From the skies to the seas, South Florida is an international hub for maintenance, repair and overhaul – the sector powering the global operations of planes, helicopters, yachts, defense systems and more.
Hollywood-based Heico Corp. (NYSE: HEI) is a prime example of how deeply integrated South Florida is in the global aerospace and defense industry.“If it flies, we’re on it,” co-CEO Victor Mendelson said. “Airplanes, helicopters, satellites, rockets – we make the guts inside.”
With approximately $4 billion in annual revenue and a market capitalization of about $32 billion, Heico operates100 subsidiaries in 29 states and 15 countries. The company specializes in aftermarket component manufacturing and MRO for commercial and defense aircraft, operating about a dozen FAA-certified repair stations across the U.S., including four in South Florida. Services span repairs on avionics, wheels, brakes, cockpit systems, collision avoidance equipment and more.
“There’s a regular replacement cycle. Parts must be repaired or overhauled on a time-based schedule tied to flight hours or cycles,” Mendelson said. “You can’t pull a plane over like a car. These systems must be ready to perform without fail.”
Heico’s international footprint includes key operations in Europe and Asia. Its second-largest presence is in France, where subsidiaries produce sophisticated electronics such as memory modules for satellites, capacitors and slip rings. These parts often support both commercial space programs and military systems, including GPS satellites.
Recent acquisitions further reflect Heico’s global strategy. Its $2.05 billion acquisition of Wencor in 2023 – its largest ever – boosted its presence in the commercial and defense aftermarket. Additional deals in France and India highlight the company’s continued expansion beyond U.S. borders.
Meanwhile, in Doral, VSE Corp. (Nasdaq: VSEC) has turned its South Florida headquarters into a global logistics hub. President and CEO John Cuomo said VSE generates about $1 billion in revenue, with nearly $400 million tied to aviation MRO.
The firm supports more than 15,000 customers across the commercial, business and rotorcraft aviation markets.
“South Florida is a logistics capital,” Cuomo said. “We can ship overnight to Europe or Latin America. And with a network of FAA-certified repair stations, this is one of the largest MRO markets in the world.”
VSE’s warehouse in Doral serves as a global distribution point for parts sent to and from Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Though 70% of its aviation business is domestic, that still leaves an impressive $300 million from serving international clients, including major airlines such as Korean Air.
Unlike manufacturers, South Florida’s MRO providers focus on what happens after aircraft leave the factory.
“Think of it like car maintenance,” Cuomo said. “Engines are overhauled every few years. Aircraft go through A, B, C and D checks, [with] D being the full teardown. And each component, from cabin furnishings to avionics, must be FAA-certified.”
Cuomo stressed that every part must come with paperwork verifying its traceability.
“Even a ‘No Smoking’ sign is a certified component,” he added, noting that the industry is highly regulated, with strong barriers to entry.
On the marine side, Fort Lauderdale-based Bradford Marine, which operates a second location in Freeport, Grand Bahama, plays a crucial role in servicing the world’s largest luxury yachts.
“We have 38 acres along the New River, four lifts ranging up to 320 tons, and can haul yachts up to 1,200 tons in the Bahamas,” President and COO Michael Kelly said.
Bradford offers a full suite of services, from anti-fouling paint applications to generator overhauls, electronics upgrades and structural repairs.
“Yachts are floating cities, and their maintenance needs are just as complex,” Kelly said.
Internationality is core to Bradford’s client base. Most yachts are manufactured in Italy, the Netherlands, Taiwan and other countries. Crews are also globally diverse.
“We work closely with these manufacturers to stay current on their systems,” Kelly added.
Though exact numbers vary, Kelly estimated that the annual maintenance for a luxury yacht typically amounts to 10% of the vessel’s purchase price. Refit projects can reach millions of dollars.
“Full exterior paint jobs alone are significant investments,” he said.
While all three companies acknowledge that tariffs and supply chain bottlenecks can introduce uncertainty, none have seen major disruptions.
“We’re always managing global compliance, anti-corruption rules, export laws,” Heico’s Mendelson said. “That’s how we stay nimble while maintaining strong ethics and financial controls.”
The businesses also contribute significantly to employment. Heico has about 11,000 team members worldwide, VSE’s aviation business employs 1,350, and Bradford Marine’s Fort Lauderdale team includes 200 skilled tradespeople.
“These are high-paying, technical jobs: welders, machinists, electricians,” Bradford’s Kelly said. “They’re foundational to South Florida’s economy.”
The region’s appeal is not only geographical, but also historical.
“Pan Am and Eastern Airlines started here,” Cuomo said. “South Florida has always been an aviation base.”
Mendelson added: “It’s a great place to live, and a strong talent pipeline is being developed at schools like FIU and Broward College.”
Whether it’s maintaining rockets, overhauling engines or refitting superyachts, South Florida’s MRO industry appears to be indispensable – both to global transportation systems and the region’s economy.
“South Florida is really one of the largest [repair markets] in the world, actually … keeping these engines moving,” Cuomo said. “It’s a very global business in nature.”
This article by Cortney Danielle Moore originally appeared in South Florida Business Journal.
