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In the Spotlight
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Avweb awarded
their "FBO of the Week" ribbon to America Jet at SLN, April
28.
Located at
America's Fuel Stop, America Jet has long been known for their
genuine Midwestern hospitality, and that's just what AVweb reader
Jeremy Phillips received on a recent visit to the world-class fixed
base operator.
"The line
and maintenance crew went out of their way to make our trip the best
one we ever had," Phillips said when he nominated the FBO on
Avweb's website. "They went out of their way to make
things really easy for us."
Avweb awarded
their "FBO of the Week" ribbon to America Jet at SLN, April
28.
Located at
America's Fuel Stop, America Jet has long been known for their
genuine Midwestern hospitality, and that's just what AVweb reader
Jeremy Phillips received on a recent visit to the world-class fixed
base operator.
"The line
and maintenance crew went out of their way to make our trip the best
one we ever had," Phillips said when he nominated the FBO on
Avweb's website. "They went out of their way to make
things really easy for us."
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Tower Updates
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As a member of the Federal
Aviation Administration's Contract Tower Program, the Salina Air
Traffic Control Tower handles more than 80,000 operations each year,
including more than 7,000 business jets that stop for refueling. The
Salina Airport Industrial Center is one of the nation's most
successful airport industrial parks with more than 70 businesses and
organizations.
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On the Flightline
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You'll find that Kansas State University has
one of the most diverse fleets among aviation universities and
colleges. Some of the highlight aircraft of the fleet are the
Beechcraft King Air C-90, Beechcraft Baron, Schweizer 300 CBi
helicopter and ASK 21 glider.
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 Salina to Memphis
for as low as $168
with no charge for parking
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Click to Print
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Click to Print
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SeaPort Airlines
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At comparable
prices, if you could cut your travel time in half, and not have the
general hassles of the full airport experience, wouldn't you do it?
Hassle free, convenient, affordable, and most importantly-FAST. This
is a new option in business and leisure travel.
SeaPort offers
daily scheduled flights in the Northwest and Mid-South like the old
airlines, but with a notable absence of what makes flying today slow
and miserable. How?
- No
TSA hassles at any of our locations.
- Affordable
fares.
- Our
own private terminals.
- Arrive
15 minutes before your flight, even with check-in bags.
- Free
airport parking. (Mandatory Valet in Portland)
- Complimentary
shuttle service to and from the main terminal in Portland,
Memphis & Kansas City.
Commercial air
travel in today's climate is difficult at best. The airports are
becoming more crowded, have longer lines and with the tighter
budgets, speed and convenience seem like a thing of the past. Until
now.
The way travel
was meant to be, with all the conveniences of private air travel, but
without the big price tag. Isn't it about time?
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Donate Today
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Contact Info
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Melissa McCoy
Public Affairs & Communications
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From the
XD's desk:
Salina ready to support aviation jobs
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Salina, the Salina Airport Authority and Saline
County are prepared to support Gov. Brownback's commitment to
retain and recruit aviation jobs for Kansas. Key to the Governor's
efforts is providing aerospace firms the workforce, workforce
training and education, infrastructure and incentives necessary to
conduct business in Kansas.
Locally, Saline County has partnered with
Sedgwick County to expand foreign trade zone benefits to all
businesses in our county. The City of Salina has authorized the
construction of $5 million of new utilities at the Salina Airport
to support aerospace hangars and shops. The Salina Airport
Authority is in the process of renovating more than 498,000 square
feet of hangar and shop space at an estimated cost of $8 million
for immediate occupancy. The SLN Aviation Service is open for
business.
Kansas State University's Salina campus features
one of the nation's Top 5 aviation programs. K-State Aviation
already partners with Wichita State University, the University of
Kansas, Salina Area Technical College and the National Center for
Aviation Training to educate and train our state's aviation
workforce.
Our community will coordinate our local economic
development incentives with the excellent State of Kansas
incentives to retain and recruit aviation firms to the SLN Aviation
Service Center. The combination of available workforce, education
and training partners, available hangars at a world-class airport,
existing infrastructure and competitive incentives makes the SLN
Aviation Service Center the nation's premier location for aerospace
industry growth.
Governor Brownback has set aviation job creation
as a state priority. Salina, the Salina Airport Authority and Saline
County are prepared to help achieve the governor's goal.
Tim Rogers, A.A.E.
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XD attends
Kansas Aviation Summit
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Salina Airport Authority Executive Director Tim
Rogers, A.A.E., joined aviation and economic development leaders
from across the state in Wichita at the Governor's Aviation Summit,
April 25.
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Mike Hutmacher/The Wichita Eagle
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This is the first of
many industry and economic development summits to be held by Gov.
Sam Brownback. The summit will produce the first-ever Kansas
strategic plan for retaining and growing the aviation and aerospace
sector in Wichita and Kansas.
"The summit reinforced
that our strategic plan for the development of the SLN Aviation
Service Center is right on target," said Rogers, who is a
Governor's Aviation Summit Roundtable member. "Much of
what we are doing will be reflected in the state's plan. Our
efforts to support K-State aviation programs puts Salina and Saline
County in a desirable location for aviation and aerospace growth in
the areas of maintenance, repair and overhaul work and unmanned
aerial systems."
Almost one in five Kansans
are currently employed in the aviation or aerospace industry,
however interest in those jobs seems to be dwindling which raises
concerns over the workforce's future generations.
Dr. Kurt Barnhart, director
of K-State's Applied Aviation Research Center, provided the more
than 160 attendees a glimpse into the future of remotely piloted
aircraft and the research and development being conducted by
K-State's UAS program. K-State Salina is a Top 5 aviation
school that continues to keep the pipeline full of trained and
certificated aviation and aerospace workers.
All firms that attended the
conference expressed a willingness to support programs and
incentives to increase interest in aerospace jobs. Local
programs such as the Kansas StarBase Program are even more
important now to steer youths toward aerospace jobs. The
Airport Authority is in the design phase of the Wings Over Salina
Air Museum, which will promote the past, present and perhaps most
importantly the future of Salina area aviation.
"The museum will have
a profound effect on this community's ability to be actively
involved in encouraging Kansas youth to consider aviation as a
career choice," explained Rogers. "Once the
facility is constructed, it will work with K-State and other
partners to provide youth programs allowing young people to see the
benefit of a career in aviation."
Once pointed in the right
direction those future employees will need training and
education. From the entry-level sheet worker to the PhD
engineer, institutions of higher learning plan to coordinate better
to provide education for all skill levels.
K-State Salina provides a
multitude of training opportunities for students interested in any
aspect of aviation including professional pilot, aviation
maintenance, unmanned aircraft systems, avionics and helicopter
training.
"I expect even more
industry support for programs and projects that steer youth to
aerospace jobs," said Rogers. "Salina is
strategically located to be a big part of that."
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SeaPort has
best month ever at Salina
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In the midst of
Congressional debate over the U.S. Department of Transportation
subsidized essential air service program, Salina EAS provider
SeaPort Airlines saw its best month yet since beginning service in
April 2010.
During
the month of March, SeaPort had 205 Salina enplanements. That
is more than 200 people flew out of Salina to Kansas City.
Some of those passengers caught outbound flights on other airlines
that offer service out of Kansas City International Airport or
conducted business in Kansas City and returned to Salina.
"I've
flown SeaPort at least four times in the last six months. I
love using them. They are very affordable and cheaper than
driving," said president and owner of Salina-based Triplett,
Inc. Mark Augstine. "I've used them for one-way flights
and connecting flights. Most recently, my wife and I hit a
delay coming into Kansas City from Chicago. I called Scott at
the SeaPort terminal and let him know what was going on. He
talked to the other passengers and they all agreed to hold the
flight. They picked us up at the curb and shuttled us back to
SeaPort's terminal and we were able to be on the last flight out on
Sunday night. It saved us a vehicle rental."
Great
customer service and satisfaction has come to be expected from our
hometown airline.
"I
am thrilled but not surprised that passenger numbers for Salina
continue to climb," said SeaPort Airlines President and CEO
Rob McKinney. "We at SeaPort have found that if we stay
focused on providing the best possible customer service experience
for guests, we are rewarded with increased demand."
While
some passengers caught connections or made a quick turnaround back
to Salina, others continued on the comfortable Pilatus PC-12 to
other mid-south locations like Memphis, Tenn. or Harrison, Ark.
"Over
the past few months Salina-based IntelliFinishing has been working
with a company in Memphis on the development of a new paint system
for their manufacturing facility," explained IntelliFishing
Vice President Doug Oliphant. "The development process
required several trips to Memphis. Seaport was a real
time-saver for my busy schedule. The flights were always on
time, the staff courteous, and service was exceptional."
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TKS Flight
Into Known Icing approved for Bonanza G36s
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CAV Aerospace, Inc. has received amended Supplemental
Type Certification approval from the FAA to install the TKS Flight
Into Known Icing protection system in Bonanza G36 aircraft. The
company is scheduling installation of the proprietary TKS system in
Bonanza G36s for a base price of $47,500.
"We've been working towards obtaining FIKI approval for the
G36 for a while and with more than 300 other Bonanza aircraft
previously flying the TKS system, we have already integrated the
work into our routine installation schedules," said CAV
Aerospace President Kevin Hawley.
Read
on...
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Aviation
professor continues military service by commissioning students
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Jimmy
Splichal spent 22 years in the U.S. Army. Now he's serving his
country another way.
An aviation professor at Kansas State University
Salina, Splichal has commissioned four students into officer
training programs for the Air Force and the Navy.
"Many students who are interested in a military
career have always asked me about my experiences and what my advice
would be about a military career for them," he said.
"Those personal relationships lead to them asking me to take
part in their commissioning ceremonies."
Splichal's first commissioning ceremony was for Wyeth
Lindeke in 2006. Upon Lindeke's graduation from K-State Salina's
professional pilot program and completion of the Air Force ROTC
program, Splichal administered the oath of office for commissioning
into active duty Air Force.
He commissioned three students in 2010.
When Matthew Pianalto graduated from K-State Salina's
professional pilot program and completed the Air Force ROTC
program, Splichal administered the oath of office for commissioning
into active duty Air Force.
He administered the oath of office for active duty Navy
for Officer Candidate School with follow-on flight training to Eric
Scott, a graduate of K-State Salina's professional pilot program.
He also administered the oath of enlistment for active
duty into the Navy for the bachelor degree completion program for
Bryan Valliere, junior in professional pilot, Wichita. Valliere is
on active duty and stationed at K-State Salina until he completes
his bachelor's degree in 2012.
"It's always been a great honor to serve my
country, and it's a great honor to be asked to take part in the
beginning of a young person's military career and share the pride
of patriotism," Splichal said. "Those who serve hold a
special bond."
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Wildcat
Warriors: Air Force ROTC cadets earn spot in select training
program
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Seventeen months of training and preparation has
paid off for 12 Kansas State University Air Force ROTC cadets with
their selection for a special U.S. Air Force training program.
The K-State students, from both the Manhattan
and Salina campuses, were chosen from among 3,338 college
sophomores nationwide to attend the Air Force Reserve Officer
Training Corps' one-month field training summer program. The
selection board was at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The board
chose 1,994 students from 144 different Air Force ROTC detachments
to attend the summer training.
The program is a demanding, 28-day leadership
course and a prerequisite before any cadet may enter the
Professional Officer Course to be commissioned a second lieutenant
in the Air Force. The course is conducted with two weeks each in
Montgomery, Ala., and Hattiesburg, Miss. During this training,
cadets are challenged mentally and physically to demonstrate their
leadership, followership, communications, self-discipline, physical
fitness and teamwork talents.
K-State's Wildcat Warrior AFROTC cadet wing had
a 60-percent selection rate for the training program. Cadets, all
sophomores, selected to attend include two K-State Salina students,
Brycen Scholz, professional pilot, Atchison; and Scott Mall,
professional pilot, Clay Center.
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Altaire
mockup to visit Salina during Great Plains Air Expo
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Piper
Aircraft's single-engine Altaire jet mockup along with a dozen
other aircraft will be on display at the Great Plains Air Expo May
11 at America Jet at SLN located at 2010 Rogers Ct. from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m.
The
mockup of the high performance very light business jet has been
making its way around North America. At the end of the year
it will have stopped in 16 states and Canada.
"We
are pleased to see a major airplane manufacturer like Piper
Aircraft bring its newest product to the Salina Airport. It is
further recognition of our area's important role in the aviation
marketplace," said Tim Rogers, A.A.E., executive director of
the Salina Airport Authority.
Read
on...
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Lift: Guess
Who
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A young and foolish
pilot wanted to sound cool on the aviation frequencies.
This was his first time
approaching a field during the nighttime, and instead of making any
official requests to the tower, he said, "Guess who?"
The controller switched
the field lights off and replied, "Guess where!"
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