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Aviation Steel Buildings

Rigid Global Buildings is an AISC-certified, IAS-AC472 accredited manufacturer with 140 in-house engineers and 35+ years building pre-engineered metal building kits for aviation facilities across all 50 states. Every kit is fabricated to your dimensions and engineered to your local building code before it leaves our facility.
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Who Is Rigid Global Buildings?

Rigid Global Buildings manufactures pre-engineered aviation metal building kits for airports, FBO facilities, private airstrips, and flight training centers across all 50 states — aircraft hangars, maintenance shops, hangar homes, and helicopter facilities. Every kit ships as a complete package: framing, roof panels, wall panels, trim, doors, and accessories, ready for erection on your site.

Because we manufacture direct, there's no dealer markup and no middleman between your project and our engineering team. You work directly with the people who design and build your kit — from first quote to final shipment.

Price Your Hangar — building size, intended use, and project location.

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    What Is an Aviation Steel Building?

    An aviation steel building is a pre-engineered steel structure designed to house, maintain, or support aircraft operations — from single-aircraft private hangars to large-scale commercial maintenance facilities. The defining characteristic is a wide clear-span frame that eliminates interior columns, giving the full floor area to aircraft movement, storage, and maintenance work.

    Unlike conventional construction, pre-engineered aviation buildings are engineered as a complete structural system. The frame, roof, walls, and connections are all designed together — which produces a stronger, more precise structure than field-designed alternatives. Door systems, crane loads, mezzanines, and office partitions are all factored into the engineering before fabrication begins.

    Price Your Hangar — building size, intended use, and project location.

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    Steel Aviation Buildings Built for Hangars, Maintenance & FBO Operations

    Aviation facilities place demands on a building that most structures never face — wide clear spans for aircraft movement, tall eave heights for vertical clearance, large door openings engineered into the primary frame, and in many cases crane loads for maintenance operations. Pre-engineered steel handles all of these requirements in a single integrated structural system.

    Steel doesn't warp, shrink, or shift over time — critical in a building where door alignment and structural geometry directly affect operations. Every Rigid Global Buildings aviation kit is fabricated to exact dimensions, engineered to local load requirements, and shipped with anchor bolt plans so your concrete contractor is ready before the kit arrives.

    Price Your Hangar — building size, intended use, and project location.

    Common Uses for Aviation Steel Buildings

    Rigid Global Buildings designs and engineers steel aviation building kits for every aircraft application — from private hangars and FBO facilities to maintenance hangars and flight schools.

    Private aircraft hangars

    Single and multi-aircraft hangars for private owners — sized to the specific aircraft with door systems, eave heights, and floor layouts matched to the operation.

    FBO facilities

    Fixed base operator buildings combining hangar space, fuel storage, pilot lounges, and office areas in a single integrated steel structure.

    Aircraft maintenance facilities

    MRO and maintenance hangars with wide clear spans, crane-ready framing, and tall eave heights for full aircraft access during inspection and repair.

    Flight schools

    Training facility hangars combining aircraft storage, classroom space, and briefing rooms — configured around the specific aircraft fleet and training program.

    Corporate aviation hangars

    Executive aircraft hangars with finished office space, crew quarters, and climate-controlled storage — engineered to accommodate jets and turboprops.

    Agricultural aviation

    Hangars for ag aircraft and helicopters used in crop spraying, seeding, and livestock operations — sized for easy ground handling and chemical storage.

    Price Your Hangar — building size, intended use, and project location.

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    “Rigid Global Buildings went above and beyond to make me feel confident in the metal buildings I was purchasing. Their team helped with multiple aspects of my jobsite, kept the project moving, and made the overall process significantly smoother than I expected.”
    Jeff K.General Contractor

    Key Advantages of Steel Aviation Buildings

    Clear spans up to 300 feet

    Rigid Global Buildings engineers clear-span frames wide enough for the largest general aviation and commercial aircraft — no interior columns to work around.

    Door systems engineered into the frame

    Bi-fold, hydraulic, and sliding door systems are specified and engineered as part of the primary structure — not retrofitted after the fact.

    AISC-certified fabrication

    Every structural component is fabricated under AISC certification — the industry standard for quality control in structural steel manufacturing.

    Crane load integration

    Overhead bridge cranes and monorail systems can be engineered into the primary frame — essential for MRO and maintenance operations.

    Low long-term maintenance

    No repainting, re-treating, or structural repairs. Steel aviation buildings maintain structural integrity and door alignment far longer than wood-framed alternatives.

    Permit-ready documentation

    Anchor bolt plans, structural drawings, and load calculations ship with every kit — everything your engineer of record and building department need.

    Price Your Hangar — building size, intended use, and project location.

    How to Choose the Right Aviation Steel Building

    Five things to work through before you request a quote.

    Start with your largest aircraft
    Wingspan, tail height, and fuselage length define the minimum door width, eave height, and building depth. Size for the largest aircraft you expect to operate now or within the next 10 years — not just what's currently in the fleet. A hangar that can't accommodate a future aircraft acquisition is an expensive problem to fix after construction.
    Define your door system early
    Bi-fold, hydraulic, and sliding door systems each have different structural requirements, cost profiles, and operational characteristics. The door system must be specified before the primary frame is engineered — it directly affects the header height, column spacing, and overall structural design. Getting this right at the quote stage prevents redesigns and cost overruns.
    Determine crane and equipment requirements
    If the facility will be used for maintenance, repair, or overhaul operations, overhead crane loads need to be integrated into the primary frame engineering from the start. Adding crane capacity after construction requires significant structural modifications. Know your crane tonnage requirements and runway beam heights before you quote.
    Plan office and support space
    Pilot lounges, crew quarters, office areas, parts storage, and fuel rooms are most cost-effectively incorporated at the design stage. Mezzanines, interior partitions, and office lean-tos all affect the structural layout. Defining these requirements before the quote ensures they're engineered into the building rather than added as costly modifications later.
    Confirm local code and airport authority requirements
    Aviation facilities often face additional requirements beyond standard building codes — airport authority design standards, FAA advisory circulars, fire suppression requirements, and hazardous materials storage regulations. Knowing your airport's specific requirements before you quote means your building is engineered to meet them from the start, not revised after permitting.

    Price Your Hangar — building size, intended use, and project location.

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    Explore panel profiles, frame types, door systems, and accessories available for your aviation steel building.

    Frame Types  ·  Panel Profiles  ·  Accessories

    Common Aviation Steel Building Sizes

    Standard size ranges by facility type — all buildings are custom engineered to your aircraft and site requirements.

    Facility Type Common Widths Common Lengths Eave Height Notes
    Private Aircraft Hangars 40–80 ft 40–80 ft 14–18 ft Sized to aircraft wingspan plus ground handling clearance; bi-fold or hydraulic door systems common
    Corporate & Jet Hangars 80–140 ft 60–120 ft 20–28 ft Tall eave heights for business jets and turboprops; often includes office and crew quarters
    FBO Facilities 100–200 ft 100–200 ft 20–30 ft Multi-aircraft storage combined with office, lounge, and fuel operations; wide door systems required
    Maintenance & MRO 100–300 ft 100–300 ft 24–40 ft Crane-ready framing; tall eave heights for full aircraft access; heavy live and crane loads factored in
    Agricultural Aviation 40–60 ft 40–80 ft 14–16 ft Ag aircraft and helicopter hangars; often includes chemical storage and mixing areas

    Price Your Hangar — building size, intended use, and project location.

    Serving All 50 States

    Aviation Steel Buildings Available Nationwide

    Rigid Global Buildings designs and ships pre-engineered aviation steel building kits to all 50 states — every kit engineered to meet the local building code, wind, snow, and seismic load requirements for the project location. We work with your project location on every order so there are no surprises at permitting or inspection.

    State Spotlight

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is an aviation steel building?
    An aviation steel building is a pre-engineered steel structure designed to house, maintain, or support aircraft operations — from private single-aircraft hangars to large-scale commercial maintenance facilities. Rigid Global Buildings manufactures these as complete kits: engineered steel frames, roof and wall panels, hangar door systems, trim, and accessories, all factory-fabricated to the customer's dimensions and shipped for on-site erection.
    How wide can a steel aircraft hangar be?
    Rigid Global Buildings engineers clear-span frames up to 300 feet wide — wide enough to accommodate nearly any general aviation or commercial aircraft without interior columns. Most private hangars fall in the 40 to 80 foot range, while FBO and MRO facilities commonly range from 100 to 200 feet or wider.
    What hangar door systems are available?
    Common hangar door systems include bi-fold hydraulic doors, bottom-rolling sliding doors, and hydraulic lift doors. Each system has different structural requirements, opening speeds, operational costs, and suitability for different opening widths and heights. The door system must be specified before primary frame engineering begins — it directly affects the structural design of the building.
    Can you engineer a hangar for overhead cranes?
    Yes. Overhead bridge cranes and monorail systems can be integrated into the primary frame engineering. Crane capacity, runway beam height, and hook height all need to be defined before the frame is engineered. Adding crane capacity after construction requires significant structural modifications — it is always more cost-effective to design for it from the start.
    What eave height do I need for my aircraft?
    Eave height is driven by the tail height of the tallest aircraft plus clearance for the door system framing above the opening. Single-engine piston aircraft typically require 12 to 14 foot eave heights. Light twins and turboprops generally need 16 to 20 feet. Business jets and larger aircraft commonly require 24 to 30 feet or more. Always add clearance for the door header above the opening.
    Do aviation steel buildings require a concrete foundation?
    Yes. Pre-engineered steel aviation buildings are anchored to a concrete foundation — either a perimeter grade beam, concrete piers, or a full slab — depending on the use and local code requirements. Rigid Global Buildings provides anchor bolt plans with every kit so your concrete contractor has the information needed before the kit arrives on site.
    Can I include office space in a hangar?
    Yes. Office space, pilot lounges, crew quarters, parts rooms, and restrooms are commonly incorporated into aviation steel buildings as interior partitions or lean-to additions. These are most cost-effectively planned at the design stage — the structural layout, electrical rough-in locations, and HVAC provisions are all easier to accommodate before fabrication than after.
    Are there airport authority requirements I need to meet?
    Many airports have design standards that go beyond local building codes — setback requirements, exterior finish standards, height restrictions, and signage rules established by the airport authority or through FAA lease agreements. These requirements vary significantly by airport and should be confirmed before the building design is finalized. Rigid Global Buildings works with your engineer of record to ensure the kit meets all applicable requirements.
    How long does it take to receive an aviation steel building kit?
    Lead times vary based on building size, complexity, and current production schedules. Contact Rigid Global Buildings directly for current lead time estimates for your specific project. Providing aircraft type, building dimensions, door system preferences, and project location at the time of inquiry allows for the most accurate timeline.
    Does Rigid Global Buildings serve my state?
    Yes — Rigid Global Buildings designs and ships aviation steel building kits to all 50 states. Every building is engineered to meet the building code and load requirements for the specific project location.
    What information is needed to get a quote?
    At minimum: aircraft type and tail height, building width and depth, door system preference, project state and county, and any crane or special load requirements. Details like office space, insulation, and lean-to additions help refine the quote. Request a quote here to get started.

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