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It was a little after 6:30 in the morning, more than 24 years
ago that Gary Hansen waited in the parking lot to interview for a
maintenance position at the Salina Airport Authority.
"I got off night shift at the factory and I drove right over,"
he said with a laugh. "I didn't even go home, just waited for them
to open upstairs."
For the past few months he'd been doing fabrication work inside a factory
and was getting restless. He was planning to leave factory work as soon
as he could find another job and when an ad for a maintenance position at
the airport came out in the newspaper he jumped at the opportunity.
"When I came out here in '85 I didn't visualize I'd be here 24
years," he said. "It just worked out for me."
The interview with then operations director, Don Kneubuhl and executive
director, Tim Rogers was on a Wednesday and Hansen began work the
following Monday morning.
For as long as most anyone working in the maintenance shop can remember
there is about a two minute window in the morning, every morning shortly
before 8 a.m., in which Hansen arrives at work with a Pepsi in one hand
and a paper plate containing his lunch in the other. Even though this
morning ritual hasn't changed much over the past years, he'll be the
first to tell you much else has.
"The number of people the airport has on staff has grown quite a
bit," he pointed out. "The amount of equipment that we've got
has more than doubled. The work load has tripled and it's not stopping
either."
After high school Hansen joined the Army reserve 425th truck division
where for the first year and a half he "got the jobs no one else
wanted to do" while he waited to be sent to basic training. He said
all the other maintenance he learned to do and still keep your fingers,
he picked up on the farm.
Wherever he picked up his broad array of skills they seem to be working.
Hansen has worked for the Authority for 24 years and plans to retire in
"51 Mondays" with all ten fingers.
_______________________________________
TOWER UPDATES
· Tower controllers
rode through a severe thunderstorm on August 10. The wind instruments
indicated 79 mph during the storm. Luckily, from what we could see, all
aircraft were rolled into hangars before the storm hit. Only a couple of
aircraft had to divert their landings. During the heavy rain it became so
dark we had to pull the sun shades up, however the visibility was still
zero.
· Craig Davidson began
tower qualification training on Aug. 24. We expect him to certify by Aug.
28.
· Controllers who have
worked at KSLN Tower have been successful moving to other larger
airports. We now have former employees at Tulsa Tower, Memphis Approach
Control, Kansas City, Cleveland and Memphis Centers.
· We learned this week
that controller Jay Hatchett will move to Jackson, Tennessee where he
will be the tower manager. Good luck Jay.
· KSLN controllers
remain vigilant for pilots trying to line up on Runway 17 or 35 when it
was closed. Our local pilots are familiar with closures and are not a
problem. Pilots who are not familiar with closures have to be closely
watched. We are constantly amazed at the number of pilots who do not read
NOTAMS and never do flight planning.
· It is nice to have Runway 17/35 open
again and the ILS back in.
Thank You,
Bruce M. Boyle
Manager, KSLN FCT
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Recent
Releases
Photo
Gallery Updates
Additional
Information
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Greetings!
From the XD's desk: Growing Aviation and Aerospace Jobs
Adding new aviation and aerospace jobs to our local economy is a major
goal of the Salina and Saline County Economic Development Strategic Plan.
The plan was developed and is being implemented in partnership by the
City of Salina, Saline County, the Salina Airport Authority and the
Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. The Authority is leading efforts to
develop the SLN Aviation Service Center as a premier location for
aviation businesses to establish facilities for the maintenance, repair
and overhaul of general aviation, commercial and military aircraft.
Developing the SLN Aviation Service Center is a capital intensive job
that involves investment in both existing and new airport infrastructure.
This summer the Authority is completing more than $5 million in
improvements to airfield runways and taxiways to keep the Salina
Municipal Airport up to date with industry expectations and federal
requirements. Earlier this year a new $6.1 million maintenance, repair
and overhaul hangar was completed and ready to be leased. The 69,000
square foot, modern hangar has already drawn interest from aviation
service businesses who view Salina and Saline County as an excellent
location for future growth.
The next challenge is to prepare more than 100 acres of property for
long-term aviation and aerospace industry growth. The SLN Aviation
Service Center growth area will require improvements such as new
utilities, improved storm drainage, pavement removal, resurfacing
existing pavement, replatting development lots and preparing building
pads. The site improvements will be completed over the next three to five
years. The priority for 2009 and 2010 is to construct the water, sewer
and fire main utilities necessary to support the construction of more
than 750,000 square feet of new hangars.
The SLN Aviation Service Center development plan is ambitious and achievable.
The Salina Airport is already home to aviation businesses that employ
valued aviation and aerospace employees. The development plan builds upon
our successes and strengths. The result will be additional high paying
jobs for our community.
Tim Rogers, A.A.E.
Executive Director
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· SLN looks to
future
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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.
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Read on...
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· SAA Board approves
mill levy increase
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The Salina Airport Authority board of
directors approved a resolution to set the Authority's mill levy at 4.315
mills, at the Aug. 19 meeting.
The increased mill levy is required to
make 2010 general obligation debt service payments. The Authority needs
$1.7 million to make the principle and interest payments. The rare
increase of 1.3209 mills, or $524,406, will provide the Authority
sufficient funds to carry Hangar 600 as a speculative hangar until the
facility is leased.
"It's a painful short-term decision,
but we have an obligation," said Jeff Thompson, acting chairman at
the meeting.
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Read on...
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· Smoky Hill ANG
Open House
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A Kansas Army
National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk delivers 10th Air Support Operations
Squadron joint terminal attack controllers during the Smoky Hill Air
National Guard Range biennial open house, Aug. 1.
A-10 Warthogs, B-1 Lancers and AH-64 Apache Gunships were among the many
aircraft attendees got to see in action. The Open House showcased both
active duty and National Guard aircraft, with focus on the JTACs' primary
mission of close air support.
The 284th ASOS, Kansas Air National Guard in Salina, is the newest ASOS
in the country and is currently hiring.
For job opportunities call Master Sgt. Botson at 314.486.7770.
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10th ASOS
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· Flying 4 Food a
success
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Great Lakes
Airlines' "Flying 4 Food" campaign, held throughout the month
of July, was a huge success!
For four weeks, residents had the opportunity to donate non-perishable
items at their local airport and register to win a free round trip
between their city and the hub that Great Lakes serves. Jo Ann McClure,
of Salina, was one of four local winners who's name was drawn after
donating canned goods.
Salina alone contributed 60 pounds of non-perishable items which were
donated to the local Emergency Aid Food Bank. Fifty-nine cities
throughout Great Lakes' system raised more than three tons of food. It
would take two Beechcraft 1900D airliners to transport that amount of
food.
A big thank
you from Great Lakes Airlines to everyone who contributed to the
campaign.
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· Survey: Would you
participate in a flight line open house?
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The Salina Airport Authority is assessing
the possibility of a "Flight Line Open House" sometime in the
fall.
This would entail opening the airfield to
the general public for one afternoon or evening to give private and
commercial pilots the opportunity to share their love of flying with the
community. All airport tenants who elect to participate would display
their aircraft in front of their respective hangars. There will be a set
path for the participants to follow so they can see all the aircraft.
Tenants could choose to stay with their plane and speak with folks as
they walk past or join in and check out neighboring displays.
Suggestions about how to make this event
more successful are welcome.
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Voice your
opinion now
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