Aviation Sales Company Announces Award For C-9 Depot Maintenance.

Business Editors

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2000

Aviation Sales Company (NYSE:AVS) today announced today that its Aviation Sales Distribution Company, in partnership with Lockheed Martin Aircraft & Logistics Centers, a division of the Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), has been awarded a contract to perform depot level maintenance for the C-9 aircraft fleets of the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.

Aviation Sales Distribution Company, as subcontractor, has been supplying replacement parts to Lockheed Martin's Aircraft & Logistics Centers, the incumbent provider, since August, 1999. The recently awarded contract extends for seven years, and has an estimated total value to the partnership of $350 million. Aviation Sales estimates it will receive revenues of approximately $60 million over the life of the contract. The C-9 fleets of the three services includes 52 aircraft used for cargo airlift, passenger transport and aeromedical evacuation.

Daniel W. Patterson, President of Lockheed Aircraft & Logistics Centers, stated, "We chose Aviation Sales as our parts supplier partner because of their vast inventory of C-9 materials and their reputation for on-time delivery and team performance."

Dale S. Baker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aviation Sales, commented, "We are extremely pleased to participate in the successful bid for the C-9 maintenance program. Lockheed Martin's Aircraft & Logistics Centers, our partner, recognizes the value that we bring in supplying aircraft parts for this maintenance program, which is critical to maintaining efficient service levels and reducing life cycle operating costs."

Mr. Baker continued, "Our participation in the C-9 depot maintenance program represents the first foray into the government market for Aviation Sales. We intend to use our success in this program, combined with our extensive experience and strong reputation in the commercial markets, as a platform to take us into the large market for government aircraft maintenance, which we believe has the need for the services we provide."

Aviation Sales Company is a leading independent provider of fully integrated aviation maintenance and inventory services, including aircraft heavy maintenance, component repair and overhaul, leasing, the distribution of aircraft spare parts and the manufacture of new components for major commercial airlines, original equipment manufacturers and maintenance and repair facilities.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including those identified below, could adversely affect the Company's ability to obtain these results: available capital to continue to support the Company's operations, the Company's ability to reduce its debt from current levels through sales of its assets, the Company's ability to acquire adequate inventory and to obtain favorable pricing for such inventory, competitive pricing for the Company's products and services, increased competition in the aircraft spare parts redistribution and MRO markets, the ability to consummate suitable acquisitions, the continuing ability to effectively integrate acquisitions, economic factors which affect the airline industry, and changes in government regulations. Certain of these risks are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of the Company's 1999 Form 10-K, as well as the Company's other filings with the SEC, are available from the SEC or may be obtained from the Company. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.