B&H Worldwide has acquired Founders Logistics, a US-headquartered company that specializes exclusively in aircraft engine transportation, adding a dedicated engine transport specialist to a network of hubs and Aircraft on Ground (AOG) centers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia, the Americas and Oceania.

The purchase follows the March 2026 investment by Sun European Partners, whose affiliate backed B&H with a stated plan to pursue mergers and acquisitions in aviation logistics. In its press release, issued from Heathrow, London, B&H Worldwide did not disclose the purchase price, other financial terms or a closing date.

What Founders Logistics brings to B&H

According to the release, Founders Logistics combines experienced logistics professionals with hands-on operational expertise and sensor-based tracking technology. It provides dedicated shipment management, end-to-end visibility and proactive updates throughout each engine move. B&H said the deal joins that expertise with its own international network, 24/7 operational support, AOG response capabilities and engine storage services.

The companies framed the acquisition around demand from airlines, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers, lessors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The release says these customers need logistics partners that deliver secure, reliable and time-critical engine transportation with complete shipment visibility. Together, the two companies plan to offer integrated engine logistics, from collection and handling through international transportation, storage and final delivery.

What changes for customers

B&H said customers of both companies will continue working with their existing teams and day-to-day contacts. Over time, the release says, they will gain coordinated engine collection, ground transportation, air freight, storage and final delivery through one specialist logistics partner.

They will also have access to Founders’ engine transportation expertise, backed by B&H’s international network and its 24/7 AOG and critical logistics centers.

What the two executives said

Stuart Allen, Chairman of B&H Worldwide, said: “Aircraft engines are among the most valuable and operationally critical assets in aviation.” He said moving them safely and on time requires specialist expertise, meticulous planning and a highly responsive logistics operation, adding that “Founders Logistics has built an outstanding reputation in this specialised field.”

Allen said bringing Founders into B&H combines its engine transportation expertise with B&H’s global network, 24/7 operations and more than three decades of aerospace logistics experience. He welcomed Founders President Cristhian Contador and the Founders team, saying the two organizations share a commitment to operational excellence, attention to detail and customer service.

Contador said: “We built Founders Logistics on one simple principle: treat every engine as if it were our own.” He said B&H’s global network and 24/7 operational capabilities will let Founders extend its reach and offer broader international logistics services while keeping the specialist expertise and personalized service its customers expect. He added that Founders looks forward to working with B&H to further develop its aircraft engine transportation and management capabilities around the world.

How the deal fits B&H’s buy-and-build plan

B&H was established in the United Kingdom in 1988 and, by its own description, has focused exclusively on aviation and aerospace logistics for more than three decades. It serves airlines, MRO providers, aircraft parts stockists, lessors, defense operators and OEMs, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Its About page lists aircraft engines among the shipments it handles, alongside specialist avionics components, rotables and consumables.

In a press release dated March 26, 2026, Sun European Partners said one of its affiliates had completed an investment in B&H, extending the firm’s buy-and-build portfolio. Sun European, whose affiliates have invested in more than 570 companies worldwide since 1995, said it looked forward to working with Allen and his team on mergers and acquisitions in aviation logistics and other specialist logistics areas. Allen, then CEO and a shareholder, said the backing would let B&H keep investing in its staff, capabilities and customer services. A portfolio page published by Sun Capital Partners lists B&H Worldwide with the status “Actively seeking add-on acquisitions.”

B&H’s leadership has changed since that investment. According to a B&H announcement published by the ADS trade association on August 24, 2026, Matt Silverberg was appointed Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect, succeeding Allen, who became Chairman and Board Advisor after 13 years as CEO. Silverberg is based in the United States and leads the company’s global operations and strategic growth initiatives, while Allen provides strategic direction from Singapore. The announcement said Silverberg’s track record includes revenue growth through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

Engine transport draws more specialist offerings

B&H is not the only logistics group building a dedicated engine business. In a press release on October 29, 2026, FedEx announced a dedicated logistics solution for main-deck aircraft engines and oversized aerospace components. As AirPro News reported in its coverage of the FedEx engine logistics launch, that service formalizes operations that had moved hundreds of engines since June 2025.

The B&H release leaves several questions open for operators, lessors and MRO shops. It does not say how many engines Founders Logistics moves each year, how many people it employs or where in the United States it is based, and it gives no timeline for the integrated service.

Northrop Grumman has been selected as a Certified Continental U.S. depot for the C-130 Hercules fleet, adding depot-level repair, overhaul and inspection work at its Lake Charles, Louisiana, facility. Lockheed Martin recognized the designation at the C-130 Technical Coordination Group World Wide Review event in Orlando, Florida.

Northrop Grumman announced the selection in a press release dated November 6, 2026. The company said the designation expands maintenance capacity for an airlift platform that supports combat, humanitarian and other missions worldwide, and that the Lake Charles site will help improve aircraft availability and return C-130s to service faster.

What the new depot designation covers

As a certified depot, Northrop Grumman will provide comprehensive maintenance, including repair, overhaul and inspection, according to the release. The company said the Lake Charles facility combines an experienced workforce, specialized infrastructure, digital tools, custom fabrication and aircraft capabilities to increase capacity.

The release photo shows Keith Thompson, senior director of programs at Northrop Grumman, and Mark Jarvis, international program management director at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, marking the partnership on C-130 Continental U.S. depot support. Northrop Grumman said the recognition reflects the two companies’ partnership in sustaining a critical national airlift capability, and its own continued investment in scalable maintenance and modernization capabilities.

The release leaves several questions open for operators and maintenance planners. It does not name a first customer or an aircraft induction date, give a contract value, say how many aircraft the site can handle at once, or say which C-130 variants the designation covers. It refers to the U.S. C-130 Hercules fleet in general terms.

Lake Charles and the E-6B Mercury

The Lake Charles facility also performs integrated modification and maintenance on the U.S. Navy’s E-6B Mercury in support of the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission, Northrop Grumman said. The E-6B is a communications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft, according to the Navy.

The Navy said on September 7, 2023, that it had accepted the first E-6B upgraded by Northrop Grumman at its Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center in Lake Charles under the Integrated Maintenance and Modification Contract (IMMC). According to the Navy, the $111 million contract includes six major modifications, called Block II, and Northrop Grumman will overhaul multiple E-6B aircraft under it by 2027. The Navy also said the company was approaching the contract’s required six-month turnaround time through process improvements in engineering, scheduling, management and production, and that the IMMC was the first time a single company was responsible for the entire installation.

Block II improves command, control and communications linking the National Command Authority with U.S. strategic and non-strategic forces, the Navy said. Pilots from Strategic Communications Wing One (SCW-1) collected the first upgraded aircraft on June 6, 2023, and flew it to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons 3 and 4 operate the E-6B.

Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles describes Northrop Grumman as an anchor tenant with nearly 30 years of experience in aircraft operations, logistics and depot maintenance. The airport says the company’s Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center is recognized as a “Center of Excellence” and that the company has completed hundreds of program depot maintenance deliveries on time and within budget.

The wider C-130 support network

Lockheed Martin’s C-130J fact sheet, which the company says is current as of November 2026, lists more than 570 C-130J deliveries, more than 3 million flight hours for the global C-130J fleet and 27 countries in its program status. The same document lists 17 Lockheed Martin-certified Hercules Service and Heavy Maintenance Centers supporting the aircraft. It credits the United States with eight variants, and its variant list includes the MC-130J for U.S. Air Force special operations and the HC-130J for U.S. Air Force search and rescue.

The fact sheet covers the C-130J only, while Northrop Grumman’s release does not specify which C-130 models will be maintained in Lake Charles. Other C-130 sustainment work covered by AirPro News includes StandardAero’s T56 engine depot contract in August 2026 and Tata and Lockheed Martin’s Bengaluru C-130J facility in December 2025.

AvAir, the Chandler, Arizona, provider of aftermarket aviation inventory and component support, has signed a long-term aircraft asset management agreement with XAero, a Chinese aircraft lifecycle management company in the Xiamen Airlease group, that starts with the teardown of three US-based commercial aircraft. The first aircraft include Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737NG assets, and AvAir will sell the harvested parts through its global sales channels.

In a press release dated October 28, 2026, AvAir described the agreement as the first phase of an expected wider relationship, intended to maximize aircraft residual value and increase the supply of used serviceable material (USM) to operators worldwide. On November 3, 2026, AvAir also announced $170 million in new revolving credit facilities, which it said it will use in part for inventory investments and strategic acquisitions.

What AvAir will do with the aircraft

Under the agreement, AvAir will handle inventory monetization, repair strategy, global sales and distribution of the material harvested from the three initial teardowns. The program is meant to supply airlines, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers, leasing companies and aviation suppliers with serviceable rotable and expendable inventory.

The release does not give the split between A320 family and 737NG aircraft, the aircraft’s ages, where in the United States the teardowns will take place or any financial terms. It says the inventory will be available to operators and maintenance providers through AvAir’s global sales channels once the aircraft have gone through teardown and material recovery.

Brandon Wesson, President of AvAir, called the partnership “another important step in AvAir’s continued expansion” as a global asset management and aftermarket solutions provider. He said:

“The aviation industry continues to demand reliable sources of quality USM, and this agreement further strengthens our ability to deliver inventory solutions to customers around the world.”

Who XAero is

AvAir describes XAero as one of China’s leading aviation asset disposal and aircraft lifecycle management companies. XAero provides engine leasing, aircraft and engine teardown, recycling, asset disposal, engine management and parts distribution in Asia and other international markets. According to the release, it is part of the Xiamen Airlease group and has supported the management and disposition of more than 100 aircraft worldwide.

Paul Nation, XAero’s Managing Director Overseas Business, said the company is committed to growing its overseas presence through its new XAero Singapore and XAero USA entities and by working closely with local and global supply chain partners. He also pointed to AvAir’s experience in managing consignment stock and repairs, and to its North American and global salesforce.

Wesson said AvAir views the agreement as “the beginning of a broader long-term strategic relationship between our organizations.” He added that the companies will continue to evaluate additional aircraft and asset management opportunities together. The release does not say how many aircraft later phases could cover.

How the deal fits AvAir’s expansion in 2026

AvAir was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. It offers airlines, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and MRO providers ways to buy, sell, exchange, loan, lease and consign aircraft components. In July 2026 the company said it held more than 26 million in-stock components, and in June 2025 it said it served more than 3,100 customers in 127 countries, with offices in Chandler and Dublin, Ireland.

On July 15, 2026, AvAir acquired Full Stop Technics, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, wheel and brake MRO company with FAA and EASA certification. In that announcement, Wesson pointed to AvAir’s recent purchase of more than 1,600 wheels and brakes from Lufthansa Technik and said that pairing AvAir’s inventory with certified repair support creates a faster, more integrated solution.

The November 3 credit facilities came from six lenders, including HSBC Bank USA and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. AvAir said it will use them for general corporate purposes, working capital, inventory investments, strategic acquisitions and other growth initiatives. Chief Financial Officer Bob Knox said the partnership with the banks lets AvAir act quickly on strategic opportunities.

Other aftermarket firms are also buying teardown aircraft

The XAero agreement is one of several recent moves by aftermarket companies to secure aircraft for parts. On October 13, 2026, GA Telesis said it had acquired three more A320neo airframes for used serviceable material, with two more expected before the end of 2026. GA Telesis linked demand for lower-cost serviceable parts to supply chain constraints, longer maintenance turnaround times and a growing global A320neo fleet.

On the 737NG side, AerFin said on November 4, 2026, that it had agreed to buy 44 Boeing 737NG aircraft from Qantas, together with their 88 CFM56-7B engines, with the aircraft transferring over the next seven years. AerFin, which said in the same release that demand for high-quality used serviceable material remains strong, now describes itself as a wholly owned subsidiary of ORIX Aviation, following ORIX Aviation’s acquisition of AerFin. ORIX Aviation said in August 2026 that the purchase marked its entry into the aviation aftermarket business.

In its first phase, the AvAir and XAero program covers three aircraft. The release presents it as the start of a wider relationship that combines XAero’s aircraft asset base with AvAir’s global distribution network, which the partners expect to speed material flow into the aftermarket and raise returns on retired aircraft.