AAR Corp. and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have entered into a Consent Order that terminates the FAA's Emergency Order of Suspension. The FAA issued the order on February 10 and AAR immediately filed a petition for review before the National Transportation Safety Board.

Under the terms of the Consent Order, the parties agreed to "resolve all matters relating to the Order and Petition, and to devote their respective resources to an expeditious and orderly restoration of AAR Landing Gear Services' authority to operate its repair station certificate." The parties envision reinstatement of AAR Landing Gear Services' repair station certificate with full operations "no later than February 20, 2009."

The emergency order was issued following inspections which revealed that AAR did not follow aircraft manufacturer maintenance manual procedures for conducting liquid penetrant exams, shot peening and cadmium plating before returning to service a variety of landing gear parts for air carrier aircraft. AAR employed defective processes and followed defective inspection protocols,” the FAA alleges.

Shot peening is a procedure to harden the surface of metal parts and remove corrosion. Cadmium plating is a coating applied to metal parts to prevent corrosion. Penetrant examination is a non- destructive testing method usually performed to detect cracks and corrosion.

The agency ruled that AAR returned aircraft parts to service as being overhauled when they were not, and failed to perform required maintenance procedures.

"We're very pleased to have worked this matter out quickly and cooperatively, with minimum inconvenience to our customers and employees," said David P. Storch, chairman and chief executive of AAR. "We greatly appreciate the FAA's expeditious review of our corrective actions and their willingness to devote priority resources to revalidate our continued safe and compliant operations."

As part of the order, AAR Landing Gear Services, located in Miami, FL agreed to a variety of revisions to its maintenance procedures and manuals, enhanced training, and revised "shop travelers" documenting maintenance performed.