The company was founded by Ira Allen Eichner in 1951, to supply radios and other equipment to the commercial aviation industry. I.A. Allen Industrial was incorporated in 1955, renamed Allen Aircraft Radio (AAR) in 1962, and became AAR CORP. in 1970. AAR organized its Aircraft Turbine Center, Inc. in 1979 after future CEO David P. Storch, Eichner's son-in-law, joined the company. On November 3, 2025, AAR and
HAECO Americas, with 1600 employees in
Greensboro, North Carolina and
Lake City, Florida, announced that AAR had purchased the HAECO subsidiary for $78 million. At the time, HAECO Americas was the second-largest heavy aircraft maintenance company in North America, with AAR being number one. In December 2025, it was announced that AAR had entered into an agreement to acquire Aircraft Reconfig Technologies from ZIM Aircraft Cabin Solutions for US$35 million in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition was intended to expand AAR’s engineering and certification capabilities within its repair and engineering segment and was subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. In late December 2025, it was announced that AAR would be permanently closing its Indianapolis location by February 28, 2027.
Lobbying and corruption During the
first Trump administration, AAR quadrupled its lobbying expenditures. The company spent large sums at Trump-owned properties with the intent to get Trump to view the company more favorably. == Financial trends ==