Ever wonder what went into the former Skateworld building in Bridgeport?

 

The new business is still helping people fly around. However, instead of flying around on skates the business is helping people fly all over the world.

 

On Monday, State Treasurer Riley Moore was in the city to visit NorthStar Technologies inside the building located just off Route 131 (Benedum Drive) on Masonic Drive. That location is one of two with the other being located on the grounds of the North Central West Virginia Airport on Benedum Industrial Drive.

 

“We’re doing a business tour. As state treasurer and also a member of the state economic development authority board I like to get around the state,” said Moore, who said he was looking at the different economic drivers in the state and particular districts.

 

It would hard to say that what NorthStar Technologies is doing, which is part of the huge aerospace industry in Bridgeport, is not one of those drivers. Along with taking over the former skating rink shortly after it closed in 2017, NorthStar’s location on the NCWV Airport grounds is like many other businesses there – growing.

 

On Jan. 3, the business filed for a $7.2 million building permit to build a roughly 40,000 square foot warehouse. Construction began shortly after by City Construction.

 

“The building at the airport handles all of the logistics for Pratt Whitney’s Bridgeport facility,” said Chris Westfall, the NorthStar Maintenance Program Director. “The other side of the business is the engine shop … What we do here is we bring in aircraft engines, tear them down, clean them, inspect them for cracks … and particle inspection.”

 

Westfall said the engines, which come from across the country, are held on-site locally. Then, parts for that engine can be sold in the field or the engine is boxed back up and sent to the customer.

 

Along with that, the NorthStar building bordering Route 131 houses the MRT group. That is a group of mechanics sent out in the field to where there is an aircraft that has an engine that has issues with it.

 

“We can do repairs where the engine is having a problem and then come back to the home base,” Westfall, who added most of the work is for corporate-related aircraft, said.

 

Moore getting to know an aviation-related company is not unusual. He has attended several Benedum Airport Authority meetings at the NCWV Airport and knows of the benefit.

 

“We have a tremendous opportunity to expand its footprint as it relates to aerospace and aviation,” said Moore. “We obviously have some key stakeholders in the regions, but to be able to expand on that footprint with what we have going on at the airport with the new 100 flat acres (Aerotech Park) … helps in turning this into a major hub.”

 

Moore’s past includes jobs in the aerospace industry beginning as a welder for a military subcontractor. He also worked on the administrative side with aerospace giant Textron Aviation that builds Bell Helicopters and Cessnas, among others.

 

“I’m aware of the benefits of having this type of employment here, but also the type of training that it takes to do it,” said Moore.

 

Editor's Note: State Treasurer Riley Moore, right, talks with NorthStar's Chris Westfall during Monday's visit. Bottom photo is one of the now renovated areas of the skating rink.