AAR's Lake Charles MRO Facility Lands Substantial New Contracts

Sept. 23, 2014
Supporting a customer mix of major U.S. carriers, leasing institutions and VIP operators, program work scopes include heavy maintenance checks, interior modifications, and IFE system upgrades and modifications.

LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana, September 22, 2014 – AAR (NYSE: AIR) announces that it has secured multiple contracts for work to be done at its newest maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Lake Charles. These contracts represent a major milestone for the repair station, including agreements with two major U.S. carriers, since AAR began operations at this location a year ago.

With these commitments, AAR’s Lake Charles MRO has begun supporting a customer mix of major U.S. carriers, leasing institutions and VIP operators covering a broad range of wide-body aircraft to include the Airbus 330 and 340, and Boeing 767 and 777 platforms. Program work scopes include heavy maintenance checks, interior modifications, and IFE system upgrades and modifications.

The recent uptick in program awards for Lake Charles MRO is well timed as AAR just opened a sixth hangar at Chennault International Airport. At 118,000 square feet, the new hangar expands AAR’s capacity to accept wide-body work. AAR provides a full range of services, from scheduled maintenance and structural repairs to re-engineering aircraft interiors. The two large wide-body spots inside the new hangar are already committed through the first half of 2015.

“To welcome our first major customers while gearing up for this expansion makes it an exciting time for Lake Charles and AAR’s 1MRO Network as we increase our wide-body capabilities to accommodate the increasing demand in North America,” said Dany Kleiman, Vice President, Operations, AAR Aircraft Services. “Commercial and private carriers appreciate the breadth of services that AAR can provide at our newest MRO facility, and the timing of our new hangar has turned out to be ideal.”

AAR now occupies a total of six hangers at Chennault for a total of 638,000 square feet. The new hangar will be large enough to accommodate not only the largest airplanes in service undergoing heavy checks today but also the new generation of aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.

The Lake Charles repair center is the newest addition to AAR’s nationwide 1MRO Network, which also includes facilities in Indianapolis, Miami, Oklahoma City, Duluth, Minn., and Hot Springs, Ark. AAR’s 1MRO approach provides customers with access to integrated repair, engineering, IT, parts services and increased flexibility from multiple locations throughout the country. Aviation customers have voted AAR ATE&M’s Best Airframe MRO Provider in the Americas and, by size, AAR is the No. 1 provider of MRO services in North America and one of the top three in the world, according to industry rankings.

About AAR

AAR (NYSE: AIR) 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.