AAR Corp. plans to hire 200 additional workers at its Indianapolis aircraft repair base, including entry-level workers who could work toward their mechanic's certification, the company said Thursday.

The Wood Dale, Ill.-based aircraft-repair and parts company has at times had a hard time finding certified mechanics in the region.

United Airlines closed its giant Indianapolis maintenance base eight years ago. AAR now operates at the former United base. Many of United’s union-wage workers left the city for new employment, and others who would have trained for the trade looked to other careers.

Also, often among young people, “there is a very strong anti-manual labor work bias,” said AAR’s director of recruiting, Greg Dellinger, who has made numerous presentations at Indianapolis-area high schools in recent years.

Dellinger’s team is conducting a job fair Saturday at 9 a.m. at an aviation technology center operated by Vincennes University and Purdue University, 2175 S. Hoffman Road.

Entry-level support technicians require a high school degree or its equivalent, and a mechanical aptitude.

AAR is providing tuition reimbursement for employees who seek to upgrade their skills and to those interested in obtaining a federal airframe and powerplant license.

An A&P license is required for those performing repairs on key aircraft systems.

AAR’s Indianapolis facility employs about 750. Its clients include Southwest Airlines and Republic Airways Holdings.

Indianapolis has a handful of aircraft mechanic training programs, including those offered by Vincennes University at Indianapolis International. The privately held Aviation School of Maintenance also has a campus here.

Aircraft maintenance jobs can range from $25,000 to $80,000 a year.

Dellinger said AAR anticipates hiring at least 300 additional workers at its other facilities worldwide.