AAR Breaks Ground On New MRO Facility At MIA
AAR, a global aerospace and defense company with operations in over 20 countries, officially broke ground this week on the company’s new Miami Airframe MRO facility at Miami International Airport.
Illinois-based AAR (NYSE: AIR) is no stranger to South Florida having been in operation in the Miami area since 1987 offering commercial, military and regional aviation customer repair, rebuilding and inspection services.
The company’s original Landing Gear Service operation in Miami was augmented in 2011 with the addition of a new, 12,500-sq-ft Aircraft Wheel and Brake Service at Miami International Airport.
Beyond Florida, AAR’s long history of acquiring airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses dates back to the company’s first MRO acquisition at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City in 1971.
AAR's New Miami MRO Facility By The Numbers
AAR’s new Miami Airframe MRO Facility will be built adjacent to the company’s existing hangar at Miami International Airport. Construction of the 114,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to take 24 months and should increase AAR’s Miami Airframe MRO capacity by 33%.
When Miami-Dade County approved the new facility, AAR announced that “the project supports AAR’s extension and expansion of its United Airlines MRO relationship, with AAR contracted to provide a minimum of 10 lines of maintenance support across its Miami and Illinois facilities. The additional workload will create more than 250 AAR careers in Miami.”
When the new Miami MRO facility was approved, AAR also reported that, over time, Miami-Dade County is expected to reimburse the company the anticipated $50 million needed to construct the new hangar which should be operational by October 2025.
MIA: One Of The Country's Busiest Mega Airports
Over 400 AAR employees, local government officials and invited guests attended the new Miami MRO facility groundbreaking. In their remarks, both company executives and Miami-Dade elected officials emphasized the importance of Miami International Airport as a global hub for international cargo and passengers.
“As a leader in international passengers and cargo, MIA is one of the busiest and best mega airports in the country – and AAR’s significant infrastructure investment only advances our local aviation industry,”
-Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
In addition to being an important step in the company’s overall growth strategy, AAR’s Chairman, President and CEO John M. Holmes expressed hope that the new MRO facility “will create career opportunities and continue to strengthen the aviation industry in South Florida.”
Miami International Airport and Orlando International Airport are the two busiest airports in Florida with each receiving over 50 million passengers. Rounding out Florida’s Top 5 Busiest Airports, MIA and MCO are followed by Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Tampa International Airport (TIA), and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
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