Private Equity Makes MRO Workforce Investment 

Private equity has made significant investments in the MRO industry over the last few years, with firms backing a range of aftermarket players such as AFI KLM E&M, EirTrade Aviation, MRO Holdings, STS Aviation Group and TurbineAero. Now, a relatively new player is betting on an acquisition aimed at addressing one of the MRO industry’s pressing pain points: the workforce shortage.Capitol Meridian Partners (CMP) has made a majority investment in Launch Technical Workforce Solutions, a U.S.-based provider of aviation industry staffing solutions with Part 145 repair station and AOG verticals. The company’s staffing solutions portfolio includes programs centered around helping clients recruit qualified technicians from the international and military veteran talent pool.“We were drawn to Launch because of their well-earned reputation as a leading provider of reliable, high-quality technical talent and solutions,” says CMP Founding Partner Adam Palmer. “The company addresses a critical pain point industry-wide, which is expected to persist for a long time.”Palmer says CMP intends to support Launch’s growth plans by helping it expand into new markets and geographies, investing in technology and providing follow-on capital.Founded in 2021, CMP has previously invested in several technology companies as well as PrimeFlight Aviation Services, a Texas-based provider of ground handling, ground support equipment maintenance and other aircraft services.Launch will be retaining its brand and headquarters in Chicago suburb Oak Brook, Illinois. Launch’s ownership team will remain in their executive roles post-acquisition before progressing to board level positions over the next 12-18 months. Jeff Martin, who has previously held executive roles at airlines such as WestJet, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines, will be coming on board as Launch’s new executive chairman.According to Mike Reporto, president and chief commercial officer at Launch, the acquisition will accelerate the company’s growth and provide capital for further investment in the company. “M&A is going to be the forefront of what we want to do, but also we want to broaden our capabilities and expand our pool of talent, which we’re going to be able to do with their investment and their capital,” he tells Aviation Week Network.One asset that Reporto says CMP will be able to help Launch grow further is its eLaunchNow platform, which connects technicians with open contract positions at aviation maintenance and manufacturing companies. The platform is based off StaffNow, a digital platform used by European MROs such as Lufthansa Technik to automate job offers and onboarding for contract technicians. Launch established an exclusive arrangement with StaffNow in 2022 to bring the platform to the U.S.Since then, Launch has been working to adapt the tool to accommodate differences between the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the FAA, such as how each agency qu