MRO Americas 2025: Building Connections with First Class Air Support

The MRO Americas conference, held April 8-10, 2025, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, was a key event for the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul industry. WTP Advisors’ Brian Schwam and Jim Fyrie were excited to attend, engaging with industry leaders and sharing their expertise in Transfer Pricing and IC-DISC.

Connecting with First Class Air Support

A standout interaction was with Ian Thompson, Head of Business Development & Strategy at First Class Air Support (FCA Aerospace). First Class Air Support, based in Louisville, KY, specializes in providing aerospace solutions, focusing on aftermarket support for aviation clients worldwide. Meeting Ian Thompson at MRO Americas was a great opportunity to explore how WTP Advisors could support their global operations.

Transfer Pricing for Global Operations

Brian Schwam introduced WTP Advisors’ Transfer Pricing services, which help companies like First Class Air Support manage intercompany transactions across international markets with precision and compliance. Ian shared that First Class Air Support frequently engages in global distribution, making financial compliance a top priority. Jim Fyrie explained how WTP Advisors’ Transfer Pricing strategies ensure that cross-border transactions are priced appropriately, aligning with global tax regulations while optimizing profitability. For a company like First Class Air Support, which likely deals with international clients and suppliers, Transfer Pricing can streamline operations and reduce risks, ensuring that transactions are conducted at arm’s length and are not subject to scrutiny from tax authorities.

Tax Optimization with IC-DISC

The discussion then shifted to tax optimization, where WTP Advisors’ IC-DISC services proved highly relevant. Brian Schwam highlighted how an IC-DISC (Interest Charge-Domestic International Sales Corporation) can help First Class Air Support lower their tax liability on export income. With their business model focused on supplying aviation parts globally, an IC-DISC could provide significant tax savings, enabling them to reinvest in their operations or expand their market reach. Ian was intrigued, recognizing the value of IC-DISC for their export-driven strategy, as it allows a portion of export profits to be taxed at a lower rate.

Addressing Aviation Aftermarket Challenges

At MRO Americas, they also discussed the aviation aftermarket’s unique challenges, such as supply chain efficiency and cost management. Ian emphasized First Class Air Support’s role in delivering reliable solutions to their clients, underscoring the importance of financial clarity. Jim Fyrie noted how Transfer Pricing could support their supply chain by ensuring compliance and aligning pricing strategies with business goals. It can also help optimize the supply chain by ensuring that the prices charged for goods and services between related entities are fair and reasonable, and that the overall supply chain is operating efficiently. Ian acknowledged that maintaining cost efficiency while scaling globally was a priority, and WTP Advisors’ insights offered a clear path forward.

Future Collaboration

The Atlanta conference provided the perfect platform for this exchange, fostering connections that could lead to impactful collaborations. They explored First Class Air Support’s vision for future growth, including their focus on expanding their global footprint. Ian’s goals aligned well with WTP Advisors’ mission to empower aviation businesses through financial clarity, and they left the conversation excited about the potential to collaborate and support First Class Air Support’s continued growth and success in the global aviation aftermarket.

WTP Advisors’ Expertise

Reflecting on their time at MRO Americas, WTP Advisors is eager to explore how they can support First Class Air Support’s ambitions. WTP Advisors specializes in helping aviation companies achieve success through services like Transfer Pricing and IC-DISC. For more on how we can assist, visit www.wtpadvisors.com.

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