US MRO specialist West Star Aviation has appointed Eric Valdes to the role of programme director role responsible for Embraer, accessories and NDT at the company's St Louis Regional Airport (ALN) facility in East Alton, Illinois.

Valdes has more than 30 years of aviation experience, with the past 16 years at West Star. He served in the US Air Force as an AWACS crew chief at Tinker AFB. Eric received his A&P licence at Southwestern Illinois College. Valdes was previously responsible for doubling revenue and work force within the ALN Gulfstream programme over the past 10 years.

“Eric's long tenure at West Star gives him the experience and relationships needed to grow and support the Embraer programme to meet current and future customer needs,” says Brian Bauwens, general manager, ALN.