Salina, Kan., (November 10, 2009) - The announcement made by the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Monday was one of significance for the Salina community.  
 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation has been a valued tenant of the Salina Airport Authority and a valued member of the Salina and Saline County business community since 1966. The company was one of the first tenants signed up by the Salina Airport Authority following the closure of Schilling Air Force Base. The company has leased space over the years for a variety of aircraft manufacturing operations here at Salina.  
 
"It is an unfortunate sign of the times that Hawker Beechcraft Corporation needs to make a decision to restructure and down-size," said Tim Rogers, A.A.E., executive director of the Salina Airport Authority. 
 
The corporation is currently leasing around 485,000 square feet, made up primarily of about 10 structures.  The Hawker Beechcraft Corporation lease runs through February 28, 2012. The Salina Airport Authority will continue to work with Hawker for a smooth transition as they reduce and close down their Salina operations between now and February 2012.
 
This is not the first, nor the worst closure Salina has faced.  When Schilling Air Force Base closed down, officials moved quickly to turn lemons into lemonade transforming the formerly used defense site into the Salina Municipal Airport, the Salina Airport Industrial Center and the Salina Aviation Service Center, all of which are managed by the Salina Airport Authority.
 
"As Hawker Beechcraft Corporation's facilities become available, it will position the Salina Aviation Service Center as a location for jobs and payroll creation," said Dennis Lauver, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.  "We will be working with our local and state partners to market these facilities."
 
Opportunities abound for both new and existing companies.  Despite the national economy, the Airport Authority has already received multiple inquires regarding buildings in the Airport Industrial Center.  Although, the Airport Authority has always offered to "build to suit," many prospects prefer "move in ready" buildings that until now have not been available.
 
"The buildings and hangars that will become available are ideally suited for aerospace businesses that require access to a 12,300 foot long primary runway," said Rogers.  "Target industry segments are military operations, unmanned aerial systems firms, aircraft modification shops, avionics installation, completion centers and aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul."
 
New and existing aerospace businesses have the support of the K-State at Salina Applied Aviation Research Center and UAS Program Office.  Military operations are supported by the Kansas National Guard Great Plains Joint Training Center and the Smoky Hill Weapons Range.
 
"We will assist the Airport Authority in marketing the soon-to-be available spaces as aggressively as possible to bring in high-paying and stable aerospace jobs to this community," said Salina City Manager Jason Gage.  "We will also continue to assist the Airport Authority in their efforts to create a world class aerospace service center right here in Salina."
 
"As the aerospace industry recovers, Salina will be in an ideal position to offer multiple businesses an excellent location for growth," Rogers explained.