West Star Aviation Academy (WSAA) celebrated their new AMT apprenticeship program and the first inaugural class of selected technicians with an open house at their East Alton, IL (ALN) facility.

The new academy is the first of its kind, providing an in-house program to aspiring technicians with a full-time, paid apprenticeship in a comprehensive 7.5-month program. Along with classroom and hands-on training, the apprentices will receive mentoring and shadowing opportunities that will further bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience. The goal of WSAA is to produce a highly skilled and work-ready pool of FAA licensed aircraft maintenance technicians while removing the barriers associated with gaining employment along with fulfilling the educational and licensing requirements provided by this accelerated program.

West Star has been a staple of the Illinois community for many years, providing a significant number of local jobs at the East Alton facility. Their growth through the years is testament to the continuous local support and the dedication of West Star by frequently providing job opportunities which adds to the local workforce community.

West Star Aviation would like to thank the local community and companies that supported this program, specifically SWIC, village of Bethalto and the state of Illinois, along with dignitaries who attended the open house and the remarkable staff for working diligently to build and launch this incredible program. The signature ribbon cutting was performed by the following (pictured left to right):

Kelsey Kuntz – In-house Trainer/AMT, WSA
Katie Johnson – Chief People Officer, WSA
Jim Rankin – Chief Executive Officer, WSA
Nikki Budzinski – Congresswoman
Allen McReynolds – Chief Operating Officer, WSA
Brian Bauwens – General Manager, WSA
Mike Zada – Chief Project Officer, WSA