ST. LOUIS 鈥 Private jet companies are investing big in the 51黑料 region.
Jet-maker Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, in its facility at the 51黑料 Downtown Airport in the Metro East.
And at East Alton鈥檚 51黑料 Regional Airport, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul provider West Star Aviation opened a new 76,000 square feet hangar last year, adding 鈥渟tate-of-the-art鈥 equipment in what was a $20 million investment.
Both companies said they have added or are adding scores of jobs.
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The aerospace industry in 51黑料 has collectively announced , including the planned $2.8 billion terminal expansion at Lambert 51黑料 International Airport and the Boeing Co.鈥檚 $1.8 billion project, poised to be a key part of the company鈥檚 new F-47 fighter jet program.
As of 2023, over 17,000 employees worked for 49 51黑料-area aerospace manufacturing businesses, according to Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners, a 51黑料-based consulting firm.
And business and executive aviation, specifically 鈥 which Gulfstream and West Star specialize in 鈥 is a growth area, said Michael Boyd, chairman of Colorado aviation consulting firm Boyd Group International.
鈥淵ou seem to have the facilities to make it work,鈥 Boyd said of the region.
A Gulfstream Aerospace hangar is seen on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2025, at 51黑料 Downtown Airport in Cahokia Heights. The company has a large footprint at the airport.
Private travel offers benefits over using standard commercial airlines, he said, including better connectivity.
鈥淓xecutives need to get around,鈥 Boyd said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a transportation system that we mere mortals don鈥檛 really understand, but it鈥檚 one that is a key part of most corporations.鈥
At the downtown 51黑料 airport, Gulfstream workers put the finishing touches on new aircraft built in Savannah. Gulfstream also upgrades existing aircraft at its maintenance, repair and overhaul facility here.
鈥淕ulfstream continues its investment in this region. And why? Well, it鈥檚 simple: 51黑料 is a booming aviation hub,鈥 Anthony Ray, vice president of 51黑料 completions for Gulfstream, said at a Global Aerospace Summit held in the Metro East last month.
鈥淭he expansion and growth continues in the region,鈥 he said. Gulfstream鈥檚 downtown 51黑料 airport site has over 700 employees, he said. 鈥淲e always have new employees starting every Monday.鈥
Gulfstream could receive tax credits next year from Illinois for its investment.
Gulfstream and West Star, which is headquartered in East Alton and employs almost 700 people there, both have also actively tried to cultivate a pipeline of new talent.
West Star has created the West Star Aviation Academy in partnership with the Aviation Technician Education Council, Madison County Workforce Innovation Board and Southwestern Illinois College.
Ray Sharp, director of maintenance at West Star in East Alton, said last month the academy is in its third cohort, with 25 new students. He said 400 applied for the seven-and-a-half-month-long apprenticeship program.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a pretty rigorous selection process,鈥 Sharp said.
West Star said, when it announced the opening of the new hangar in East Alton, that it expected to create 60-80 new jobs there.
Ray, of Gulfstream, said one of the things that attracted the company to the region 鈥 Gulfstream opened its downtown airport facility in 2017 鈥 was the workforce.
鈥淚t is skilled, and it is capable and they are passionate about building airplanes,鈥 Ray said.
Ray said Gulfstream partners with Cahokia and East 51黑料 high schools for an apprenticeship program in which students work several hours their senior year, earn a wage, and are offered full-time jobs upon graduation.
Ray said Gulfstream is hiring in avionics, cabinet-makers and upholstery specialists, pointing to Gulfstream鈥檚 new models, the G700 and G800.
鈥淭he G700, G800 鈥 more avionics, more electrical, more intense than ever before,鈥 Ray said. 鈥淎nd also, if you look at the aircraft that have been delivered 15, 20, 25 years ago, those customers are coming in. What are they wanting? They鈥檙e wanting the latest and greatest electronics.鈥
Ray also said Gulfstream would pay full tuition assistance for full-time employees who want to become pilots.
鈥淚f a college or a university wants to come and visit our facility,鈥 Ray said, 鈥渢here is nothing more important than seeing their eyes explode when they walk into a hangar and they see an airplane being built.鈥
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