Flightstar Purchases Assets of Bloomington Avionics

Acquisition Expands Company’s Avionics Business

SAVOY, IL, Jan. 11, 2012 – The Flightstar Corp. of Savoy, Ill., recently purchased the assets of Bloomington Avionics Inc. of Bloomington, Ill. The transfer was completed Dec. 29, 2011. The staff at Bloomington Avionics, as well as its complete line of overhead and services, will transfer and now operate from Flightstar’s fixed base operator facility at Champaign-Urbana’s University of Illinois-Willard Airport (KCMI).

Bloomington Avionics provided quality service and installation for more than 30 years at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Ill. It operated as a Federal Aviation Administration Class I and II full-service avionics repair station, specializing in high-performance single and twin engine aircraft.

Since the company’s beginning in 1978, Flightstar serves as the Champaign-Urbana Willard Airport’s only FBO. The company employs more than 120 people at a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot corporate terminal facility and 68,000-square-foot maintenance facility.

“We are very excited to integrate Bloomington Avionics into our operation,” said Bill Giannetti, president of Flightstar. “While the Bloomington Avionics name will change to Flightstar, customers will see all the familiar faces they have known for many years at Bloomington Avionics and will receive the superior sales and service it provided. It is a unique opportunity where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts for both companies. With the Flightstar name, we will expand the general aviation avionics sales and service business previously achieved at Bloomington Avionics, and in turn, it will help Flightstar expand our role in the jet side of the avionics business. The purchase will ensure the future of both companies by providing solid avionics service for our customers. Flightstar extends a warm welcome to all of Bloomington Avionics’ past and present customers, and we look forward to being their one-stop ‘go-to’ avionics facility as we move forward together.”

Flightstar’s operation is divided into three strategic areas: line operations; flight operations and maintenance and avionics operations.

Its line operations features meeting, marshalling and parking of transient and locally based aircraft, all fueling operations at the airport, towing and hangaring in Flightstar’s six hangars, as well as the University of Illinois’ Institute of Aviation’s hangars, baggage handling, deicing and ground handling air carrier charters. Flightstar’s flight operations are divided into aircraft management and aircraft charter. Its maintenance and avionics operation is further divided into a general aviation division and an airline division. The general aviation division handles its own managed aircraft, as well as the maintenance needs of outside customers.

Flightstar is a member of the Aircraft Electronics Association, which represents 1,300 international government-certified avionics repair stations, manufacturers, distributors and educational institutions in 43 countries. With the acquisition of Bloomington Avionics, Greg Vail, the chair of the AEA’s board of directors, now joins the Flightstar team, where he will serve as avionics sales manager. Vail may be reached via email at greg@flightstar.com.

For more information about Flightstar, visit flightstar.com.

About Flightstar Corporation

Founded in 1978, Flightstar is an aviation service organization located at the University of Illinois-Willard Airport in Champaign, Illinois (KCMI). With over 112,000 square feet of hangar space, the company offers a wide range of services including a full-service fixed base operation (FBO), airline and general aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul operations (MRO),avionics sales with installation and repair, and world-wide executive jet charter with full aircraft management services. Flightstar proudly serves as a Bombardier Authorized Service Facility (ASF) for the Learjet 40, 45, 70, and 75 series of aircraft. Additionally, Flightstar operates as a Honeywell Authorized Service Center for the TFE731 series, HTF7000 and Honeywell APU.

With over 140 team members, Flightstar prides itself on providing world-class aviation services delivered with a Midwestern work ethic and highly personalized customer service. To learn more about us, visit www.FLIGHTSTAR.com or call (800)-747-4777.