AAR CORP., a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, and Polish aviation leader Wojskowe Zak?ady Lotnicze Nr 2 (WZL-2) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month for their new state-of-the-art aircraft overhaul facility in Bydgoszcz, Poland. U.S. government personnel, including Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, Polish government officials, and leaders from AAR and WZL-2 celebrated the official opening of a depot capability supporting the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) F-16 fleet. In addition to leveraging collaboration across AAR, WZL-2, and government partners to deliver consistent mission readiness for U.S. forces and allies, this operation is expected to offer job opportunities and economic growth to Poland.
“This celebration represents not just the opening of the facility, but the beginning of joint efforts to optimize fleet readiness and aircraft availability for the USAFE F-16 program,” said Jay Pereira, AAR’s General Manager of Government Programs. “In this critical time for regional security, AAR is excited to establish an industry-leading depot capability to support regional needs and enable USAFE forces.”
The AAR / WZL-2 team is working in partnership to leverage their strengths and talents in support of a successful program. AAR brings program management, maintenance, and supply chain management expertise, while WZL-2 brings industry-leading facilities and infrastructure. Adding their combined expert workforces, AAR / WZL-2 will accomplish some of the most challenging and complex maintenance tasks to keep the F-16 a lethal fighter aircraft supporting NATO. These tasks include F-16 avionic modification upgrades; structural modifications, repairs, and corrosion control; service life extension program (SLEP) modifications; as well as any other technical upgrades needed. The facility has already inducted two F-16s for maintenance and repairs with plans to induct a third next month.
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 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 operations.
