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West Star Aviation Celebrates Inaugural WSAA Graduation, Solidifies Position as Industry Leader

East Alton, IL – September 10th, 2024 – West Star Aviation Academy (WSAA), established in January 2024 by West Star Aviation in partnership with Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC), proudly celebrated the graduation of its inaugural class in the presence of employees, families, community members, and industry leaders. These 23 graduates are now in the process of testing for their FAA Airframe License. At the same time, West Star welcomed 25 new apprentices into WSAA, with their graduation anticipated in spring 2025. This milestone marks a significant achievement in West Star Aviation’s innovative approach to addressing the Aircraft Maintenance Technician shortage, solidifying the company’s position as the leading aviation employer offering a unique and accelerated learning experience.

WSAA: First to Market and Leading the Way
WSAA stands out as the only aviation program of its kind, where individuals are carefully screened, interviewed, and hired into a full-time, paid position. Participants are required to complete a customized Part 147 Airframe maintenance curriculum in a dedicated West Star classroom and learning hangar during their first 7.5 months of employment. Unlike other programs that demand balancing full-time work with night classes or learning on the job, WSAA enables apprentices to fully focus on developing the skills and knowledge essential for a successful aviation career. As a result, graduates are exceptionally prepared to join operations with hands-on experience working with West Star’s aircraft, systems, manuals, and procedures.

David Magg, the first student to test for and pass his Airframe License, remarked, “We’ve learned a massive amount about how aircraft work, how to repair them, and how to perform maintenance. The knowledge we’re gaining is very applicable to our work.”

“The academy has been great, from the learning aspect to working in the hangar and the camaraderie of the classroom. All in all, the whole experience has been pretty amazing,” said Kyle Kovorick, another of WSAA’s first graduates.

A Collaborative Effort
WSAA’s success is a result of strong partnerships with community organizations and educational institutions. Brad Sparks, Dean of the Aviation Program at SWIC, played a crucial role in the academy’s development. “WSAA has set a new standard for aviation education, combining academic excellence with practical, hands-on experience. It’s been an honor to be part of such an impactful program.”

Katie Johnson, Chief People Officer at West Star Aviation, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in growing talent: “We’re proud to offer unique opportunities for individuals to develop their skills and launch successful careers in aviation. WSAA is a testament to our commitment to investing in our people and ensuring the continued excellence of our workforce.”

Tony Fuhrmann, Director of the Madison County Workforce Innovation Board, also highlighted the community’s role in WSAA’s success: “By securing support through grants, recruiting efforts, and advertising, we were able to provide West Star with some of the resources they needed to ensure WSAA was a success.”

A Look Toward the Future
Building on the success of its first cohort, WSAA has already launched its second group of apprentices and is strategically planning future expansions to continue its groundbreaking work in aviation education. These exciting developments will be announced in due course, reflecting West Star Aviation’s ongoing commitment to leading the industry in workforce development.

“This is an extremely good opportunity for people interested in aviation. It’s particularly great for younger individuals who can start their careers sooner,” David Magg added, emphasizing the value of WSAA for the next generation of aviation professionals.

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 (AOG) network in the country, ensuring prompt and reliable mobile repair services nationwide.

For more information, please visit www.weststaraviation.com or contact:

Dana Seese

VP, Marketing

Mark White

RSM, California

Dave Godo

RSM, Ohio Valley

Mark Daniels
Tim Cane
Robbie Johnson

RSM, Mid Atlantic

Santiago Carol

RSM, Latin America

Steve Fleeman

RSM, Landing Gear

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.
  • 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.