Northstar Provides Update Regarding Ongoing Environmental Matter

Listed:  TSX
Symbol: NAS

CHICAGO, March 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Northstar Aerospace, Inc (TSX: NAS) (the "Corporation") announced today that a Director's Order (the "Order") has been issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment ("MOE") to the Corporation and its subsidiary, Northstar Aerospace (Canada), Inc. ("Northstar Canada"), in respect of Northstar Canada's Cambridge, Ontario property.  The Order documents and formalizes the investigation, mitigation and remediation project currently underway or planned by Northstar Canada in respect of environmental contamination at and near the property.  No additional contamination has been identified.  Northstar Canada has been cooperating with the MOE and other regulatory authorities on this project since the contamination was first discovered by Northstar Canada in 2004.  Northstar Canada ceased operations at the site in April 2009.

The Corporation is continuing its process of exploring and evaluating strategic alternatives for the Corporation.  The Corporation continues to work with a syndicate of lenders to develop a plan and timeline for repayment of secured liabilities or recapitalization of the Corporation.  No assurances can be given that the issues being faced by the Corporation will be resolved satisfactorily.  As previously disclosed in the notes to the Corporation's interim financial statements as of September 30, 2011, significant doubt remains regarding the Corporation's ability to continue as a going concern.

Northstar Aerospace, Inc. (www.nsaero.com) is North America's leading independent manufacturer of flight critical gears and transmissions. Northstar Aerospace is a public company (TSX: NAS) with operating subsidiaries in the United States and Canada. Its principal products include helicopter gears and transmissions, accessory gearbox assemblies, rotorcraft drive systems and other machined and fabricated parts. It also provides maintenance, repair and overhaul of components and transmissions. The Company's executive offices are located in Chicago, Illinois. Its plants are located in Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona; Milton and Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including the statements in the press release relating to the Order, the statements relating to the process of exploring and evaluating strategic alternatives for the Corporation, the statements relating to developing a plan and timeline for repayment of secured liabilities or recapitalization of the Corporation, the statements relating to the Corporation's financial position and ability to continue as a going concern may be or include forward looking statements. Forward-looking information contained herein is based upon a number of assumptions and actual future events may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, including the Corporation's ability to execute the Order, its ability to cure or resolve claimed breach of obligations under customer contracts, its ability to successfully amend its credit agreement, its ability to successfully extend the terms of the forbearance agreements or for the process of exploring strategic alternatives to result in any specific transaction. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Corporation's expectations (together with the cautionary statements in the previous sentence, "Cautionary Statements") are included in the Corporation's Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 - Management's Discussion and Analysis - Risks and Uncertainties, the Corporation's Annual Information Form filed on March 25, 2011, under the heading of Risks and Uncertainties, the Corporation's Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, and 2010 under the heading Basis Of Preparation And Adoption Of IFRS - Going Concern and in the related Management's Discussion and Analysis under the heading Risks and Uncertainties and the heading Going Concern. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. All information contained in this press release and subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Corporation or persons acting on behalf of the Corporation are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements. The Corporation disclaims any intentions or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements or comments as a result of any new information, future event or otherwise, unless such disclosure is required by law.

Contact: David Anderson, General Counsel at [email protected] or 708.728.2055