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Month: February 2026

West Star Aviation Breaks Ground on Major Expansion at Chattanooga, Tennessee Facility

Chattanooga, Tennessee- February 18, 2026, West Star Aviation, a leading independent maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider in business aviation, today announced a new groundbreaking expansion at its Chattanooga Airport campus. The project is driven by a growing volume of customer maintenance needs and powered by the skilled teams who keep aircraft maintained and returned to […]

When Cleaning Goes Wrong: How Pressure Washing Aircraft Landing Gear Can Cause Damage 

Aircraft Landing Gear

Pressure washing is a fast, appealing way to remove grease, hydraulic fluid, brake dust, and salt from aircraft landing gear. But high-pressure water, improper cleaning agents, and rough technique can do significant harm, compromising safety, increasing maintenance costs, and shortening component life. This article explains how pressure washing can damage landing gear, what parts are […]

West Star Aviation Welcomes Brian Howell as Chief Commercial Officer

East Alton, IL – February 12, 2026 – West Star Aviation, a leading independent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider in the business aviation industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Howell as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Reporting to CEO Stephen Maiden, Howell will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive go-to-market […]

West Star Aviation Expands CL300 NDT Inspection Capabilities

CL300 NDT Inspection

West Star Aviation is pleased to announce that we now have the required Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) standards, tooling, and trained personnel in place to perform Task 57-11-00-108 on the Bombardier Challenger 300 (CL300) aircraft. This special detailed inspection — Rear Spar Lower Cap and Lower Aft Plank — is a structural inspection that requires eddy […]

Titanium and Ceramic Coatings for Aircraft Exterior Paint

Aircraft Exterior Paint

Protecting an aircraft’s exterior paint is about more than appearance. It’s about preserving value, performance, and long-term durability. At West Star Aviation, we offer advanced titanium and ceramic coating solutions designed to extend the life of your aircraft’s paint while enhancing its finish and ease of maintenance. Whether you are investing in a brand-new paint […]

Mark White

Mark White

RSM, California

469.267.9423
Gary Freeman

Gary Freeman

RSM, Southwest

970.260.0027
Carl Hefner

Carl Hefner

RSM, Northwest

970.261.4077
Bob Fairfield

Bob Fairfield

RSM, Central

618.512.5077
Keith Schroeder

Keith Schroeder

RSM, Midwest

920.810.3905
Dave Godo

Dave Godo

RSM, Ohio Valley

618.610.0551
Chris Wilkes

Chris Wilkes

RSM, Northeast

610.937.5195
Cory Kolman

Cory Kolman

RSM, Canada

702.742.1945
Mark Daniels

Mark Daniels

RSM, South

210.284.4990
Tim Cane

Tim Cain

RSM, Florida

407.969.5365
Robbie Johnson

Robbie Johnson

RSM, Mid Atlantic

618.610.3081
Santiago Carol

Santiago Carol

RSM, Latin America

970.261.0492
Steve Fleeman

Steve Fleeman

RSM, Landing Gear

970.683.1683
Jim Woodliff

Jim woodliff

RSM, Texas

610.937.5195

Contact Us

WSAA will be piloted at the East Alton, IL facility with the first round of apprentices anticipated to start in August 2024. For more information on West Star Aviation employment or WSAA apprentice selection criteria, please visit www.weststaraviation.com/wsaa-academy or contact Katie Johnson (katiejohnson@wsa.aero) or Dave Lagermann (dlagermann@wsa.aero).

Application & Selection Process

Before applying, please be aware of the standards of conduct for employment with West Star along with the strict requirements below while attending WSAA.

  • Working in Aviation requires a commit to being drug-free.  Pre-employment drug testing along with random and reasonable suspicion testing is required for all companies employing people working in safety sensitive positions. The position you are considering applying for is safety sensitive.  If hired, you must pass a DOT drug test to start working, if you fail the job offer is rescinded.  If you pass, you must remain drug-free during employment, failing a random or reasonable suspicion test may result in termination of employment.  Please note: marijuana is legal in certain states however the FAA follows Federal law where marijuana is illegal.  This means testing positive for marijuana, or any other illegal drug, will prevent you from working in Aviation. 
  • The first 7.5 months will follow a strict schedule: Monday – Friday 7:00am – 3:30pm (breaks and meal periods provided). 
  • The expectation is to arrive inside the learning center and clocked in at 7:00am.
  • While attending WSAA, no more than 4 hours a week can be missed.  Extenuating medical circumstances will be given full consideration with supporting documentation.
  • WSAA follows an FAA approved curriculum which has certain requirements including attendance. 
  • Testing for the FAA license at the conclusion of WSAA is required, along with passing.  Two opportunities to test will be provided, if needed.  Employment may terminate if the FAA license is not obtained.
Apply Online
  • Candidates will be contacted to complete pre-screening assessments and questionnaires. 
  • Qualified candidates will be contacted in late November and scheduled for a tour and interview with Hiring Managers at West Star Aviation in East Alton, IL.
  • To be qualified, candidates must pass the pre-screening process along with submitting a negative DOT drug test result.
  • Finalists will be selected after onsite interviews. Job offers will be extended in mid-December with a start date of January 9, 2024.
  • Pay while learning in the Academy will be $20 per hour.  Upon successfully graduating and obtaining your FAA license, pay will increase to $27 per hour.