WOOD DALE, IL, Aug 13, 2026 – Jackie Black, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) division manager for aircraft maintenance, visited AAR CORP.’s engineering services and airframe maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations in Greensboro, North Carolina, last week.
Mr. Black’s visit began with a tour of AAR’s engineering services facility in Greensboro. The operation became part of AAR’s engineering services network after the company acquired Aircraft Reconfig Technologies (ART) earlier this year. That acquisition brought AAR an Organization Designation Authorization (ODA), which permits organizations to carry out certification activities on behalf of the FAA.
Mr. Black then toured AAR’s airframe MRO facility in Greensboro, where he led a site-wide safety stand down. The practice gives team members time to review safety priorities, and share best practices. The session centered on FAA priorities and the commitment between industry and regulators to uphold aviation safety standards.
Afterward, Mr. Black joined a roundtable discussion with AAR inspectors, auditors, and operational leaders. The group covered regulatory oversight, certification processes, and coordination through AAR’s Certificate Management Unit (CMU), which oversees multiple FAA-certificated locations. AAR is one of two independent MROs operating under a Certificate Management Unit (CMU) structure, and the discussion addressed how the company maintains consistency, compliance, and safety across its network.
“We appreciated the opportunity for our team members to connect directly with FAA leadership and discuss the shared responsibility we all have in advancing aviation safety,” said Art Smith, AAR’s vice president and chief quality officer. “These conversations strengthen collaboration, encourage the exchange of ideas, and reinforce the culture of safety, quality, and compliance that guides our work every day.”
Source: AAR Corp.
About AAR
AAR CORP., founded in 1955 and headquartered in Wood Dale, IL, is a provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company offers a range of services, including parts supply, integrated solutions, repair and engineering, and expeditionary services. AAR serves industries such as aerospace and defense, providing support for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. With operations in over 20 countries, AAR employs approximately 6,000 people globally.
