AEI Aerospace Leasing
Our Philosophy

Differentiated

A broader aerospace leasing platform that capitalizes on opportunities across the aerospace sector in commercial, business and special mission aviation.

Heritage

A natural extension of AEI’s long history as a leading investment firm specializing in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Symbiotic

Leveraging an ecosystem of AEI’s sector-focused portfolio companies, industry veterans and a dedicated leasing team.

Tailored

Offering bespoke leasing solutions to our customers and attractive, risk-adjusted returns to our investors.

Solutions
Commercial Aviation Leasing

Mid-life and end-of-life aircraft and engine investments focused on providing value to aircraft owners and operators through:

  • Maintenance avoidance solutions
  • Airline fleet phase out solutions
  • Aircraft and engine leasing
  • Part-out solutions
Business Aviation Leasing

Mid-life aircraft investments focused on providing value to aircraft owners and operators through:

  • Aircraft financing solutions
  • Aircraft and engine leasing
  • Part-out solutions
Special Mission Aviation Leasing

Specialty aerospace leasing providing capital to mission-specific operating contracts in:

  • Air Medical
  • National / Homeland Security
  • Surveying / Infrastructure
  • Offshore / Energy
  • Defense
  • Aerial Dispersal
Why AEI?

AEI has an established legacy investing in the aerospace and defense sectors, with existing portfolio companies that specialize in manufacturing, operating, leasing, maintaining or monetizing our target markets.

Dedicated in-house team to manage all aspects of aerospace leasing investments. A rigorous investment approach yields synergies throughout the investment lifecycle – including proprietary origination, due diligence, execution, management and disposition.

Several AEI Partners and Operating Partners held senior leadership roles at major players within the aerospace ecosystem, including Boeing, Gulfstream and GE Aviation. Our dedicated leasing team is comprised of experienced investment professionals that embody deep technical and operational expertise – leveraging long-standing relationships with airlines, lessors, OEMs, MROs and various aftermarket services providers.

Commercial Aviation Leasing

Kellstrom Aerospace is an aerospace aftermarket business focused on providing new parts, surplus material and other technical services to airlines, MROs and lessors. Kellstrom Aerospace provides its customers with instant access to one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive inventories of new and pre-owned aircraft parts and offers world-class supply chain solutions, including new OEM parts distribution, consignment management, pre-owned parts distribution, repair management, overhauled rotable components, parts exchange, whole engine assets and fleet provisioning programs.

  • Add-on Acquisitions
    • The Aircraft Group
    • Transaero Commercial Distribution
    • Vortex Aviation
  • Initial Investment | April 2015
    Headquarters | Miami Lakes, FL
    Previous Ownership | Financial Sponsor

    Vortex Aviation (“Vortex”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kellstrom Aerospace, is an independent engine repair station with three facilities in Fort Lauderdale (FL, USA), Shannon (Ireland) and Dublin (Ireland) dedicated to On-Wing, Aircraft-on-Ground (“AOG”), Maintenance and Repair visits. Vortex’s experienced, licensed, and OEM-trained technical and quality staff are committed to providing professional solutions for scheduled or unscheduled engine maintenance to support Airlines, Lessors, Cargo Operators, and Engine OEMs worldwide.

     

    Vortex’s broad range of capabilities include:

    Shop Services

    • End-of-Life Engine Program Management
    • Specializing in module swapping
    • Quick-turn shop maintenance repairs
    • Top and bottom case inspection and repair
    • Major Module repairs, removal, and installation
    • LPT and HPT modules
    • Booster and Combustor modules
    • Compressor Rear Frame Repairs
    • Engine preservation and storage

     

    Field Services

    • Worldwide AOG / on-site quick-turn field service support
    • Video borescope inspection digital measurement and boro-blending
    • Top and bottom case inspection and repair
    • Gearbox repair and replace
    • Module repairs
    • Engine conversion and thrust rate change
    • On-wing engine testing and troubleshooting
    • Engine pre-purchase inspections
    • Engine removal and installation

     

    Vortex has FAA/EASA Part-145 Certified Repair stations in Ireland and Florida qualified on mature and next-generation engine platforms, including CF34, CFM56, CF6-80, GE90, GEnx, V2500, PW GTF series, PW4000, PW2000, Rolls Royce Trent.

    The Aircraft Group (“TAG”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kellstrom Aerospace, is a leading supplier of aircraft consulting services relative to the purchase, sale or leasing of all types of commercial aircraft.

    TAG monitors aircraft maintenance status, evaluates economic exposure, monitors and updates revisions to technical requirements from OEMs and the FAA, tracks associated costs and provides timely reports. TAG develops and maintains records in a condition suitable for aircraft remarketing with data continually updated and validated by physical inspections. TAG also has substantial experience in moving aircraft across borders and addressing the associated regulatory issues, documentation requirements, certificates of airworthiness.

    TAG is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and maintains inspectors and technical specialists based in Europe and South America.

    Business Aviation Leasing

    Solairus is a technology-enabled private aviation management company whose core business is assisting aircraft owners with the safe, reliable, and cost-efficient management and operation of their aircraft. With more than 270 medium- to large-cabin aircraft under management, Solairus provides its customers with significant cost savings given the negotiating leverage this scale provides. Solairus also has a complementary charter business that primarily utilizes its managed fleet to service its customer needs.

    Initial Investment | July 2021
    Headquarters | Petaluma, CA
    Previous Ownership | Family/Founder-Owned

    With more than $3.5 billion in originations, Global Jet Capital provides financing solutions for the business aircraft market. The Global Jet Capital management team has served the business aircraft industry for a combined 250-plus years and has completed over 3,500 aircraft transactions. The company has the expertise, financial strength, industry relationships and infrastructure necessary to offer a variety of flexible financing solutions at the speed the market requires.

    Initial Investment | October 2015
    Headquarters | Danbury, CT
    Previous Ownership | Corporate-Owned

    Yingling Aviation is a full-service MRO and FBO services provider located at Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (KICT). The Company’s broad range of MRO services include airframe, engine, avionics upgrades, paint, interior, propeller sales and service, parts sales, aircraft management, and aircraft sales. Yingling Aviation’s FAA/EASA-certified aircraft maintenance department performs comprehensive service, modifications and repairs. Founded in 1945, the Company currently operates over 300,000 square feet of facility space.

  • Add-on Acquisitions
    • Mid-Continent Aviation Services
    • Bevan Aviation
  • Initial Investment | May 2023
    Headquarters | Wichita, KS
    Special Mission Aviation Leasing

    Columbia Helicopters is a leading OEM and provider of aviation, manufacturing, and MRO services to a variety of end markets including government and defense, firefighting, construction, and on-shore oil & gas. Founded in 1957 and based in Aurora, Oregon, Columbia is known for its industry-leading reliability, safety, and innovation. Columbia holds many aviation authorizations, including a Department of Defense (DoD) Commercial Airlift Review Board (CARB) certification, which allows the Company to perform outsourced government transportation, among other mission-critical operations.

    Initial Investment | August 2019
    Headquarters | Aurora, OR
    Previous Ownership | Family/Founder-Owned

    Headquartered in Provo, Utah, Alpine is a leading regional air cargo carrier providing critical air infrastructure supporting a wide range of integrated logistics operations throughout North America. Alpine operates a growing fleet of aircraft and owns a proprietary Supplemental Type Certificate (“STC”) to convert the Beechcraft 1900D aircraft from passenger configuration to cargo configuration, making it the largest single pilot cargo aircraft in the world.

  • Add-on Acquisitions
    • Great Lakes Airlines
    • Suburban Air Freight
  • Initial Investment | May 2019
    Headquarters | Provo, UT
    Previous Ownership | Privately held by management / individual investors

    Edge Autonomy is a leader in unmanned and autonomous technology and was established with the goal of developing the most advanced platforms and sensors in the unmanned market. The company’s unmanned technologies are used in nearly 60 countries by government, commercial and academic customers. Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, Edge Autonomy benefits from its vertically integrated operations and global footprint, including over 150,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities on two continents, with key support offices located in Bend, Oregon, and Herndon, Virginia.

  • Add-on Acquisitions
    • UAV Factory
    • Jennings Aeronautics
    • Adaptive Energy
  • Initial Investment | January 2021
    Headquarters | San Luis Obispo, California
    Previous Ownership | Family/Founder-Owned
    Our Team
    Our Dedicated Team
    Managing Director, Head of AEI Aerospace Leasing
    Nathan Dickstein

    Mr. Dickstein is a Managing Director at AE Industrial focusing on the origination and management of aircraft leases, engine leasing pools and related aerospace investments for the AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing. Mr. Dickstein brings more than 15 years of industry experience investing in aircraft and engine leasing at investment funds, banks and leasing companies. Prior to joining AE Industrial in 2020, Mr. Dickstein worked in Marathon Asset Management’s Structured Credit team where he was responsible for the origination and management of aircraft and aviation related investments. Prior to Marathon, Mr. Dickstein was employed by Alterna Capital Partners where he was responsible for sourcing, executing and realizing aircraft investments. Mr. Dickstein’s previous industry work experience includes Deucalion Aviation Funds, the equity investment arm of DVB Bank, where he was responsible for transaction analysis and deal structuring, and AWAS Aviation Capital, a top 10 aircraft lessor, where he was part of the Risk Management team.

    Education
    • University of Virginia, BS
    Prior Experience
    • Marathon Asset Management
    • Alterna Capital Partners
    • Deucalion Aviation Funds
    • AWAS Aviation Capital
    Managing Director
    Lewis Sutherland

    Mr. Sutherland is a Managing Director at AE Industrial focusing on the origination and management of aircraft leases, engine leasing pools and related aerospace investments for the AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing. Mr. Sutherland has 18 years of experience in managing aircraft as a financial investment, working with a wide variety of institutional fund investors. Prior to joining AE Industrial in 2024, Mr. Sutherland was the Chief Commercial Officer of Deucalion Aviation Limited. Prior to Deucalion, Mr. Sutherland was based in Singapore for 10 years, heading up the Investec Aviation Equity Funds activities across Asia with an active role in managing and interfacing with the Asian investor base. He started his career with Airbus and moved into aircraft finance in 2008 when he joined DVB Bank SE in London. Mr. Sutherland is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

    Education
    • University of Strathclyde, BA (Hons)
    Prior Experience
    • Deucalion Aviation Limited
    • Investec Aviation
    • DVB Bank SE
    • Airbus
    Chief Technical Officer
    Erik Deutsch

    Mr. Deutsch is the Chief Technical Officer for AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing and brings over 25 years of technical aviation experience. Mr. Deutsch oversees all technical management of aircraft assets, acquisition analysis, technical deal strategy, lease portfolio management, and the lease delivery and redelivery processes for AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing. Prior to joining AE Industrial in 2021, Mr. Deutsch spent seven years at Aero Capital Solutions as Chief Technical Officer and was responsible for three essential departments of an aircraft lessor including portfolio management, technical operations and technical records. Prior to Aero Capital Solutions, Mr. Deutsch served as Manager of Technical Operations at Bank of China Aviation where he managed all technical operations of a customer subset fleet. Before Bank of China, he was VP of Technical Management at Dubai Aerospace Enterprise where he functioned as the head of powerplant. Previous roles also included time as Director of Engine Management at AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR) where he managed AAR’s Part 145 repair station.

    Education
    • Lewis University, FAA Airframe and Powerplant License
    Prior Experience
    • Aero Capital Solutions
    • Bank of China Aviation
    • Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
    • AAR Corp.
    Senior Associate
    Brandon Smith

    Mr. Smith is a Senior Associate at AE Industrial and is primarily focused on financial modeling, due diligence, executing new investments, and monitoring portfolio investments for AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing. Prior to joining AE Industrial in 2020, Mr. Smith was an Associate at Seabury Capital, an aviation-focused advisory and investment firm, where he focused on M&A and strategic corporate advisory across a broad spectrum of aviation and aerospace & defense subsegments.

    Education
    • Binghamton University, BS
    Prior Experience
    • Seabury Capital
    Associate
    Tucker Long

    Mr. Long is an Associate at AE Industrial and is primarily focused on financial modeling, due diligence, executing new investments, and monitoring portfolio investments for AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing. Prior to joining AE Industrial, Mr. Long was an Associate at The Longwood Group, where he focused on executing acquisitions of companies and assets within the Transportation industry. Prior to The Longwood Group, Mr. Long was an Equity Research Associate at Stifel Financial Corp., where he covered companies across the Transportation and Energy Infrastructure sectors. Mr. Long is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

    Education
    • University of Chicago Booth School of Business, MBA
    • University of Missouri, BA
    Prior Experience
    • The Longwood Group
    • Stifel Financial Corp.
    Our Senior Team
    Co-CEO & Managing Partner
    David Rowe

    Mr. Rowe is the Co-CEO and Managing Partner at AE Industrial and has responsibility for the overall management of the firm, primarily focusing on the negotiating, executing and monitoring of portfolio investments. Mr. Rowe co-founded AE Industrial’s predecessor firm, AeroEquity Partners, Inc., in 1998 and has been involved in all of the firm’s investments since inception. Mr. Rowe currently serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio companies: Edge Autonomy, Global Jet Capital and Kellstrom Aerospace, and is a member of the Firm’s Investment Committee. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Gryphon Technologies, prior to its sale to ManTech International Corporation in 2021, and Altus Fire & Life Safety, prior to its sale to Apax Partners in 2024. Prior to co-founding AE Industrial, Mr. Rowe was an Executive Vice President at Gulfstream Financial Services Corp., where he created a leasing portfolio for its parent, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. Previously, Mr. Rowe spent 12 years at GE Aerospace and GE Capital, where he managed a multi-billion dollar portfolio of commercial aircraft and engine assets with responsibility for fleet management, repossessions, trading and restructuring asset portfolios.

    Education
    • Tulane University, BA
    • GE’s Financial Management Program
    Prior Experience
    • Gulfstream Financial Services Corp.
    • GE Aerospace
    • GE Capital
    Co-CEO & Managing Partner
    Michael Greene

    Mr. Greene is the Co-CEO and Managing Partner at AE Industrial and has responsibility for the overall management of the firm, primarily focusing on the negotiating, executing and monitoring of portfolio investments. Since joining AE Industrial in 2008, Mr. Greene has worked with several portfolio companies and currently serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio company Moeller Aerospace, and is a member of the Firm’s Investment Committee. He previously served on the Board of Directors of BHI Energy, prior to its sale to Westinghouse Electric Company in 2022, and ENERCON, prior to its sale to Oaktree Capital Management in 2023. Previously, Mr. Greene was with UBS Capital Americas, LLC and UBS Capital, LLC from 1990 to 2008. Mr. Greene was a founding partner of the non-investment grade debt and equity businesses at Union Bank of Switzerland, the predecessor to UBS AG, and was a principal architect in creating the firm’s internal investment review processes and monitoring systems. Mr. Greene also had primary responsibility for running the General Industrial Group for UBS Capital Americas, LLC. Mr. Greene formerly served as a Trustee of The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where he was the Chairman of the endowments Investment Committee.

    Education
    • Harvard Business School, MBA
    • The College of the Holy Cross, BA
    Prior Experience
    • UBS Capital Americas, LLC
    • UBS Capital, LLC
    Senior Operating Partner, Co-Head of AEI Portfolio Strategy and Optimization Group
    Kevin McAllister

    Mr. McAllister is a Senior Operating Partner and the Co-Head of the Portfolio Strategy and Optimization Group at AE Industrial, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience in aerospace. Mr. McAllister previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Belcan, prior to its sale to Cognizant in 2024. Prior to joining AE Industrial in 2020, Mr. McAllister served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, a $60 billion business, from 2016 through October 2019. Prior to Boeing, Mr. McAllister spent 27 years with GE Aviation where he most recently served as President and CEO of GE Aviation Services responsible for providing a customizable suite of engine services life cycle offerings to customers and delivering a $120 billion services backlog. Mr. McAllister was previously Vice President and General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing. He also held multiple GE Aviation leadership roles across Global Customer and Product Support, Overhaul & Component Repair Operations, Lean Six Sigma and Engineering. Mr. McAllister started his career in 1986 with Howmet Corporation with assignments in engineering and production of investment cast turbine airfoils. Mr. McAllister brings aerospace experience across markets and strong global industry relationships. His leadership experience spans airplane, engines, services and supply chain with a strong foundation of leadership development, lean six sigma and digital analytics tools. Mr. McAllister serves on the Board of Directors of Embraer and volunteers as Chairman of the Board of Orbis International, a non-profit global organization dedicated to preserving and restoring sight worldwide. His past board affiliations include the Washington Roundtable, Challenge Seattle and the Wings Club Board of Governors.

    Education
    • University of Pittsburgh, BS
    Prior Experience
    • Boeing Commercial Airplanes
    • GE Aviation Services
    • Howmet Corporation
    Senior Operating Partner, Co-Head of AEI Portfolio Strategy and Optimization Group
    Paul McElhinney

    Mr. McElhinney is a Senior Operating Partner and the Co-Head of the Portfolio Strategy and Optimization Group at AE Industrial. Mr. McElhinney joined AE Industrial in 2018 following a more than 30-year career in senior leadership with General Electric. Mr. McElhinney currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio companies: AIM MRO and Moeller Aerospace and serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio companies: Columbia Helicopters and Kellstrom Aerospace. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Belcan, prior to its sale to Cognizant in 2024. Prior to joining AE Industrial, Mr. McElhinney served as the President and CEO of both GE Power Services, a $15 billion power generation aftermarket business, and GE Aviation Services, the global aftermarket division of GE Aviation where he was responsible for more than doubling the backlog of the business to over $100 billion. He also held General Counsel and Business Development roles at GE Aviation and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). Mr. McElhinney’s past board affiliations include Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, Wake Forest University School of Business and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

    Education
    • Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, Law
    Prior Experience
    • GE Power Services
    • GE Aviation Services
    • GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
    Our Fleet
    Commercial Aircraft
    A319-100
    A320-200
    A321-200
    B757-200PCF
    B737-700
    B737-800
    Commercial Engines
    CFM56-5B4/P
    CFM56-7B26
    Special Mission Aircraft
    Columbia Model 234
    Beechcraft King Air C90
    Our Lessees
    Contact Us
    AEI Aerospace Leasing
    26° 23' 51.396''
    N 80° 7' 17.292'' W
    6700 Broken Sound Parkway NW
    Boca Raton, FL 33487 See in Maps

    leasing@aeroequity.com
    investorrelations@aeroquity.com
    P (561) 372 – 7820
    F (561) 392 – 6908