ABOUT IDD AEROSPACE > Our History

IDD Aerospace began in 1959 as Farwest Manufacturing and built the first lighted displays for the 707 Jumbo Jet and the DC-8 aircraft. In 1968 Farwest Mfg. was acquired by Bell Industries who later renamed the company ‘Illuminated Displays Division’ in 1984. This division of Bell grew and continued to develop innovative new technologies for illuminated products.

In 1995 Groupe Intertechnique purchased Bell’s Illuminated Displays Division under the corporate name IDD Aerospace Corporation. As a subsidiary of Groupe Intertechnique, IDD Aerospace was rolled into their portfolio of companies providing various systems and technical components for aircraft.

In 1999 Groupe Intertechnique was purchased by the Zodiac Group, a corporation with deep roots in aviation who pioneered the development of the first collapsible airships in the early 1900s. IDD is part of the Zodiac Group’s Aircraft Systems Business Segment. This segment is comprised of aircraft systems for fuel circulation, hydraulics and controls, oxygen and life support, electrical power, flight-deck controls and displays, and systems monitoring and management.

Today, IDD Aerospace is thriving under Zodiac, where it continues to pursue the development of innovative new products and maintain its leadership as the premier supplier of illuminated flight control panels, assemblies and keyboards for civil and military aircraft.