NOTE 17—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases certain office and manufacturing facilities as well as equipment under various lease contracts with terms that meet the accounting definition of operating leases. These arrangements may include fair value renewal or purchase options. Rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $3.0 million, $3.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively. The following table represents future minimum lease payment commitments as of December 31, 2011:

From time to time the Company may enter into purchase agreements with suppliers under which there is a commitment to buy a minimum amount of product. Purchase commitments outstanding at December 31, 2011 were $39.7 million. These commitments are not reflected as liabilities in the Company’s Balance Sheet.

Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, we do not expect these matters will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty. Should the Company fail to prevail in any legal matter or should several legal matters be resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, then the financial results of that particular reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

On November 11, 2010, AE Liquidation Inc. filed an action in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (AE Liquidation, Inc., et al v. Luminescent Systems Inc., and AE Liquidation, Inc., et al., v Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.) seeking to recover $1.4 million of alleged preferential payments received from Eclipse Aviation Corporation. The Company disputes the Trustee’s allegations and believes any loss, as a result of future proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on our business. We intend to defend this claim vigorously.

We are a defendant in an action filed in the Regional State Court of Mannheim, Germany (Lufthansa Technik AG v. Astronics Advanced Electronics Systems Corp.) relating to an allegation of patent infringement. The damages sought include injunctive relief, as well as monetary damages. We dispute the allegation and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this action. We have filed a nullity action with the Federal Patent Court in Munich Germany, requesting the court to revoke the German part of the European patent that is subject to the claim. In November 2011, the regional state court of Manheim Germany, issued an interim decision to the effect that the infringement litigation proceedings be stayed until the Federal Patent Court decides on the concurrent nullity action. At this time we are unable to provide a reasonable estimate of our potential liability or the potential amount of loss related to this action, if any. If the outcome of this litigation is adverse to us, our results and financial condition could be materially affected.