AAR’s Duluth repair station has completed its 100th aircraft since it re-opened an abandoned 188,000-sq-ft hangar in November 2012. Today, AAR Aircraft Services Duluth supports three lines of aircraft maintenance and 305 jobs. The Duluth facility is currently dedicated to the single-aisle Airbus fleet, exclusively servicing the A319, A320 and A321. AAR is on track to open a fourth line of maintenance in September, creating another 70 positions.

AAR is known for its community involvement and aggressive technician recruiting with an emphasis on developing local labor. Since it opened in late 2012 AAR has had an annual economic impact on the state of Minnesota of $47 million. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MDEED), by locating in Duluth, AAR has helped enhance the region’s status as a growing aviation sector. It not only solved the problem of what to do with a long-vacant property but also helps make the case for ongoing investments in Duluth’s aviation infrastructure, which is expected to see significant growth. The MDEED predicts that aviation manufacturing in Duluth will grow by 40 percent over the next five years.