West Star Aviation, a US MRO provider in business aviation, has broken ground on a major expansion of its Lovell Field airport campus in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The project is driven by a growing volume of customer maintenance needs and powered by the skilled teams who keep aircraft maintained and returned to service every day. The expansion will increase the Chattanooga site to approximately 400,000 sq ft, with completion targeted for February 2027.

The development adds capacity and capability across two key areas of the campus. Hangar 26 will be a 40,000 sq ft hangar supported by 15,000 sq ft of shop and office space, including customer offices, programme offices and climate-controlled storage to safeguard customer interiors and property when removed from the aircraft. The expansion also includes an overhead crane, fall protection systems, dedicated fire-rated aircraft document storage rooms and an improved customer lounge, along with enhancements designed to strengthen safety, efficiency and the overall customer experience. The development will also expand the existing Hangar 27 with a new two-storey, 30,000 sq ft addition. The new footprint will house an expanded aircraft service department, accessories shop, composite shop and sheetmetal shop, bringing critical functions closer together to improve workflow, communication and turnaround.

The expansion is expected to create up to 200 additional skilled positions over the next five years, reinforcing West Star Aviation's commitment to Tennessee's workforce and the regional economy. Today, the Chattanooga location employs more than 500 team members supporting aircraft operators every day, underscoring the company's continued momentum and long-term investment in the region.

Chattanooga continues to be a strategic location for West Star and for customers who need dependable access to maintenance support. With convenient reach across the US Southeast, the East Coast and the North Central regions, the airport's accessibility combined with the region's connectivity and amenities make it an ideal place to expand and a strong foundation for long term service growth. Chattanooga is one of West Star Aviation's full-service locations, giving customers the convenience of having everything completed in one place. From maintenance to major modifications; including avionics upgrades, interior refurbishment and paint, the Chattanooga team can coordinate the full scope of work under one roof to simplify scheduling and reduce downtime.

West Star Aviation thanks the Tennessee Valley Authority, Electric Power Board, Tectonic, the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, the State of Tennessee and the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority and Chattanooga Airport for their partnership and continued support. The company also thanks today's speakers for their participation and leadership; Jack McAfee, vice president of operations with the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority, and Weston Wamp, Mayor of Hamilton County.

“This is a very exciting time for West Star Aviation as we continue to grow here at Chattanooga Airport,” states Mike Ditmeyer, vice president and general manager of West Star's Chattanooga location. “The site expansion strengthens our foundation to support our customers' maintenance needs and further develop our team's expertise. The pride, quality and teamwork of this group are at the heart of this facility.”