AAR Selected for 2014 NDTA Corporate Distinguished Service Award

Government contractor recognized for airlift support of U.S. DoD, NATO operations in Afghanistan

WOOD DALE, Illinois, September 30, 2015 – AAR (NYSE: AIR) has been named the recipient of the 2014 NDTA Corporate Distinguished Service Award by the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA). The award recognizes AAR’s Airlift division for its support of a strong and efficient global transportation and distribution system in support of the economy and national security of the United States.

AAR provides highly specialized airlift to support national security and humanitarian relief operations, transporting personnel, mail and supplies in support of contingency operations worldwide. Last year, AAR’s Airlift division provided rotor-wing and fixed-wing airlift support to U.S. Department of Defense forces in Afghanistan, Africa and the Western Pacific. In recent years, AAR has been the largest independent provider of airlift services in Afghanistan. Since 2007, Airlift has also provided offshore vertical replenishment (VERTREP), search and rescue (SAR), and humanitarian aid support services to Military Sealift Command’s 5th and 7th Fleets in the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Indian and Western Pacific oceans. Military Sealift Command (MSC) is the leading provider of ocean transportation for the Navy and the U.S. DoD, operating approximately 110 ships daily around the globe.

Last year, AAR expanded its presence into East, Central and West Africa in support of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) operations, where the company provides fixed-wing, rotary-wing, personnel recovery and CASEVAC flight operations.

The award was presented today during the NDTA-USTRANSCOM fall meeting at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Fort Washington, MD, and accepted by Randy J. Martinez, AAR’s Corporate Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. NDTA’s mission is to foster a strong and efficient global transportation system to support national security.

"AAR is extremely proud to be recognized by the NDTA for being an integral part of our government’s logistics capability and for supporting our men and women serving their country in austere environments far from home," said Steven B. Harrison, President of AAR Airlift. "This award recognizes the significant contribution of our tactical airlift mission in delivering supplies to the front lines, the excellence of our air and ground crews, and the trust they have earned supporting critical Department of Defense operations."