US MRO specialist West Star Aviation has opened its recently expanded Lovell Field facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. An open house day was celebrated on 19 July by local community leaders and West Star staff. This is the first of the major company expansion projects, with St Louis Regional airport in East Alton, Illinois and Grand Junction Regional airport in Colorado to follow.

The expansion, which took about a year to complete, offers an additional 57,000 sq ft of hangar, shop and support space, bringing the total square footage of the facility to 262,816. There are now five hangars from which West Star Aviation operates. The expansion includes a dedicated Gulfstream hangar, additional finish and upholstery modification support and customer design centre.

“This Chattanooga, Tennessee expansion will ensure that West Star Aviation will be well-positioned to meet our growing customers' needs. The new hangar and additional space shows our continued commitment to implementing sustainable growth that benefits our customers, employees and the surrounding communities,” says CEO Jim Rankin.

“This expansion will benefit our valued customers and team members while also offering additional jobs in the community,” adds general manager Steve Goede. “West Star is determined to elevate each customer's experience with increased efficiency performed by our team of experts.”