|
|
City Approved Grant to K-State at Salina for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Effort
Salina, Kan. (April 22,2008) -- The City of Salina has approved a $100,000 Salina Economic Development Incentives Council grant for Kansas State University at Salina to establish an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office.
As part of K-State's Applied Aviation Research Center, the UAS Program Office will work with local, state, and federal officials along with private contractors to establish protocols, policies and procedures for safe unmanned aircraft operations within the state of Kansas.
"This puts Kansas State at the forefront of unmanned aircraft systems development throughout the country," said Tim Rogers, A.A.E., executive director of the Salina Airport Authority.
"The K-State at Salina UAS Program Office will train pilots, perform flight planning for unmanned operations, and evaluate civilian operators on behalf of the Kansas National Guard's Smoky Hill Weapons Range," Rogers added.
"Kansas State at Salina appreciates the support by the City of Salina to approve this economic development incentive. We have already begun a national search for a qualified director to oversee the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office," said Dr. Dennis Kuhlman, dean of Kansas State at Salina.
"We will be adding five other employees and immediately standing up UAS training operations for two unmanned vehicles for private contractors and seeking additional federal funding for more UAS activity," he added.
The Salina Airport Authority, Kansas State at Salina, and the National Guard's Great Plains Joint Regional Training Center collaborated on the economic development initiative.
K-State, an elite top 5 aviation university, has a fleet of 50 learning aircraft and more Master Certified Flight Instructors than any other college or university in the country. Located on the K-State at Salina campus, the fastest growing college within K-State offers a well-rounded Big 12 university experience. Approximately 1000 undergraduate students are enrolled at K-State at Salina, and the college serves over 2000 students through additional educational programs.
K-State at Salina awards degrees in technology management, engineering technology, aircraft maintenance and affordable professional pilot education. Kansas State Aviation graduates, with an outstanding 98% placement rate, are highly sought after by the world's aerospace industry. |
 The Salina Municipal Airport is home base for a wide variety of businesses and operations. These include Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., America Jet at SLN, CAV Aerospace, Inc., Kansas Wing Headquarters - Civil Air Patrol, Flower Aviation, Kansas Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility, Kansas State University at Salina, Kansas Highway Patrol Aviation, Professional Flight Training, LC, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation and the corporate flight departments for Blue Beacon International, Geoprobe Systems, Pepsi Cola-Salina, Plains Environmental, Premier Pneumatics, Inc. and Bradley Trucking co. The Airport's two world-class FBOs annually deliver over 4 million gallons of fuel to over 7,000 business jets and 5,000 government and military aircraft. This has earned the Airport the recognition as "America's Fuel Stop." The air traffic control tower is busy during the year with aircraft operations exceeding 80,000. |
 The Salina Aviation Service Center Industry leaders world-wide know that the SLN Aviation Service Center has a winning combination of elements that makes it the best location for aviation business. These elements include the Kansas State University at Salina, pending Foreign Trade Zone designation, state and local incentives, workforce recruiting and training assistance, turnkey building design and construction services, 100% project financing and over 100 acres of available sites. These attributes, plus the fact that the Airport Authority can finance up to $40 million in construction for new aerospace and aviation businesses make SLN a prime location for growth and productivity. Projects in the works include a 69,000-square-foot hangar and plans for a hotel/restaurant/museum that will add a new dimension of versatility to the SLN Aviation Service Center. |
 The Salina Airport Industrial Center offers a diverse industrial base, which makes it an attractive location for a variety of businesses. Some of the world-class operations located at the Salina Airport Industrial Center include ElDorado National, Inc., Geoprobe Systems, Kansas Army National Guard, Love Box Company, Power Ad Company, Ovation Cabinetry, Inc., Federal Express, Vortex Valves, Schwan's Global Supply Chain, Inc., Scientific Engineering and Cameron Compression Systems. | |
Salina Airport Authority
Laura Robertson
Marketing and Public
Relations Specialist
email: laurar@salair.org
phone: 785.827.3914
|
Media Contact
Abigail Crause
Kansas State University at Salina
telephone: 785.826.2642
James Gregory
James Gregory Consultancy
email:jim@jimgregoryworks.com telephone: 316.832.9733 |
|
|
