Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011
Sales:
Sales from products	$ 363,978	$ 313,207	$ 1,014,592	$ 918,509
Sales from services	170,217	144,828	487,060	398,777
Total sales	534,195	458,035	1,501,652	1,317,286
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of products	309,844	269,166	881,248	785,093
Cost of services	137,393	110,076	379,182	308,336
Selling, general and administrative	51,342	44,143	138,947	130,182
Total cost and operating expenses	498,579	423,385	1,399,377	1,223,611
Earnings from joint ventures	129	56	593	2,613
Operating income	35,745	34,706	102,868	96,288
Gain on extinguishment of debt				97
Interest expense	(10,511)	(7,594)	(25,890)	(22,604)
Interest income	419	62	859	298
Income before provision for income taxes	25,653	27,174	77,837	74,079
Provision for income taxes	4,818	9,256	22,821	25,673
Net income attributable to AAR and noncontrolling interest	20,835	17,918	55,016	48,406
Income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(172)		(172)
Net income attributable to AAR	$ 20,663	$ 17,918	$ 54,844	$ 48,406
Earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.47	$ 1.36	$ 1.26
Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.44	$ 1.33	$ 1.21