Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2011 Telair International GmbH ("Telair") and Nordisk Aviation Products, AS ("Nordisk") and Airinmar Holdings Limited (Airinmar)	Feb. 29, 2012 Telair International GmbH ("Telair") and Nordisk Aviation Products, AS ("Nordisk") and Airinmar Holdings Limited (Airinmar) Y	Feb. 28, 2011 Telair International GmbH ("Telair") and Nordisk Aviation Products, AS ("Nordisk") and Airinmar Holdings Limited (Airinmar)	Dec. 02, 2011 Telair International GmbH ("Telair") and Nordisk Aviation Products, AS ("Nordisk")	Nov. 30, 2011 Airinmar Y	Oct. 11, 2011 Airinmar
Acquisitions
Purchase price of the acquisition				$ 293,000		$ 43,500
Cash consideration paid						23,200
Potential earn-out payment						20,300
Period over which EBITDA levels will be measured (in years)					2
Estimated liability of the acquisition date fair value of the earn-out					20,300
Maximum time period for determining fair values for assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in years)		1
Preliminary purchase price allocation
Cash		5,200
Accounts receivable		55,100
Inventories		52,900
Prepaid expenses		4,700
Property, plant and equipment		14,500
Goodwill and identified intangibles		267,700
Notes payable		(1,600)
Accounts payable		(21,400)
Accrued liabilities		(52,900)
Other long-term liabilities		(7,800)
Pro forma information
Net sales	518,021	1,634,161	1,492,158
Operating income	40,490	121,393	116,821
Net income attributable to AAR	$ 19,219	$ 61,909	$ 54,131
Earning per share, basic	$ 0.51	$ 1.54	$ 1.41
Earning per share, diluted	$ 0.47	$ 1.49	$ 1.34