CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010
Sales:
Sales from products	$ 1,384,224	$ 1,250,146	$ 1,067,490
Sales from services	680,774	554,966	284,661
Total sales	2,064,998	1,805,112	1,352,151
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of products	1,208,624	1,067,173	922,192
Cost of services	534,117	425,528	186,440
Cost of sales - restructuring and impairment	3,700	5,355
Selling, general and administrative	189,397	182,694	153,299
Total costs and operating expenses	1,935,838	1,680,750	1,261,931
Gain on sale of product line		5,922
Earnings from joint ventures	1,542	3,344	112
Operating income	130,702	133,628	90,332
(Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt	(664)	97	893
Interest expense	(37,772)	(30,667)	(26,832)
Interest income	1,243	349	945
Loss on sale of investments			(1,150)
Income before provision for income taxes	93,509	103,407	64,188
Provision for income taxes	25,480	33,581	20,986
Net income attributable to AAR and noncontrolling interest	68,029	69,826	43,202
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(306)		1,426
Net income attributable to AAR	$ 67,723	$ 69,826	$ 44,628
Earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.68	$ 1.76	$ 1.17
Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.65	$ 1.73	$ 1.16