AAR Launches Donecle Drone Technology Integration for MRO Aircraft Inspections

Miami, Oct. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading aviation services provider to commercial airlines and governments worldwide, has announced the integration of Donecle drone technology into its award-winning maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations.

AAR´s Miami MRO facility is the first in its global network to use the fully automated drone technology to drive operational and cost efficiencies, where the pilot phase has yielded increases in speed and precision. With laser positioning, the drone can safely perform end-to-end visual inspections of B737 and A320 aircraft in under an hour.

"In exploring opportunities to increase efficiencies and best utilize our skilled workforce, AAR continually assesses opportunities to digitally enable our businesses," said Rahul Ghai, AAR Chief Digital Officer. "In the case of our MRO sites, our investments in technologies like drones, machine learning and mobile devices will drive a more efficient operation, optimized technician schedules, as well as improved turnaround times achieved through faster and more accurate inspections and maintenance plan execution. This will lead to ultimately higher customer satisfaction, while helping us build out richer data to enhance our overall maintenance planning and execution capabilities."

"We are very proud to support AAR in its innovations to better serve its customers and keep its position as the leading independent MRO worldwide, while also contributing to AAR´s digital transformation," said Josselin Bequet, Donecle CEO and Co-Founder.

Designed for MRO specifications, the drone is programmed to detect any aircraft structural damage, as well as assess paint quality, markings and signs of lightning strike. One complete scan by a drone covers the equivalent of several maintenance tasks and personnel, conserving significant time and resources in the inspection and overall maintenance turnaround time.

AAR and Donecle have partnered on an initial 12-month technology agreement, and upon further assessment and results, will expand the platform to other MRO facilities. In compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, AAR performs manual aircraft inspections in addition to the drone inspections.

For more information on AAR's MRO Services, please click here.

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 people in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AAR's Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems and Composite Manufacturing operations. Additional information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.

About Donecle

Donecle is the leader of automated aircraft inspection by drone. Donecle is a French company located in Labege, France, founded in 2015, with strong expertise in aircraft maintenance processes, drone robotics, automation and computer vision deep learning. Our technology combines 100% automated UAVs with advanced image analysis algorithms to inspect aircraft quickly and reliably. Donecle is committed to delivering high-standard services to customers through constant improvement and a dedicated customer focus team. Our clients include airlines, MROs, aircraft OEMs and military operators around the world.

Contact:

Mae Fitzpatrick or Daniela Pietsch, +1.630.227.5100, Editor@aarcorp.com

Web Site: http://www.aarcorp.com

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