Several companies are starting to look well-positioned to benefit from what is, according to some analysts, a looming downturn in the industry . AAR appears to be one of those firms. Headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, AAR operates four segments aircraft sales and leasing; aviation supply chain; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO); and structures and systems. All four units achieved double-digit sales growth in the 2008 fiscal third quarter. During an earnings conference call last week executives said they sees opportunities going forward. In the aircraft sales and leasing segment, as the US faces a liquidity and credit crunch, AAR is aware that there are owners of aircraft who have liquidity concerns, problems I should say and we believe were in a good position to benefit from that, says chairman and CEO David Storch. Most of AARs activity has been in the Boeing 737 classic family, such as the prior acquisition of 18 737s from Malaysian Airlines. Storch says that while the firm has not yet moved into the next generation arena, it is looking today at opportunities in that market. As airlines face heightened regulatory scrutiny of their maintenance programs, AAR is highlighting its record as a MRO provider that is fully concentrated on the safety chain. Storch says quality providers will be in a very good position to benefit, should the US FAA instigate tougher reviews on maintenance providers. He adds that there are some folks who are not necessarily as adept or as detail-oriented as this business requires. Another area that holds much promise for AAR is its composites business, which is part of the structures and systems unit. Last month AAR announced it is leasing the 90,000 sq ft (8,910 sq m) facility located at the former McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif. This will be a growth vehicle for AAR.  read more »

In the past the US FAA had to release an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) or even a really interesting standard AD in order for press to get jump-up-and-down excited about the agencys routine recommendations to airlines, operators, manufacturers and parts suppliers about aircraft maintenance and the like. But now, at a time when maintenance practices are under significant regulatory scrutiny in the USA, a regular ole unapproved parts notification (UPN) from a local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) gains high-profile notice and the story can unfold quite fiercely from there. Take, for example, yesterdays saga, which is still playing out today . The Wall Street Journal reported that the FAA has found evidence an AAR maintenance facility in Miami improperly maintained and approved for return to service Boeing 707, 747, 757, and 767 series main landing gear (MLG) truck beams. Before we delve into the details , lets remember that about ten of these types of notices are issued to various firms per year , and generally go fairly unnoticed.  read more »

AAR's chief today predicted that International Lease Finance (ILFC) will be spun off of parent American International Group (AIG), saying he does not believe...