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SLN looks
to future
Salina,
Kan., (August 3, 2009) - Anyone who has flown into, out of, or over the
Salina Municipal Airport has no doubt noticed busy construction crews all
over the airfield.
So what is all the fuss about? Why would the Salina Airport Authority
spend so much time, effort and least we forget money to rehabilitate
multiple areas of the seemingly fine airport?
In a single word- jobs.
"We are working to be successful in recruiting more businesses like
CAV Aerospace," said Tim Rogers, A.A.E., the Authority's executive
director.
CAV Aerospace provides the TKS ice protection system to aircraft
operators. The company designs, markets and sells to original
equipment manufacturers, fleet and individual aircraft owners. It
ships kits for installation to OEMs for the production line. Fleet
and individual aircraft owners bring planes to Salina to install ice
protection, a key safety provision.
"Our strategic plan is to recruit maintenance, repair and overhaul
operations such as aircraft paint, interior installation, avionics, engine
overhaul and the like, which complement our existing tenants like CAV and
Hawker Beechcraft," said Rogers.
Many more doors open up when you take into account the National Guard's
Great Plains Joint Training Center and K-State at Salina's new unmanned
aircraft systems program office. Add to that, the Smoky Hill Weapons
Range is only a stone's throw away from a 12,300 foot runway and Salina
quickly becomes a coveted place to do business.
Not only does the Salina Airport Authority offer these important assets,
but move-in ready facilities with no end in sight. Hangar 600, the
69,000 sq ft modern hangar and office complex has seen international
interest. Of the current prospects for the facility, two are in the
maintenance, repair and overhaul industry and one is looking at the
facility for UAS operations.
Once hangar 600 has a permanent tenant, the Authority will begin
construction on another new speculative hangar, said Rogers. This
fall construction will begin on water and sewer line improvements in
support of new hangar construction.
"Civil and architectural design is also completed for an aircraft
paint hangar," he said. "We are ready to build to
suit."
An expanded Aviation Service Center will bring more than 800 new jobs to
Salina and Saline County within the next three years. Aviation jobs
pay in excess of $17 per hour.
"Right now I've got three locations that are ready for new
construction to start today," said Rogers. "If we lease
hangar 600 today and have someone who wants to build tomorrow, we're
ready. So it's not that far off."
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