Airborne Systems designs, engineers, and manufactures parachutes and related systems for military personnel, aircraft, and space applications.
Its work supports high-risk environments where quality, reliability, and consistent outcomes are essential. This includes high-profile space applications such as NASA’s Artemis II mission—widely recognized as a major milestone in the return of crewed lunar exploration. In a public announcement, Airborne Systems said its parachute system supported the Orion crew module during the final landing stage, helping to slow it before splashdown off the San Diego coast.
For Airborne Systems, AS9100 certification is part of demonstrating that strong quality management is built into its operations. This matters in aerospace, defense, and space markets, where customers often expect suppliers to meet recognized quality standards and provide clear evidence of control across their processes.
Business Challenge
Airborne Systems operates in sectors where supplier confidence is critical. Its work supports high-profile and high-risk applications, including space recovery systems, military parachutes, and aerospace components, where quality, reliability, and repeatable outcomes are essential.
For customers in these environments, including high-profile space organizations, AS9100 certification is often an important supplier requirement. For Airborne Systems, maintaining certification provides recognized evidence that its quality management system continues to meet aerospace sector expectations, while supporting customer confidence and audit readiness.
This is particularly important in programs where there is little margin for error, such as crewed spaceflight applications. In this context, certification helps reinforce the systems, records, and processes needed to support consistent delivery across complex aerospace and defense projects.
The Solution
AS9100 includes ISO 9001 quality management system requirements and is widely recognized across aviation, space, and defense supply chains.
Airborne Systems had already worked with several registrars before its certification came under the Amtivo name, following its previous relationship with Advantage Registrar and Orion.
With AS9100 certification typically expected by high-profile space customers, the business needed a certification partner that could maintain continuity, keep the process clear, and support a smooth recertification experience.
The transition to Amtivo was straightforward, with Airborne Systems reporting no issues during onboarding. This helped maintain continuity in the certification process and provided reassurance during a period of change.
Amtivo has also been responsive to inquiries and proactive in scheduling required audits, supporting a reliable certification experience for a business operating in highly demanding aerospace, space, and defense markets.
Key Results
- Customer confidence in demanding markets: AS9100 certification supports Airborne Systems in demonstrating recognized quality management credentials to aerospace, defense, and space customers.
- Alignment with customer requirements: High-profile space customers often expect suppliers to hold AS9100 certification, making it commercially important for supplier assurance and customer confidence.
- Positive customer response: Customers often respond well to Airborne Systems’ AS9100 accredited certification, even when certification is not required under their contract.
- Reliable record control: AS9100 supports Airborne Systems in ensuring records are in place and properly completed.
- Efficient customer audits: Customer audits typically result in no findings and are often completed ahead of schedule because required information is accessible.
- Continuity with Amtivo: Airborne Systems reported no issues with onboarding and described the transition to Amtivo as easy.
The Experience with Amtivo
Airborne Systems highlighted Amtivo’s responsiveness to inquiries, proactive approach to scheduling required audits, and the fair and thorough approach of the auditors involved so far.
