AAR has ramped up a third line of maintenance to support Air Canada’s fleet of commercial aircraft as part of a multiyear agreement to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) at its Duluth repair station. The expansion solidifies AAR’s position in the region and moves the Company closer to its goal of employing as many as 225 people at the facility. The Company currently employs 276 and has 40 openings. AAR reopened the once-abandoned hangar last November with one line of maintenance and added a second line of maintenance in March for the commercial carrier.
“When AAR first came to Duluth, the goal was to make this facility fully operational. In less than a year, we’ve earned the confidence and trust of the customer and have demonstrated that we are committed to doing business in Duluth over the long term,” said Dany Kleiman, Aviation Services Group Vice President – Repair and Engineering. “I attribute our success to a combination of factors: a welcoming government, business and civic community, a great customer in Air Canada, and a talented team of aircraft maintenance technicians.”
AAR’s investments in the facility helped turn the 188,000-square-foot vacant building into a growing business while bringing the Company’s world-class MRO management systems and processes to the new operation. The Duluth MRO operates as part of AAR’s 1MRO service delivery network, which integrates technology with maintenance and engineering protocols across five MRO facilities nationwide and gives AAR’s customers more options and flexibility for maintaining their aircraft.
AAR recently opened a sixth North American MRO at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The facility can accommodate up to 7 wide-body or 10 narrow-body aircraft. AAR quickly announced it would fill 250 positions, with plans to hire an additional 500 by 2017.
“As we expand our North American MRO operations, we’re committed to building partnerships in Duluth and beyond to identify and develop the talented aircraft maintenance professionals we need to continue to be successful,” Kleiman added.