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West Star Aviation announced Wednesday a major expansion project at its Chattanooga Airport campus. It includes its maintenance, repair, and overhaul divisions, increasing the site to approximately 400,000 square feet.
The project will add new hangar space, expanded service facilities, and additional workforce capacity. The company said the expansion is expected to create up to 200 skilled jobs over the next five years. West Star's Chattanooga facility currently employs more than 500 workers.
The development includes construction of a new 40,000-square-foot Hangar 26, supported by 15,000 square feet of shop and office space, customer offices, and climate-controlled storage areas for aircraft interiors. The hangar will also feature safety and operational upgrades, including an overhead crane, fall protection systems, and fire-rated document storage.
The expansion will also add a two-story, 30,000-square-foot addition to Hangar 27, housing an expanded aircraft service department, accessories shop, composite shop, and sheet metal shop. The company said consolidating these functions will improve workflow efficiency, communication, and aircraft turnaround times.
West Star Aviation said Chattanooga remains a strategic location due to its accessibility across the Southeast, East Coast, and North Central United States. The airport supports full-service maintenance, including avionics upgrades, interior refurbishment, and paint work.
"This is a very exciting time for West Star Aviation as we continue to grow here at Chattanooga Airport," said Mike Ditmeyer, Vice President and General Manager, 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."
West Star Aviation, founded in 1947, operates six full-service facilities across the United States and employs more than 3,000 people nationwide.
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