Aerospace is a growing fixture in the city, where United Airlines’ 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 defense manufacturers, aerial imagining companies and research organizations. To learn more about aerospace in Chicago, read on.
Aerospace Companies in Chicago
- Boeing
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Helios Visions
- Northstar Aerospace
Top Aerospace Companies in Chicago
Founded: 2002
Headquarters: Bedford Park, Illinois
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.
Founded: 1986
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
Skyworks Aeronautics Corp. works on gyronautics research and development, 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 developing crewed and uncrewed vertical lift technologies, which aim to be a more sustainable and ultimately more cost-effective flight solution.
Founded: 1988
Headquarters: McLean, Virginia
Skypan International uses aerial technology to supply panoramic photography to multiple industries. Used for a variety of purposes ranging from architectural designs to VR and 3D animations, the company’s remote-piloted vehicles provide high-quality, aerial photos and videos.
Founded: 1926
Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas
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.
Founded: 1994
Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia
Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aerospace and defense firms in the United States, developing and supplying aeronautics systems like drones, jets and helicopters to the U.S. government. Headquartered in Virginia, the company also operates out of a location near Chicago, which supports programs like aircraft survivability, air warfare systems, airborne tactical sensors and navigation and positions systems.
Founded: 1964
Headquarters: McLean, Virginia
SES Satellites, formally Intelsat, operates an integrated satellite and terrestrial network, providing global inflight WiFi services. The company’s network allows travelers to instantly access live TV, stream video and listen to music while in the air. Additionally, it offers connected aircraft services that provide airlines with real-time flight information, opportunities to streamline information and generate new revenue streams.
Founded: 1916
Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia
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.
Founded: 1989
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
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 aircraft parts and jet engine leasing and connects its customers with data platforms.
Founded: 1979
Headquarters: Rastede, Germany
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. Although headquartered in Germany, the company has a location in the Chicagoland area.
Founded: 1926
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
United Airlines is a leading airline headquartered 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.
Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
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.
