NAICS 488111: Air Traffic Control
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air traffic control (except military) services to regulate the flow of air traffic. Cross-References.Show more
airspace and at airports. This includes the installation and upkeep of radar systems, communication networks, navigation aids, automation platforms, and surveillance technologies used by air traffic controllers.
Industry Spending Overview
Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 488111.
AI Industry Description
NAICS 488111 – Air Traffic Control encompasses the operation, maintenance, modernization, and support of systems and infrastructure that manage the safe and efficient movement of aircraft within U.S. airspace and at airports. This includes the installation and upkeep of radar systems, communication ...
NAICS 488111 – Air Traffic Control encompasses the operation, maintenance, modernization, and support of systems and infrastructure that manage the safe and efficient movement of aircraft within U.S. airspace and at airports. This includes the installation and upkeep of radar systems, communication networks, navigation aids, automation platforms, and surveillance technologies used by air traffic controllers. Services under this code also extend to training systems, cybersecurity hardening of critical aviation control infrastructure, and integration of NextGen technologies such as satellite-based navigation and data link communications. As a foundational component of national transportation security and airspace modernization, this NAICS code is critical to sustaining the National Airspace System and supporting both civilian and military aviation operations. No contractor data is available to identify top performers in this NAICS code. However, contractors typically include large defense and aerospace primes with aviation systems expertise, as well as specialized small businesses offering niche capabilities in avionics integration, real-time software development, and federal IT modernization. No agency data is available to identify primary awarding entities. Nonetheless, the Federal Aviation Administration is the principal buyer, with support from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security for joint-use airspace and national security-related air traffic functions. The competitive landscape is characterized by high barriers to entry due to stringent safety certifications, legacy system dependencies, and the need for deep federal compliance expertise. Opportunities exist for contractors with proven experience in NextGen implementation, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, and systems engineering for complex air traffic control environments. Procurement trends indicate sustained investment in automation, digital transition, and resilience against cyber threats, making this a high-priority, low-turnover sector for qualified vendors.
Small Business Size Standard
The SBA threshold that decides who can bid NAICS 488111 work as a small business.
The SBA cap for this NAICS (13 CFR 121.201). A business at or under it can self-certify as small for work in this code, which is what makes it eligible for a small-business set-aside. The cap is set per NAICS, so the same company can be small in one code and not in another.
13 CFR 121.201, effective January 1, 2026. The SBA revises the table roughly once a year.
Top Contractors
Companies with the highest total award value under NAICS 488111, ranked by dollars won.
| Company | Total Awards | Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| SYSTEM ONE HOLDINGS, LLC | $12.6M | 1 |
| TECHWISE LLC | $915K | 2 |
| AMERICAN WORDATA, INC | $417K | 2 |
| FIERCE SOFTWARE CORP | $319K | 2 |
| LOCK4 LLC | $238K | 4 |
| CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP | $225K | 2 |
| THUNDERCAT TECHNOLOGY, LLC | $198K | 1 |
| TVAR SOLUTIONS, LLC | $157K | 1 |
| NETAPP U.S. PUBLIC SECTOR, INC. | $100K | 1 |
| AEGIS ATC LLC | $90K | 1 |
Top Agencies
Federal agencies directing the most contract spending toward NAICS 488111.
Competition
How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 488111, from bidder counts reported on USAspending.
Half or more of reported awards drew exactly one bidder, usually a sign of incumbent-held work rather than an open field. · 488 reported awards
Median Bidders
1
Per reported award, all-time
Single-Bid Awards
52%
Share of reported awards with one bidder
10+ Bidder Awards
1%
Share of reported awards with 10+ bidders
Reported Awards
488
87% of 560 total awards
Share of reported awards in each bidder-count bracket per federal fiscal year.
How this code compares up the NAICS hierarchy. Parent cohorts pool every code under their prefix, so they are the steadier baseline when a 6-digit sample is thin.
| Industry Family | Competition | Median Bidders | Single-Bid | Bidder Mix | Reported Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
488111This Code Air Traffic Control | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 52% | 48887% of 560 | |
48811NAICS Industry | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 66% | 3,33286% of 3,876 | |
4881Industry Group Support Activities for Air Transportation | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 52% | 70,40782% of 85,817 | |
488Subsector | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 47% | 155,59082% of 190,088 | |
48Sector Transportation and Warehousing | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 39% | 398,99285% of 469,216 |
Bidder counts reported on past federal awards in this NAICS (USAspending). An open opportunity has no bidders yet, so this is the historical norm for similar work, not a fact about this solicitation. Not all awards report bidder counts, and fewer bidders often means incumbent-held work rather than an easier win. Federal reporting of bidder counts fell from ~96% of awards (FY2016) to ~30% (FY2018 onward); the chart shows shares of reported awards, and washed-out stretches mark years with fewer than 30 of them.
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