In preparation for its next phase of growth, Part 145 avionics repair station Sparkchasers Aircraft Services has hired Ray Walters to be its new president. Walters has over 40 years of experience in aviation, as a private pilot, a commercial pilot and as a flight instructor. He worked at the SAS Institute for over 20 years in various roles, including project management, and has worked over five years in the aviation industry at Blue Line Aviation in various management, safety and compliance roles.

Sparkchasers Aircraft Services was founded in 1989 and has earned a reputation for providing high quality and reliable aircraft radio (avionics) repair, refurbishment and installation solutions. Based at the Johnston Regional airport in Smithfield, North Carolina, Sparkchasers continues to provide valuable equipment updates, maintenance and repair services to keep an ageing general aviation fleet well equipped for the modern aviation system.

"Ray's diverse background in management, project management and aviation makes him uniquely qualified to take on this challenge. We welcome him to the Sparkchasers family and look forward to seeing him configure Sparkchasers for decades' more success," says Trey Walters, son of Ray and a Sparkchasers shareholder.

In 2021, Sparkchasers attempted to expand to the new Blue Line Aviation facility at Johnston Regional airport. That expansion turned into a move when the airport authority suddenly, and for no apparent reason, failed to renew its lease on the facility it had occupied for decades.

In spite of the challenges, Sparkchasers remains fully operational and serves a wide market of aircraft owners. As it nears its 33rd birthday, the company is still focused on growth, innovation and efficiency despite the economic and supply chain challenges that plague the US. It continues to hire exceptional people from the community to learn to work on these valuable systems. Training and certification is provided, so no experience is required.

"I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead Sparkchasers and am thankful for the trust Trey has placed in me by hiring me for this position. I also look forward to meeting and interacting with the pilots and aircraft owners that this company has served for decades and continuing the great work for which Sparkchasers is known," says Walters.