JEBEL ALI, Dubai, November 5, 2015 – AAR, an industry-leading provider of aviation services to commercial airlines, OEMs and governments, will highlight at the Dubai Air Show its expanded global presence in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, and its broad portfolio of aviation services, including commercial aircraft MRO; supply chain; inventory management and component repair for commercial and government customers; and fixed- and rotor-wing Airlift support for government and defense customers.
Media are invited to stop by Booth #1416, where they will find a deep bench of experts from AAR’s operations worldwide able to discuss global trends in aircraft MRO; translating best commercial practices into cost savings for government and military customers (see AMMROC below); spare parts supply and component repair and management (see Airinmar); expeditionary airlift support and more.
Increased Presence in the Middle East
Over the past year, AAR has expanded its supply chain, Airlift and award-winning MRO offerings in regions where both military and commercial fleets are growing. The Company recently relocated its Middle East office to the World Trade Center in Abu Dhabi. Whether a customer needs MRO advisory services, component management or mission operations and equipment, AAR has the experience and know-how to get the job done having been in business for more than 60 years.
“AAR’s diverse portfolio of capabilities and broad experience in commercial and defense allows us to customize solutions for customers that add value, reduce costs and give them a competitive edge,” said Rahul Shah, Senior Vice President, Strategic Growth and Business Development, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. “We’re proud of our reputation as an industry leader and are excited to expand our relationships in the Middle East.”
AAR Serving as Technical MRO Advisor to AMMROC
Late last year, AAR announced it had been selected by AMMROC (Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center) LLC, the Abu Dhabi–based joint venture between Mubadala Development Company, Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin, to support the design, outfitting and integration of key areas of AMMROC’s state-of-the-art facility in Al Ain, UAE. AMMROC awarded AAR a $38.6 million contract to design support areas including hangars, work areas, and machine and special processes shops for this military maintenance center. “We chose AAR to support us as we develop this world-class facility because of their experience and expertise in this area,” said Fahed Al Shamesi, CEO of AMMROC. Shah and Bob Sopp, Senior Vice President, Aircraft Component Services, can speak to reporters about AAR’s expansion in the Middle East and the AMMROC award, specifically.
Airlift Services: AAR Airlift Looks to Expand in the Region
AAR’s Airlift Group conducts missions for the United States and its allies. Airlift has contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan, Africa and Iraq, and recently won extension of a contract with Military Sealift Command to perform vertical replenishment (VERTREP) services for the U.S. Navy’s 5th and 7th Fleets in the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean. In the past year, Airlift has expanded its capabilities by winning a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to apply its experience in search and rescue operations in the Falkland Islands. The $275 million, 10-year contract demonstrates the trend to commercialize previously direct military operations to increase efficiency and decrease costs. Randy Martinez, AAR’s Corporate Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, is available to speak to reporters about AAR’s Airlift division and recent awards and trends.
AAR Defense Systems & Logistics Active in the Region
AAR’s Defense Systems & Logistics (DSL) division provides comprehensive supply chain management solutions to the U.S. government and its allies for fleets including the U.S. Air Force KC-10, the UK’s BAe 146 and 125; and Japanese MoD Hawkeye E-2C. AAR contracts in the region include National Guard Training Helicopter Fleet Sustainment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and U.S. Army Medical Logistics in Qatar. In July, AAR was awarded a five-year, $72 million Complete Logistics Support (CLS) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to sustain a fleet of C-130H aircraft on behalf of the Afghan Air Force. Under the contract with the U.S. Air Force, AAR will provide all operational, maintenance, logistics and technical functions needed to support and sustain fleet readiness requirements within Afghanistan. Jay Pereira, Vice President, Defense Systems & Logistics, can speak to recent business activities related to DSL.
AAR Supply Chain, Component Repair & Parts Supply
AAR provides supply chain management including AOG and 24-hour power-by-the-hour support for Middle Eastern customers serviced from its warehouse in Brussels. It also provides component repair from a facility in Amsterdam and component repair management via Airinmar, an AAR subsidiary based in Berkshire, England. AAR’s global warehouse network also includes hubs in Chicago, Singapore, Amsterdam and Germany. The Company serves customers in more than 100 countries from sales and service locations in the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Singapore, Japan, China, Australia and Abu Dhabi. Paul Richardson, Vice President of Aviation Supply Chain, Europe, and Carl Glover, Vice President, Engine Parts Supply, each are experts in engine and parts supply and can speak with reporters.
World’s Third Largest Independent MRO
AAR’s 1MRO network, including airframe maintenance, technical and engineering capabilities, is the largest independent MRO in the Americas and the third-largest worldwide. AAR recently won the ATE&M award for Best Airframe MRO Provider Worldwide for the third time in the last four years. Company leaders John Holmes, Chief Operating Officer of Aviation Services, and Chris Jessup, Chief Commercial Officer, will be in attendance and able to speak to AAR’s commercial best practices and industry trends.
About AAR
AAR is a global aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 4,500 people in over 20 countries. Based in Wood Dale, Illinois, AAR supports commercial aviation and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include inventory management; parts supply; OEM parts distribution; aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul; and component repair. AAR's Expeditionary Services include airlift operations; mobility systems; and command and control centers in support of military and humanitarian missions. More information can be found at www.aarcorp.com<http://www.aarcorp.com/>. Follow us on Twitter: @aarcorpcom.
