Grand Junction Archives - West Star Aviation

Supporting Industry Demands: West Star Aviation Announces Expansion to Enhance Customer Experience and Meet Growing Needs in Chattanooga

Alissa DiDonato — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:25:35 +0000

Chattanooga, TN – February 12, 2025 – West Star Aviation is excited to announce a significant expansion at its Chattanooga (CHA) Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. The project, designed and constructed in partnership with Tectonic Management Group, underscores the company’s commitment to optimizing its facilities to meet the evolving needs of its customers.

The expansion includes the construction of a 40,000-square-foot maintenance hangar with 15,600 square feet of attached shop, office, and storage space. Additionally, a 34,000-square-foot, two-story building will be constructed, with the first floor dedicated to additional shop space and the second floor reserved for future office use. In tandem with the new construction, a light renovation will be made to a newly leased building, formerly the Chattanooga Airport’s vehicle maintenance facility, to accommodate carpet cutting, vehicle storage, and building maintenance operations.

This expansion is a strategic step to better align West Star’s operations with the market’s shifting demands, particularly for larger aircraft. By increasing its capacity and enhancing services, West Star Aviation is well positioned to continue delivering exceptional support to its customers.

“This expansion highlights our ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of our customers as their requirements evolve,” said Allen McReynolds, President and COO of West Star Aviation. “We are investing in infrastructure that not only supports the growing demands of our market but also ensures that we maintain the high level of service our customers expect.”

The project is made possible through the support of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County and the TVA Economic Development Group. West Star Aviation is grateful for the partnership with these organizations and their contributions toward making this expansion a reality.

The project is scheduled to break ground in the third quarter of 2025, with an estimated completion in the fourth quarter of 2026. By enhancing its footprint in Chattanooga, West Star Aviation will provide expanded services and a state-of-the-art facility for its customers while further supporting its employees and the local community.

About West Star Aviation
With more than 78 years of industry experience, West Star Aviation stands as a leading independent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider. Employing over 3,000 professionals, West Star offers comprehensive services from our strategically located full-service facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; Chattanooga, TN; Millville, NJ; Perryville, MO; and Statesville, NC, as well as satellite locations in Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, and Chicago. The company’s extensive capabilities encompass maintenance, paint, interior, and avionics services, supported by the largest Aircraft On Ground (AOG) network in the country, ensuring prompt and reliable mobile repair services nationwide.

For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:

Dana Seese

VP, Marketing

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West Star Aviation Announces Major 109,000 Sq. Foot Expansion to Meet Customer Demands

Alissa DiDonato — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Grand Junction, CO – October 2nd, 2024 – West Star Aviation is excited to announce plans for the construction of a new hangar at its full-service Grand Junction (GJT) Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. The project will be designed and constructed in partnership with Tectonic Management Group. This expansion will add 40,000 square feet of hangar space to accommodate the growing demand for maintenance services, avionics installations, and interior refurbishments, along with 38,000 square feet dedicated to offices and back shop space, and an additional 31,000 square feet of ramp space.

The new hangar will significantly increase West Star’s capacity to better serve customers and provide more space for operations as part of the company’s ongoing growth. The project comes as the Grand Junction Airport is in the midst of a multi-year runway improvement project, an effort that enhances both the airport and West Star’s service offerings.

“This expansion is an exciting milestone for us,” said Scott Sweeney, Vice President / General Manager of West Star’s Grand Junction site. “We’re not just building a new hangar—we’re building on the success and dedication of our team. This will allow us to continue to provide the top-tier service our customers expect while creating new opportunities for our employees and the community.”

The construction project underscores West Star Aviation’s commitment to supporting the evolving needs of its customers by increasing capacity and availability. Allen McReynolds, President and COO of West Star Aviation, shared: “As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to maintaining the highest levels of service. The expansion at Grand Junction is not only a win for West Star, but it also supports our larger vision of being the best in the MRO industry.”

The project is expected to create 80-100 new job opportunities and will further solidify West Star’s partnership with GJT Airport. Angela Padalecki, Executive Director of Airport Operations at Grand Junction, emphasized the collaboration: “This expansion strengthens the relationship between the airport and West Star. We’re proud to see West Star’s growth at GJT, and the enhanced services this will bring to the airport will benefit the entire community. West Star is a pillar in our region, and their continued growth is a testament to the partnership we’ve built.”

Curtis Englehart, Executive Director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP), also expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “We are excited to see West Star Aviation advancing their expansion in Grand Junction! This achievement exemplifies the power of community collaboration between GJEP, the City of Grand Junction, Mesa County, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Development, Inc., and many other dedicated partners. We extend our heartfelt thanks to West Star for their continued investment in our community. Expansions like these showcase that the Grand Junction area is not only a fantastic place to live but a thriving hub for business growth.”

Construction on the new hangar is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2025 with completion anticipated by the second quarter of 2026. The expansion will help meet growing demand and provide enhanced facilities that benefit West Star’s employees and customers.

About West Star Aviation

With more than 77 years of industry experience, West Star Aviation stands as a leading independent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider. Employing over 3,000 professionals, West Star offers comprehensive services from our strategically located full-service facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; Chattanooga, TN; Millville, NJ; Perryville, MO; and Statesville, NC, as well as satellite locations in Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Chicago, and West Palm Beach. The company’s extensive capabilities encompass maintenance, paint, interior, and avionics services, supported by the largest Aircraft On Ground

For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:

Dana Seese

VP, Marketing

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WEST STAR AVIATION NAMED GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Patrick Recer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:48:33 +0000

West Star Aviation has been named Business of the Year by the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce. The announcement was made on Friday, January 27^th, at the annual awards banquet held at Two Rivers Convention Center in Grand Junction. West Star was chosen by past winners of the award, and is being recognized for their contributions to the local community.

With over 300 current employees, West Star Aviation’s Grand Junction (GJT) facility ranks among the largest private employers in the Grand Valley. West Star supports Community Hospital, Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado and United Way. West Star also serves as a sponsor of the Grand Junction Air Show and contributes to both the West Slope Honor Flight and Palisade Olde Fashioned Christmas community events.

“With their numerous contributions not only to our community, but to our economy as well, West Star Aviation was an obvious choice for this award,” says Diane Schwenke, President and CEO, Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce. “We are honored to have them as a part of our community.”

West Star Aviation GJT has also been recognized as a Silver Partner of the Colorado Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) in 2011. By continuing their commitment to the environment, West Star climbed from a Bronze Achiever 2010, to an ELP Silver Partner.

WSA Named Business of the Year

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WEST STAR AVIATION GAINS STC APPROVAL FOR INSTALLATION OF AUTO THROTTLES IN HAWKERS

Patrick Recer — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:56:58 +0000

West Star Aviation announced they have received STC approval for the installation of the Safe Flight instrument Corporation Auto Power System in Proline 21 equipped Hawker jets. The AutoPower® System is available for in service Pro Line 21-equipped Hawker 800XP, 850XP, 750, 900 and 800XPr models. Operators with compatible aircraft can have the system installed in as little as two weeks at West Star Aviation’s Grand Junction (GJT) facility.

West Star conducted the flight testing for the AutoPower® System and shortly after, forged an agreement with Hawker Beechcraft Corporation for the distribution and installation of the AutoPower® System. Under the terms of the agreement with Hawker Beechcraft, all installations for the AutoPower^® System will be completed exclusively by either West Star or a Hawker Beechcraft Service facility.

The AutoPower^® System for the Hawker 800 series will provide continuous thrust management during takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, maneuver, landing and go-around. Fully integrated with existing avionics displays and controls, AutoPower^® delivers smooth and precise speed and power control modes throughout the entire flight profile resulting in improved safety, increased situational awareness, reduced crew workload, greater passenger comfort and increased aircraft value.

“One huge benefit of this system is the fuel savings,” says Aaron Berg, Avionics Technical Sales Manager, West Star Aviation. “The system continually monitors the weight and speed of the aircraft to ensure a constant fuel burn, which can result in a 3% fuel savings.”

West Star can install the Safe Flight AutoPower® ATS in as little as two weeks downtime. Operators can take advantage of that time to also have scheduled maintenance performed, additional avionics upgrades, or a new paint or interior package. To learn more about the installation, or to set up an appointment, contact Aaron Berg at (970) 243-7500 (office) or (970) 261-6741 (cell).

Auto Power System Press Release

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WEST STAR AVIATION ANNOUNCES PERSONNEL CHANGES AT GRAND JUNCTION FACILITY

Patrick Recer — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:55:27 +0000

West Star Aviation recently announced three personnel changes at their Grand Junction (GJT) location. Ken Rice, T.J. Jaeger and Jason Blust have all been promoted from their current positions within the West Star organization.

Ken Rice, who previously held the position of Gulfstream/Learjet Program Manager, has been promoted to Director of Maintenance. In this new position, Ken will oversee all maintenance operations at the GJT facility and he can be contacted directly at (800) 255-4193(office) or (970) 261-4249 (cell).

In addition, T.J. Jaeger has been promoted to Gulfstream/Learjet Program Manager. T.J. will supervise all Gulfstream and Learjet specific maintenance projects at GJT. He can be reached at (970) 248-5257 (office) or (970) 985-0771(cell).

Jason Blust has taken over the position of Learjet Team Leader at GJT. In this new position, Jason will lead maintenance projects on all Learjet aircraft. Jason Blust can be contacted directly at (970) 683-4871 (office) or (970) 985-0967 (cell).

Grand Junction Personnel Changes

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WEST STAR AVIATION RECOGNIZED AS SILVER PARTNER BY COLORADO ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Patrick Recer — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:08:09 +0000

West Star Aviation is proud to announce they have been officially recognized as a Silver Partner of the Colorado Environmental Leadership Program (ELP). By continuing their commitment to the environment, West Star has climbed from a Bronze Achiever 2010, to an ELP Silver Partner. They received their award during a ceremony held in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

The Environmental Leadership Program is a statewide environmental recognition and reward program administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Sustainability Program. The program’s goal is to foster relationships, reward environmental performance and create a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable Colorado.

“We look forward to working with West Star Aviation in the coming years to promote the type of commitment and environmental performance their facility demonstrates on a daily basis,” said Lynette Myers, Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) Coordinator.

In order to be recognized as an ELP Silver Partner, West Star had to uphold the requirements from the Bronze Achiever category while striving to expand their sustainability initiatives. This means they passed the strict qualifications held by the state of Colorado, as well as upheld the regulations put forth by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, including no serious violations for 1 year or criminal for 2 years, and implanting sustainability efforts such as energy efficiency, waste minimization, and water conservation.

West Star has continued to expand their recycling program, which includes but is not limited to: Metal, wood, rubber, batteries (both disposable and aircraft), paper and new and used oil. In addition, their entire Paint Department is certified under the NESHAP 6H which allows them to apply paint more efficiently and reduces their air pollution footprint.

“Our paint department only uses non-chromium based primers and non-methlyene chloride based paint strippers,” says Kraig Meyer, Environmental, Safety, and Health Manager, West Star Aviation. “This has reduced the facility’s overall air pollutants (VOC/HAPS) by over 30%.”

In addition, West Star continues to reduce their power consumption with relighting projects and motion sensors. They have also installed a new, more efficient, 790 Air Compressor which supplies air for two buildings and has reduced their electrical demand by half.

West Star’s latest green initiative involves taking part in the beta testing of SmartBag™ Digital Tradeshow Bag this year at NBAA’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV. SmartBag™ is a complete digital literature management system that allows tradeshow exhibitors to offer their full catalog of sales and promotional literature in digital form (PDF). This program will reduce the massive amount of waste that is generated through printed materials and transform tradeshows into more environmentally friendly events. West Star is proud to be one of the first few select exhibitors to embrace this new program. For more information on SmartBag™ please see press release distributed on at NBAA or visit www.digitalsmartbag.com.

Silver Partner ELP Press Release

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WEST STAR AVIATION WELCOMES NEW ACCESSORIES SHOP TEAM LEAD

Patrick Recer — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:52:29 +0000

West Star Aviation recently announced Darin Perryman will join their team at Grand Junction (GJT) as Accessories Shop Team Lead.

Darin brings over 14 years experience with him to West Star, specifically with landing gear on all Hawker, Challenger and Gulfstream models. Most recently, Darin held the position of Overhaul Shop Lead for Gulfstream Aerospace. In this position he further developed his expertise in landing gear ship sets and components, all while directing a dedicated team. Darin currently holds an FAA class II and III repairmen certificate as well as CDI inspection duties.

In his new position at West Star Aviation, Darin will be responsible for overseeing the Grand Junction (GJT) accessories team, as well as providing technical support, inspections, and ensuring FAA compliance. Darin Perryman can be contacted directly at (970) 248-5230 (office), (970) 261-4929 (cell) or at dperryman@wsa.aero.

Darin Perryman

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Kurt Sutterer Joins West Star Aviation Board of Directors

Patrick Recer — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:37:36 +0000

East Alton, IL, February 25, 2011 – West Star Aviation, Inc. is pleased to announce that Kurt Sutterer has joined the company’s Board of Directors effective February 15, 2011. The announcement was made by Robert E Rasberry, West Star’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Kurt brings a deep, broad and respected knowledge of the aviation industry to our Board of Directors and will help shape the growth of West Star Aviation,” stated Rasberry. “His industry management experience, involvement with respected aviation associations like NBAA, along with his role as Chairman of NATA for the 2009 term will certainly add a measurable value to our executive level guidance team.”

“During my tenure at Midcoast, West Star was always a strong and innovative competitor,” stated Sutterer. “Now, I look forward to assisting them in their growth and continued recognition as one of the best service providers in aviation.”

Sutterer recently retired as president of Midcoast Aviation and head of Jet Aviation’s MRO & Completions lines of business in North America, after 29 years of service with the company.

Sutterer started his professional aviation career at St. Louis-based Midcoast Aviation in 1981 and held positions of increasing responsibility, ranging from Inspector to Manager of Technical Services, Vice President, and General Manager of Midcoast Aviation operations before his promotion to president in 2004.

Kurt Sutterer Release

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Colorado Environmental Leadership Program Recognition

Patrick Recer — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:07:21 +0000

(from left) Sam Haycraft, Kraig Meyer, Lynette Myers -(Admin., Environmental Leadership Program Division), Dave Krogman

West Star Aviation is proud to announce they have been officially recognized as Bronze Achievers of the Colorado Environmental Leadership Program. They received their award from Colorado State Governor Bill Ritter during a ceremony held in Denver, CO, on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.

The Environmental Leadership Program is a statewide environmental recognition and reward program administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Sustainability Program. Fulfilling the requirements to become a Bronze recipient for this award means that West Star passed the strict qualifications held by the state of Colorado, as well as upheld the regulations put forth by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. This award was designed to recognize facilities that have made significant achievements in improving the environment of Colorado, who have had no serious violations for 1 year or criminal for 2 years, and who display P2 efforts such as energy efficiency, waste minimization, and water conservation.

West Star is an area leader in waste recycling, pollution reduction, hazardous waste minimization, and energy conservation and is the only Large Quantity Generator on the Western Slope to be accepted for this award. West Star is very proud to display the efforts they have made to preserve our environment.

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New Addition Steve Fleeman to Sales Team

Patrick Recer — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:35:57 +0000

West Star Aviation, Inc. is pleased to welcome the newest addition to its sales team, Steve Fleeman in position as Accessory Sales Manager. Steve will be based at the Grand Junction, Colorado facility.

In his new position as the Accessory Sales Manager, Steve will be responsible for expanding the reach of West Star’s accessory program to additional operators. He will also be extending parts and services to 145 repair stations seeking a high quality, high value product.

Steve brings with him over 20 years of aviation experience. Previous to joining West Star, Steve was in the USAF, and then working for Midcoast Aviation, starting as an aircraft welder and machinist. He continued with his career to eventually run the accessory shop, and then shortly after moved into sales until May of 2010.

West Star’s Accessory Part’s Division is an FAA-Certified Class I, II, and III Accessory Repair Station and accessory services supplier. They provide repairs and overhauls, and AOG parts support with quick turnarounds, as well as offering many airframe components available on an exchange basis, helping customers achieve the most economical means of maintaining their aircraft.

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