Standard Aero

StandardAero’s origins date back to 1911, just eight years after the Wright brothers’ historic flight at Kitty Hawk. Founded by Charles Pearce and William Bickell in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the company—then known as Standard Machine Works—specialized in the repair, overhaul, and rebuilding of automobile, truck, and tractor engines.

By November 1936, most engine manufacturers had appointed Standard Machine Works as an authorized service station, including Canadian Pratt & Whitney, de Havilland, and Jacobs. That fall, the company also became an authorized service station for Bendix Aviation Corporation of Bendix, NJ, maintaining Bendix-Eclipse starters, generators, and control boxes.

In 1949, the company incorporated as Standard Aero Engine Limited (SAE) and expanded its facilities and capabilities, sharpening its expertise in civilian and military aircraft engines. By 1960, SAE began overhauling turbine engines, investing heavily in tooling and training. They also partnered with Trans-Canada Air Lines to use one of the airline’s engine test cells.

Over the next six decades, the company grew steadily through strategic acquisitions, new program wins, and expanded services. StandardAero earned recognition as one of the aerospace industry’s leading independent maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers. Our success reflects the merger of businesses with complementary specialties, enhancing our capabilities and driving customer loyalty and value.

Markets Served

- Business Aviation
- Commercial Aviation
- Government & Military
- Industrial Power
- Helicopter Programs

We provide the following capabilities

- MRO for fixed-wing aircraft, engines & APUs
- Rotorcraft and component MRO
- Airframe inspections and major modifications
- FAA-authorized avionics capabilities
- Comprehensive engineering services
- Custom exterior, paint, and interior design