WOOD DALE, Illinois, October 22, 2013 -- AAR (NYSE: AIR) announces it has completed delivery to the U.S. Marshals Service of two converted Boeing 737-400 aircraft that will be used for transporting prisoners.
AAR obtained the planes from an aircraft leasing company and modified them to satisfy the needs of the federal government’s Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System, or JPATS. The agreement included overhauling the airframe and landing gear, re-painting the aircraft, and reconfiguring the interior. Managed by the U.S. Marshals Service, JPATS is one of the largest prisoner transporters in the world, moving nearly 125,000 prisoners each year between judicial districts and correctional institutions.
"Procuring and reconfiguring these airplanes to meet the very specific needs of the U.S. Marshals Service demonstrates our wide-ranging capabilities as a one-stop shop reacting to customer requirements quickly and cost-effectively,” said Donald J. Wetekam, AAR’s Senior Vice President of Government and Defense Business Development. The Company recently performed similar services for the Colombian Air Force, delivering two aircraft converted for cargo transport.
The aircraft delivered to the U.S. Marshals Service were previously part of Corendon, a Turkish airline fleet. Each plane originally had a nazar symbol, an eye-shaped amulet common in that region of the world, installed inside the main entrance door. In converting the aircraft, AAR preserved the removed amulets, which in many cultures are believed to provide protection against the “evil eye,” and mounted them on plaques. Wetekam presented the plaques to members of the U.S. Marshals Service’s management and security teams during a special ceremony on September 30 in Oklahoma City.
About AAR
AAR is a global aerospace and defense contractor that employs more than 6,000 people in 17 countries. Based in Wood Dale, Illinois, AAR supports commercial, government and defense customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Technology Products. AAR’s services include inventory management and parts distribution; aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul; and expeditionary airlift. AAR’s products include cargo systems and containers; mobility systems and shelters; advanced aerostructures; and command and control systems. More information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.
