Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2014	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012
Earnings Per Share
Effect to the participating securities as result of net loss	$ 0
Basic EPS:
Net income attributable to AAR and noncontrolling interest	73.2	55.5	68.0
Less income attributable to participating shares	(1.5)	(2.0)	(2.5)
Less income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.3)	(0.5)	(0.3)
Net income attributable to AAR available to common shareholders	71.4	53.0	65.2
Basic shares:
Weighted average common shares outstanding	38,600,000	38,300,000	38,800,000
Earnings per share - basic:
Earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.85	$ 1.38	$ 1.68
Diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to AAR and noncontrolling interest	73.2	55.5	68.0
Less income attributable to participating shares	(1.5)	(1.9)	(2.3)
Less income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.3)	(0.5)	(0.3)
Add after-tax interest on convertible debt		3.2	5.8
Net income attributable to AAR available to common shareholders	$ 71.4	$ 56.3	$ 71.2
Diluted shares:
Weighted average common shares outstanding	38,600,000	38,300,000	38,800,000
Additional shares from the assumed exercise of stock options	500,000	100,000	200,000
Additional shares from the assumed conversion of convertible debt		2,200,000	4,100,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	39,100,000	40,600,000	43,100,000
Earnings per share - diluted:
Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.83	$ 1.38	$ 1.65
Antidilutive stock options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	180,000	872,200	1,627,000