Company Setting Up Shop At Former United Maintenance Center In Indy

A Wood Dale, IL company that bought bankrupt United Airlines' maintenance facility in Indianapolis, IN, has been certified as an FAA Repair Station. That's good news to about 200 mechanics who work there -- and for hundreds more who might work there if business picks up.

AAR, had to borrow an aircraft from Vincennes University, however, so that it could undergo certification testing.

The certificate allows AAR to maintain and repair Airbus and Boeing aircraft, including the 737 and 757. Spokesman Chris Mason told the Hendricks County Flyer that more certifications are on the way. "The facility is capable of accommodating retail aircraft as well as some wide bodies. Right now, a necessary step was achieving certification, now we're going to continue to build out our team."

To achieve initial 737 certification, Mason said the company had to borrow an aircraft from Vincennes. It was a win-win deal, he said.

"We arranged for them to get a jet engine for their students to use during training," he told the Flyer. "And they reciprocated by letting us use their 737. So we're collaboratively working toward furthering Indianapolis' reputation as an aviation center of excellence."

It's a reputation that's been just a little tarnished lately. Indianapolis-based ATA Airlines is going belly-up and United pulled out of town. But things are definitely looking up, said Mason.

"We arranged for them to get a jet engine for their students to use during training," he said. "And they reciprocated by letting us use their 737. So we're collaboratively working toward furthering Indianapolis' reputation as an aviation center of excellence."

FMI: www.aarcorp.com