Sentry Aerospares Expands Global Reach with AirStart Acquisition

AirStart, founded by Robert Wills, maintains a strong footprint in the regional aircraft market with specific expertise in ATR, De Havilland Q400, MHI CRJ, and Embraer platforms. Wills and his partner, Anne Vinet, will continue to lead the business as it folds into Sentry’s portfolio, which is backed by private equity firm Acorn Capital Management. The new Toronto facility will operate alongside Sentry’s established hubs in London, the New York metro area, and Dallas.

Executives from both sides emphasized that the merger is driven by deep cultural alignment and the potential for immediate commercial synergies. By combining inventory resources, Sentry aims to reduce lead times for hard-to-find parts and broaden its customer base across North America and beyond. While financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, the move marks a significant step in Sentry’s long-term strategy to scale its aftermarket platform through targeted acquisitions.