MRO & Manufacturing
DAS Aviation Acquires AQRD to Boost Integrated Aviation Repair Services
DAS Aviation, a West Star Aviation unit, acquires AQRD, combining engineering and repair to enhance aviation maintenance and reduce aircraft downtime.
This article is based on an official press release from DAS Aviation.
In a significant move to consolidate aftermarket aviation services, DAS Aviation, a subsidiary of West Star Aviation, has officially acquired Aerospace Quality Research and Development (AQRD). Announced on December 1, 2025, the acquisition brings together DAS Aviation’s extensive structural repair and parts inventory with AQRD’s specialized engineering and composite capabilities. The deal aims to establish a vertically integrated “one-stop-shop” for operators, reducing the logistical burden of managing multiple vendors for off-wing services.
According to the company’s announcement, the integration of the two Texas-based firms begins immediately. DAS Aviation, headquartered in Cedar Hill, and AQRD, based in Addison, will combine resources to streamline the path from engineering prototyping to physical repair and certification. Company leadership has confirmed that existing client points of contact will remain unchanged to ensure continuity during the transition.
The primary driver behind this acquisition is the elimination of the traditional industry bottleneck where engineering solutions and physical repair execution are handled by separate entities. By housing both capabilities under one roof, DAS Aviation aims to drastically reduce turnaround times for complex repairs.
According to the press release, the combined entity will leverage AQRD’s engineering depth, specifically its in-house Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) and rapid prototyping, alongside DAS Aviation’s established repair capacity. This integration allows for the development of “field-ready fixes” that can be prototyped, certified, and implemented faster than competitors who rely on outsourced engineering data.
Dan Podojil, Vice President of DAS Aviation, emphasized the operational benefits for customers in a statement regarding the deal:
“Acquiring AQRD… raises the ceiling on what we can do for operators. AQRD’s engineering depth, paired with our repair capacity and parts inventory, eliminates the delays of juggling multiple vendors. One partner now owns the engineering, the repair, and the parts, delivered with speed and accountability.”
The merger significantly expands the service portfolio available to the combined client base. AQRD brings approximately two years of specialized experience as a “disruptor” in the market, known for offering FAA-approved engineering repairs that serve as cost-effective alternatives to OEM replacements. Their expertise extends to advanced composite repairs, including on-wing structural work.
Raj Narayanan, Owner and CEO of AQRD, highlighted the potential for innovation under the new partnership: “I’m excited because this partnership allows us to do more of what we do best: innovate. With DAS Aviation’s reach and resources, we can scale our engineering coverage… bringing cutting-edge solutions to service more efficiently.”
For DAS Aviation, the acquisition complements its existing strengths in structural repair, specifically for thrust reversers, control surfaces, engine inlets, and radomes. Following its June 2025 merger with Jet Parts, DAS Aviation also holds a substantial inventory of rotables and components. The addition of AQRD’s engineering arm is expected to bolster the company’s Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) response capabilities, minimizing downtime for operators facing complex technical issues.
This Acquisitions represents the latest step in a broader consolidation strategy driven by West Star Aviation to build a dominant aftermarket support network. The timeline of this expansion highlights a deliberate move toward vertical integration:
By controlling the engineering data, the repair station, and the parts inventory, West Star Aviation is positioning DAS Aviation to compete more aggressively on speed and comprehensive service delivery.
The acquisition of AQRD by DAS Aviation signals a maturing trend in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) sector: the shift from capacity-based competition to capability-based integration. In the past, MROs often competed on hangar space or labor rates. Today, the competitive edge lies in “speed to solution.”
By acquiring a firm with in-house DER authority, DAS Aviation effectively removes the “middleman” of third-party engineering approvals. This is particularly critical for aging fleets where OEM parts may be obsolete or prohibitively expensive. The ability to engineer a repair, approve it via DER, and manufacture the fix in-house allows DAS Aviation to capture the entire value chain of a repair event. For operators, this likely means faster return-to-service times, though it also concentrates more market power within the West Star Aviation ecosystem.
Formerly known as Dallas Aeronautical Services, DAS Aviation is a subsidiary of West Star Aviation. The company operates over 100,000 square feet of shop space across facilities in Cedar Hill, Texas, and Solon, Ohio, with additional warehousing in Collinsville, Illinois. It specializes in composite and structural repair for corporate aircraft and maintains a massive inventory of rotables following its merger with Jet Parts.
Aerospace Quality Research and Development (AQRD) is an engineering firm and FAA Part 145 repair station located at Addison Airport (KADS) in Texas. Founded roughly 20 years ago, the company is noted for its engineering-led approach to repairs and its unique capability to maintain legacy composite airframes, including the Beechcraft Starship.
Sources: DAS Aviation Press Release
DAS Aviation Acquires AQRD to Create Integrated Engineering and Repair Powerhouse
Strategic Rationale: Closing the Gap Between Engineering and Repair
Expanded Capabilities and AOG Response
Industry Context: The West Star Aviation Strategy
AirPro News Analysis
Company Profiles
About DAS Aviation
About AQRD
Photo Credit: AQRD – Montage