Aircraft Engine & Parts Manufacturing Industry Profile

Companies in this industry manufacture aircraft engines and engine parts, as well as fuselage, propeller and rotor, landing gear, electric and hydraulic control, and avionic systems. Major companies include GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney (US); Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Japan); Rolls-Royce (UK); and SAFRAN, Thales, and Zodiac (France).

Engines and other component parts make up about 40 percent of the global aircraft and parts market, according to Global Industry Analysts. Canada, France, Japan, the UK and the US are all major sources of aircraft parts.

The US aircraft engine and parts manufacturing industry includes about 1,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $65 billion and is expected to grow at a low rate in the next two years. Aircraft sales are a major growth driver.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand for commercial, military, and private airplanes drives the aircraft parts industry. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and the ability to secure long-term contracts. Small companies can compete by specializing in high-end, low-volume, or hard-to-find parts, or in production of low-price commodity parts. Large companies have economies of scale in production and purchasing. The industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest makers of engines and engine parts account for about 95 percent of segment revenue; the 50 largest makers of other aircraft parts and equipment account for about 85 percent of revenue for that segment.

Exports are an important source of ...