Autopilots Central, Inc.
How we got $3.7M
Based on its 25 employees and its payroll, both reported for PPP in 2020 and brought up to date.
What we know
Signs of a sale Some signs of a sale
- In business 72 years (since 1954)
From public records and the company's website, not a statement that it's for sale.
What they do
Autopilots Central, Inc. at Sparks Aviation Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma offers autopilot, instrument, avionics, and aircraft maintenance services for aircraft owners.
From the company's website. Industry: Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance.
Customers & suppliers
Suppliers & brands
- Allied Signal · brand it sells or installs
- King · brand it sells or installs
- Honeywell · brand it sells or installs
- Bendix · brand it sells or installs
- ARC · brand it sells or installs
- Cessna · brand it sells or installs
- Century · brand it sells or installs
- S-TEC · brand it sells or installs
- Meggitt · brand it sells or installs
- Collins · brand it sells or installs
- Tec-Line · brand it sells or installs
- Garmin · brand it sells or installs
- Sigma-Tek · brand it sells or installs
- AIM-BF Goodrich · brand it sells or installs
- Stormscope · brand it sells or installs
Estimated value over time
▼ 5% since 2020Today's estimate scaled by the headcount reported each year and that year's prices. A trend, not a record of past sale values.
Compared with similar businesses nearby
| Business | Est. revenue | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| AUTOPILOTS CENTRAL, INC. this business | $8.4M | — |
| ELECTRONIC SYNERGY FOUNDATION Tulsa · 8 employees | $176K | 2.3 mi |
| ADVANTAGE GRAPHICS Tulsa · 10 employees | $2.5M | 3.9 mi |
| DNR SERVICE L.L.C. Tulsa · 10 employees | $2.5M | 5.5 mi |
| DAWAYLON EMBRY Tulsa · 1 employees | $226K | 5.7 mi |
| VIC TECH LLC Tulsa · 1 employees | $197K | 5.8 mi |
| VELOCIGO INC Tulsa · 6 employees | $1.7M | 6.1 mi |
The full calculation
| Employees reported to the SBA | 25 |
| Revenue from headcount (employees × revenue per employee for companies this size) | $5.8M |
| Revenue from PPP payroll (payroll ÷ payroll's share of revenue for companies this size) | $9.4M |
| Estimate: the two combined (geometric mean) | $8.4M |
| EBITDA margin (industry, adjusted for size) | 11% |
| EBITDA = revenue × margin | $961K |
Figures are shown toward the upper part of their range rather than at its middle.
Brought up to date assuming revenue has grown 8% a year since 2020, when the PPP figures were reported; included above.
| Estimated value = EBITDA × typical sale multiple | $3.7M |
| Multiple for this size and industry | 3.8× |
| Value range | $1.9M – $5.0M |
| Revenue range | $5.6M – $9.6M |
| EBITDA range | $632K – $1.1M |
| Industry (NAICS) | Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811219) |
EBITDA margin: from IRS tax returns of S corporations in this industry (2019–2022), adjusted for company size: smaller companies typically run higher margins. EBITDA here is after owners' salaries.
Benchmarks: US Economic Census 2022, OK. PPP loans were sized on 2019–2020 payroll, so figures reflect that period. These are statistical estimates, not reported financials. Full methodology
People & advisors
“From it’s humble one-man beginning, literally under a shade-tree on Tulsa Municipal Airport in 1954, to the 1970’s, when Jack Sparks first came into the picture, to the successful, highly-respected family-run business of today, Autopilots Central, Inc. has a reputation for being able to fix things that other people can’t.”
Advisors
- BankingAmerican Bank and Trust CompanyPPP / SBA lender
From the company's own website and public filings (DOL Form 5500, IRS Form 990, SBA). Roles are as stated there and may be out of date.
Banking relationships
| American Bank and Trust Company PPP 2020 | All 117 borrowers → |
From PPP and SBA loan records, which name the bank but not the individual banker.
PPP loans
| Approved | Draw | Amount | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/10/2020 | first | $321K | 25 |
Public records
Matched to this business by name and address from public government data; a match can occasionally be wrong.
About Autopilots Central, Inc.
Autopilots Central, Inc. is a family-owned electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in business since 1954. It is owned by Jack Sparks. Its estimated annual revenue is about $8.4M, with roughly $961K of EBITDA. It has about 25 employees. Its estimated business value is $3.7M (likely range $1.9M–$5.0M).
Common questions
- Who owns Autopilots Central, Inc.?
- Autopilots Central, Inc. is owned by Jack Sparks, according to public sources such as the company's website or filings.
- How much revenue does Autopilots Central, Inc. make?
- SeeBITDA estimates Autopilots Central, Inc.'s annual revenue at about $8.4M (likely between $5.6M and $9.6M), based on public records such as its PPP loan and retirement-plan filings, brought up to 2026.
- What is Autopilots Central, Inc. worth?
- About $3.7M, roughly 3.8× its estimated EBITDA of $961K, typical for a electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance company its size. Likely range: $1.9M–$5.0M.
- How many employees does Autopilots Central, Inc. have?
- About 25, as reported on its PPP loan.
- When was Autopilots Central, Inc. founded?
- Autopilots Central, Inc. has been in business since 1954.