Pentastar Aviation is advancing aircraft ground safety through the deployment of autonomous wingwalking robots developed by Airtrek Robotics, becoming the first aviation company to integrate the robotics into day-to-day aviation operations.

The new technology introduces automation to a critical part of aircraft ground handling. During towing operations, Airtrek's robots move alongside the aircraft to monitor its surroundings and help identify potential obstacles, providing ground crews with greater visibility as they navigate busy ramp and hangar environments.

Headquartered at Oakland County International airport in Michigan, Pentastar combines aircraft maintenance and management with complementary and support services, including private jet charters, aircraft management services, FBO and MRO services, in-house catering with Fivestar Gourmet and advisory services.

“We are purposeful about our approach to innovation and how it can enhance the experiences we deliver every day,” says Ben Hammond, vice president of FBO services at Pentastar Aviation. “Our high standard for safety requires precision and constant awareness, and Airtrek has created a solution that complements our crew and their expertise, taking that standard to the next level and further elevating our operations in a way that has previously not been done.”

Traditionally, wingwalkers are positioned near an aircraft's wings during towing to communicate clearance and potential hazards to the tug operator. Through this new autonomous technology, Pentastar is implementing a new model for wingwalking that pairs the judgment and operational knowledge of its team with technology designed specifically for the aviation environment.

“Developing technology for aviation requires a deep understanding of the environment and the level of precision that safe aircraft operations demand,” states Chris Lee, co-founder and CEO of Airtrek Robotics. “Pentastar brought that real-world perspective to our development process, lending essential operational expertise that enabled us to refine how this technology works in practice. Together, we've created a new approach to a longstanding component of aircraft ground operations that, we believe, will become a model for others across the industry.”

The autonomous wingwalking robots are being deployed in Pentastar's operations this month with full implementation expected by Q4 2026.