July/August 2023 - 12

40 UNDER 40
Derek W. Kilberg
Falcon Lead Maintenance Tech,
West Star Aviation Chattanooga
Age: 37
Hometown: Springfield, Illinois
Years in the industry: 18
Favorite thing about aviation: The airplanes.
As the Falcon Lead Maintenance Tech for West Star Aviation,
Derek Kilberg leads a crew that sees a plane from start to finish.
" We do anything from small, 12-month inspections to C inspections,
six-year inspections. So, it's pretty heavy, " said Kilberg.
Through his dedication and drive, he has created a following
of customers willing to bring their aircraft to whatever facility
he is working at. " I think this speaks volumes to his integrity
and professionalism, " said Brian Jansen, West Star Aviation. " He
delivers a quality, safe product to his customers time and time
again, while mentoring the younger technicians on the correct
way to accomplish the work assigned to them. "
Kilberg said his favorite aspect of his work is seeing the plane
come all the way apart, just down to nuts and bolts and then at
the end, see it fly away.
" Seeing it fly away is pretty rewarding for the whole team, "
he said.
www.AviationPros.com/53062359
Chrishanna Frayser
Aviation Maintenance Technician,
Plane Care
Age: 26
Hometown: Hagerstown, Maryland
Years in the industry: 3
Favorite thing about aviation: Every plane has a story.
Chrishanna Frayser works as an aviation maintenance technician
with Plane Care, providing general maintenance to the general
aviation clients.
" When planes come in, they need any general work done, oil
changes, tire changes, inspections, and then basically anything that is
found on the inspection. As long as it's not heavy sheet metal, I pretty
much help take care of it. So it's a little bit of everything, " she said.
Frayser said she loves the work, seeing how all the components
are supposed to work, taking them apart and putting them back
together to have an aircraft working properly again. She especially
enjoys watching the aircraft take off.
" Just that feeling of fulfillment of seeing I have a hand in this,
I know how it works and I'm keeping it safe for everyone, " said
Frayser.
Currently, Frayser is working towards getting her IA
certification.
www.AviationPros.com/53062361
Patrick G. Peterson
Jonathan Edmonds
Owner, A&P, Repair Station
Administrator, Sunshine Aviation
Services
Age: 36
Hometown: Burlington, Wisconsin
Years in the industry: 6
Favorite thing about aviation: The people and the aircraft themselves.
Patrick Peterson's the owner of Sunshine Aviation Services, a combination
of Sunshine Aircraft Repair and Waukegan Avionics. He
bought both and has been in the industry for six years, working
a variety of mechanical and maintenance jobs prior.
" I'm more into the avionics end than maintenance, though the
shop is maintenance. We've got a full staff for all of that - but
basically, general aviation service, repair and upgrade is what
we'll generally see. Every once in a while, we break into turbines,
sometimes into experimental, but more certified GA, " Peterson
described.
He said his favorite thing about the work they do is interacting
with people and rising to the challenge of the customer's demands.
" I love to get done what we get done, but it wouldn't be anything
without the people that we're doing it for and with, " he said.
www.AviationPros.com/53062360
Owner, Edmonds Aviation
Age: 31
Hometown: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Years in the industry: 15
Favorite thing about aviation: Being able to leave the
ground.
Aviation is in Jonathan Edmonds' blood. Edmonds' father, David,
worked in maintenance roles around the world, before starting
his own company in the early 2000s - Edmonds Aviation.
Edmonds graduated from Arkansas State University with a
degree in business administration and he earned his A&P and
later his Inspection Authorization by years of on-the-job experience
at Edmonds Aviation. He and his father were co-owners of
the business until his father's recent passing.
" I'm taking on everything now. We've got two locations in
Arkansas. One is in Searcy, which is our main, our first location,
since 2015. A year ago, I decided to open up the second location
in Jonesboro. So, working and rolling with both locations, " said
Edmonds.
He said currently they are working towards Cirrus Service
Center status and have a couple of avionics dealerships with
Avidyne and Dynon Avionics.
www.AviationPros.com/53062362
12 JULY/AUGUST 2023
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
http://www.AviationPros.com/53062359 http://www.AviationPros.com/53062361 http://www.AviationPros.com/53062360 http://www.AviationPros.com/53062362
July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2023
