Every company has a story, and ours began in 1987.
What started as a small repair operation has grown into one of the world's largest independent MROs dedicated exclusively to commercial and military flight deck windows. While our capabilities have evolved over the years, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to quality, innovation, and the people we serve.
Where It All Began
Pacific Aero Tech was established in 1987 as a spinoff of Pacific Aero Support, an aviation parts supplier based in Washington. Following Pacific Aero Support's bankruptcy, Karen Mooney and Hugo Flinn acquired Pacific Aero Tech in 1993, recognizing the company's potential and laying the foundation for its future growth. Three years later, in 1996, the company relocated from Auburn to Kent, Washington, where we continue to operate today.
In the early years, we specialized in the repair and overhaul of passenger windows, flight deck windows, and avionics. With a small but dedicated team, we focused on delivering dependable repairs, building technical expertise, and earning the trust of our customers one job at a time.
Building Our Reputation
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, we steadily expanded our customer base and repair capabilities. As more operators placed their trust in Pacific Aero Tech, we continued investing in our people, processes, and technical knowledge.
Each new project presented an opportunity to learn, improve, and strengthen our reputation within the aerospace industry. Those years established the foundation for the company we are today.
Growing Through Innovation
A new chapter began in the 2010s following a change in ownership. With renewed investment in engineering, technology, and specialized repair capabilities, we entered a period of significant growth and innovation.
One of the most important milestones during this time was the development of our proprietary Pacific Aero Tech Overhaul (PATO) program. Designed to recover and overhaul flight deck window transparencies that would otherwise require replacement, PATO expanded our capabilities beyond conventional maintenance manual repairs and reinforced our commitment to maximizing the value of our customers' assets.
As our expertise continued to grow, so did our capabilities. Investments in DER-approved repairs, fabrication processes, and wide-body flight deck window programs allowed us to support more operators while continuing to refine the specialized services that set Pacific Aero Tech apart.
Adapting to Change
Like the rest of the aviation industry, we faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced air travel and global supply chain disruptions created uncertainty across the industry, requiring us to adapt alongside our customers.
As aviation recovered, so did we. Increased demand for repair and overhaul services, combined with the dedication of our team, positioned Pacific Aero Tech for another period of growth.
Our workforce expanded from approximately 35 employees in the early 2010s to more than 130 employees by the mid-2020s, reflecting not only our growth as a company but also the trust our customers continue to place in us.
Focused on the Future
As we grew, we also made the strategic decision to sharpen our focus. Between 2022 and 2023, we transitioned away from avionics services to dedicate our expertise exclusively to the repair, overhaul, and exchange of commercial and military flight deck windows.
Today, that singular focus allows us to continually advance our capabilities, invest in innovative repair solutions, and provide specialized support to operators around the world.
Nearly four decades after our journey began, we remain guided by the same vision that drives us every day:
"Guided by quality, integrity, respect, excellence, and resourcefulness, we strive to soar to new heights."
While we've grown tremendously since 1987, we believe our story is still being written. Every repair, every innovation, and every customer relationship become part of our journey as we continue building on the foundation that has defined Pacific Aero Tech for nearly 40 years.
Thank you for being part of our story, we're excited for what's ahead.