ATEC, AAR, Choose Aerospace, Celebrate Two Million Dollars in Inventory Donated to Schools

AAR CORP., Choose Aerospace, and ATEC announce that their collaborative effort to donate surplus materials for educational purposes has reached a significant milestone, with over two million dollars’ worth of aviation inventory delivered to ATEC member schools in the first six months of the pilot program.

“Since launching our EAGLE Career Pathway Program in 2018, AAR remains focused on finding meaningful ways to partner with AMT schools to help them grow to meet the employment needs of our industry," said AAR’s Senior Vice President of Repair & Engineering Tom Hoferer. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to support aviation maintenance education programs and their students, who may become future AAR employees.”

Donated inventory includes items such as fasteners, fittings, hardware, sheet metal stock, electrical connectors, and wiring – all aimed at providing industry-specific items to directly benefit schools’ education programs.

To ensure the donations are tailored to the specific needs of each school, the program allows institutions to select items from an inventory list on a first-come, first-served basis.

ATEC member schools can access the donation request form and inventory list through the Online Portal (ATEC member account required). Donations pass through Choose Aerospace, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and are shipped directly to approved institutions. Schools are asked to cover shipping costs or arrange for pickup at one of AAR’s locations. 

The initiative is seen as a transformative venture by AAR’s Vice President of Workforce Development and Choose Aerospace’s President, Ryan Goertzen. "Finding a way to take aged inventory and repurpose these items for the education of future technicians is an initiative we’ve been working towards for a long time. AAR is proud to be one of the first to join this partnership, but we do not expect to be the last,” stated Goertzen.

Companies interested in donating surplus material to educational institutions are encouraged to contact ATEC Operations Manager Tarra Ruttman at tarra.ruttman@atec-amt.org.

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through four operating segments: Parts Supply, Repair & Engineering, Integrated Solutions, and Expeditionary Services. Additional information can be found at aarcorp.com. For more information on AAR’s EAGLE Career Pathway Program, visit https://www.aarcorp.com/en/careers/students/.

About Choose Aerospace

Choose Aerospace was formed by a partnership of aerospace stakeholders including companies, associations, labor unions, and education institutions, who joined to address the availability of a diverse, qualified technical workforce. A primary objective for Choose Aerospace is to make aerospace career and technical training a priority in secondary schools and to provide multiple career paths to success within the industry. For more information see www.chooseaerospace.org.

About ATEC

ATEC is a partnership of aviation maintenance training schools and employers. The council is dedicated to promoting and supporting technician education through its communications, advocacy programs, and networking events. To learn more, visit www.atec-amt.org.