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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

AAR Wins FAA Approval For Duluth, Minnesota, International Airport Aircraft Maintenance Facility

10/18/2012
AAR, a provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services to commercial airlines plans to open a 188,000 square foot aircraft maintenance facility at Duluth, Minnesota International Airport, with estimates of creating 250 jobs.

The firm recently passed Federal Aviation Administration's certification approval required to operate a new aircraft maintenance facility. The certification process is a key regulatory milestone that paves the way for AAR to commence operations, the firm said.

"The Duluth facility extends AAR's industry-leading position as the top provider of aircraft maintenance services in North America," said Timothy J. Romenesko, President and Chief Operating Officer of AAR CORP. "The new operation is designed to be efficient and scalable, enabling us to start with a single line of maintenance and quickly expand to accommodate additional work."

"We appreciate the tremendous collaboration of the FAA, Duluth Airport Authority, local officials and economic development teams for their assistance in securing our regulatory approval and preparing the facility for operations," Romenesko continued.

While specifics were not immediately available, Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development said the quality workforce in Duluth and a package of incentives persuaded AAR officials to select Duluth over other U.S. cities. DEED officials said it is working with the Duluth Economic Development Authority, Duluth Airport Authority and APEX, a private-sector economic development organization, to persuade the company to locate in Duluth International.

AAR Aircraft Services plans to hire workers in several areas, including airframe and power plant mechanics; sheet metal, avionics and interiors specialists; nondestructive testing inspectors; and quality control inspectors.

AAR said the addition of the Duluth facility increases its aircraft maintenance capacity by approximately 10 percent and will leverage the company's world-class MRO systems and processes to provide customers with an additional geographic location and increased flexibility. AAR currently maintains MRO facilities in Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Miami and Hot Springs, Arkansas, which operate as part of the Company's nationwide "1MRO" network.

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