Coltala Aerospace
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Fort Worth-based Coltala Holdings reported positive news on Tuesday regarding an aerospace company within its portfolio.
With the global aerospace aftermarket projected to surpass $100 billion by 2030, Coltala Holdings says one of its portfolio companies is already reaping the benefits of a changing industry.
Texas- and Florida-based ACD Consulting (ACDc) has reported a 42.8% increase in annualized sales and a 120% rise in operating income in 2025 compared to last year — growth the company attributes to its “Solutions Based Embedded Engineer” program, a model that places ACDc engineers directly within customer operations.
The program represents a departure from traditional, remote consulting. By stationing engineers alongside client teams, ACDc provides real-time problem solving and access to its alternate repair network, which includes reverse engineering, component sourcing, and specialized repair stations. The firm says the embedded model shortens response times and improves collaboration on maintenance and repair challenges.
“By embedding an ACDC team member directly with our customers, we don’t just provide engineering support,” said Rick Armstrong, CEO of Coltala Aerospace, the Coltala division that oversees ACDc. “We give them access to our full suite of data-driven alternate solutions, ensuring real options when the OEM says no or lead-times become too long.”
The company says it has expanded its workforce by 25% and now operates from 10 embedded-engineer locations across the U.S., positioning itself to meet demand fueled by several macro trends: a growing market for FAA-approved PMA parts (rising 5–7% annually), an increase in DER repairs as shop visits climb, and accelerated used-serviceable-material growth as older fleets such as the A320ceo and 737NG retire.
At the same time, ACDc’s leaders note industry headwinds, including OEM restrictions in warranty agreements, tightening FAA/EASA certification requirements, and a shrinking pool of licensed Designated Engineering Representatives.
Texas’ aerospace industry is expanding at a record pace, including Fort Worth’s prominent defense manufacturing industry. The boom has exposed a widening talent gap. The state’s 1,400-plus aerospace and aviation firms employ more than 150,000 workers and graduate nearly 11,000 aerospace-related students each year, according to the Texas Economic Development Corporation. Yet, retirements are beginning to outstrip the supply of new engineers and aviation maintenance technicians. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 13,000 openings a year for aircraft mechanics and technicians, and industry forecasts warn of a 10% shortfall in certificated mechanics as early as 2025.
Across Texas, manufacturers are competing for a shrinking pool of qualified engineers and technicians capable of meeting both legacy and next-generation demands, ACDc President Michael Campbell said. This imbalance — fueled by reshoring, fleet expansion, and rapid adoption of digital manufacturing tools — has made workforce development one of the aerospace sector’s defining challenges.
Companies like ACD Consulting see opportunity in that gap by offering immediate expertise, reducing downtime, and helping clients sustain growth in an industry where the need for skilled technical talent has never been greater.
“Ultimately, this is about partnership,” said Campbell. “We’re not just delivering solutions from the outside — we’re building them together with our customers, in real time.”
Coltala Aerospace, a division of Coltala Holdings, integrates consulting, composites, and MRO services across its aerospace portfolio and applies its proprietary Coltala Enterprise System, which it describes as a lean, Fortune 100–based framework for scaling mission-driven businesses.