West Star Aviation to be recognized with RBGA 2024 Pioneer Award

By Managing Editor | May 16, 2024 |

West Star Aviation’s East Alton, Ill. facility (ALN) has been recognized as a recipient of the RiverBend Growth Association’s 2024 Pioneer Award for its development of the new West Star Aviation Academy. The award will be formally presented during the RBGA Chamber Choice Awards luncheon scheduled for May 22.

For a business to be recognized, it must have made a notable contribution to the region’s quality of life, its economy, and toward making River Bend the choice place to live and work. The RBGA Chamber Choice awards program was designed to show appreciation each year to those who have promoted the work of the Growth Association and its ongoing mission, which is to bring the communities of River Bend together into a cohesive working body that holistically keeps the individual communities thriving while contributing to the region’s quality of life and its economy and making River Bend the choice place to live and work.

“The Pioneer Award is given to an individual or company who saw a community need and had the foresight to do something about it,” further explained RBGA President John Keller.

The nomination, as submitted by a fellow RBGA member, noted, “The creation of the West Star Aviation Academy was visionary and forward-thinking to address the critical workforce shortage for their industry. The Academy will help fill crippling shortages both immediately and for years to come.”

“We are honored to receive this award in recognition of our new academy here in East Alton. We are excited for all the new opportunities this brings, and we look forward to West Star’s continued contributions to the local community and its growth,” said Brian Bauwens, general manager (ALN).

As an industry-leading Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul provider, West Star is proud to have been voted the #1 Preferred MRO for the ninth time from 2014 – 2021 and 2023 in Professional Pilot Magazine’s annual PRASE Survey. West Star Aviation specializes in the repair and maintenance of airframes, engines and APUs, avionics installations and repair, major modifications, interior refurbishment, exterior paint, accessory services and parts.

In addition to its primary facilities in East Alton, Ill., Grand Junction, Colo., Chattanooga, Tenn., Perryville, Mo., Statesville, N.C., and Millville, N.J., West Star Aviation also maintains satellite facilities at Chicago Executive Airport in Chicago, Centennial Airport in Denver, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport in Houston, Texas, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, Minn., Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

The company also provides complete FBO services for transient aircraft at its East Alton and Grand Junction facilities, as well as AOG/MRT services worldwide. West Star Aviation is an industry leader in technical experience and expertise while providing world-class customer services in all the organization’s divisions. For more information visit www.weststaraviation.com or call 800-922-2421.