewards programs. It serves routes across the globe and partners with regional carriers to provide access to both popular and far-flung locales.
Northstar Aerospace is an aerospace parts manufacturer. It produces product lines that consist of essential components including transmissions, gears and drive systems. Separate from its manufacturing work, the company also offers services in MRO, or maintenance, repair and overhaul of aviation fleets.
Dragon Drones is a videography and photography company that uses drone fleets to provide aerial imagery. Use cases for its services are diverse and include real estate marketing and workforce monitoring for agricultural projects. Dragon Drones also sells prints of its aerial imagery, which feature Chicago landmarks viewed from above.
Helios Visions is a drone company that offers geospatial data collection services facilitated by its fleet of UAVs, or unmanned aerial vehicles. By offering aerial images and videos, the company is able to provide visual, three dimensional and thermal data to inform built environment projects, supporting processes like site surveying and building inspections.