Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

Contributor

David A. Lombardo

West Star Aviation has nearly completed a 47,000-sq-ft maintenance facility at its East Alton (ALN), Ill. location. In addition to the new maintenance facility, the multimillion-dollar expansion includes a 14,000-sq-ft wood shop and 6,000-sq-ft accessory repair shop, bringing the East Alton facilities from 250,000 to 317,300 sq ft and 300 employees.


The new facilities are scheduled to be completed next month, at which time West Star will host an open house.


With the additional hangar and shop space, West Star has 36 new employment opportunities at the ALN facility. The openings are in several areas, including Gulfstream, Falcon and avionics technicians.


“We are excited to see the construction come to an end and eager to start using the new space,” said COO Rodger Renaud. “The facilities will allow us to continue expanding over the next three to five years, bringing more service offerings to our customers and more jobs to East Alton.”


West Star Aviation also recently broke ground on a new paint facility and maintenance facility and shop at its Grand Junction, Colo. location and has plans to add 10,000 sq ft of maintenance facilities at the Columbia, S.C. location.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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