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Press release

March 15, 2012

Vincennes University, AAR Build on Partnership to Promote Aviation Careers

Policymakers, workforce and community groups rally to help close skills gaps delaying hiring

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – Vincennes University, along with aviation industry partner AAR (NYSE: AIR), hosted an outreach event and facility tour to rally support among policymakers, community leaders and workforce organizations to promote careers in aviation, education and help close the skills gaps creating hiring challenges at companies that maintain and repair airplanes.

Vincennes’ Aviation Technology Center and AAR’s Indianapolis Maintenance Center, both located at the Indianapolis International Airport, hosted representatives from state and congressional offices, officials from Plainfield and Hendricks County labor departments, career centers, not-for-profits and veterans groups.

As the nation struggles with high unemployment, aircraft mechanic, engineering and avionics positions are difficult to fill at a time when the aviation industry is experiencing resurgence due to new aircraft manufacturing and increased demand for parts and services. Previous outreach events at Vincennes have focused on students and educators, but Thursday’s event is intended to leverage support for public-private partnerships to build a pipeline of talent and connect young people, veterans and displaced workers with middle-income earning careers in aviation.

“The goal is to partner more collaboratively with policymakers and organizations that want to connect people with jobs but know very little about careers in aviation, an industry that exists largely out of the public view,” said Mike Gehrich, Director of Training, Vincennes Aviation Technology Center. “We want participants to walk away from the tour with a sense of the career opportunities available so they will be willing to direct resources toward improving access to these highly specialized jobs.”

The aircraft maintenance facility tour is an extension of AAR’s Taking Flight program, a nationwide education initiative created to introduce aviation careers to youth as early as middle school. On Thursday, adult participants will board a 737 aircraft at Vincennes that will be towed to AAR’s facility, where they will see aircraft maintenance operations first-hand and gain a deeper understanding of this exciting industry.

“AAR is taking a proactive role to educate and attract people with the right skills and qualifications. This is a nationwide challenge that is not unique to AAR or aerospace, but cuts across industries that require specialized skills and certifications,” said C. Rayner Hutchinson III, Vice President Quality & Safety at AAR. “We’re taking an active role in the communities where we operate nationwide to build partnerships to fill open positions and provide jobs, now and into the future.”

About Vincennes University’s Aviation Technology Center

The ATC is a 90,000-square-foot facility that provides state-of-the-art aviation training programs for airframe and power plant mechanic and airframe sheet metal technician careers requiring FAA certification for both Vincennes and Purdue Universities.

Contacts:

Vincennes: Joseph M. Lee, W (317) 381-6040 | C 317-627-2828 | jmlee@vinu.edu.

About AAR

AAR is a global aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 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; engineering services 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.

Contact
Media Team
Corporate Marketing & Communications
+1-630-227-5100
Editor@aarcorp.com


This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including those factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled “Risk Factors”, included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2018. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company’s control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. For additional information, see the comments included in AAR’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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