Annual Aviation Day highlights innovation in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) Division of Aviation, in partnership with the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education (KCAE), will host the fifth annual Aviation Day in the State Capitol rotunda from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.

Numerous legislators, manufacturers, suppliers and aviation organizations are participating in this event that helps facilitate industry growth opportunities. The aviation industry  supports nearly 91,300 jobs, generates more than $4.4 billion in annual payroll, and produces nearly $20.6 billion in annual economic output for the state of Kansas according to the 2017 Kansas Aviation Economic Impact Study.

As part of the event, city officials and those interested in boosting aviation economic development in their region are invited to a workshop starting at 1 p.m. in room 4N on the Capitol’s ground floor near the Visitor’s Center. This workshop will prepare community stakeholders to explore how best to harness state and local resources for future efforts. A panel of aviation experts will also be on hand to answer questions.

“Aviation Day highlights the culture of innovation in Kansas,” said Bob Brock, Director of Aviation. “We appreciate partners from industry, university and non-profit organizations working together to promote a message of growth and hope for Kansas.” 

Industry leaders scheduled to attend include: 190th Air Refueling Wing, Ainstein, Air Force, AirMap, Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, American Bonanza Society, AOPA, Bombardier, Burns and McDonnell, Butler CCC, CAP, Combat Air Museum,  Cosmosphere, DCN, EAA, Explorer Post 8, Flight Safety, Garmin, Garver USA, GBA, Harris Corporation, Heartland Airplanes LLC, HOA Wing of Commemorative AF, International Aviation, Jacobs Instruments and Sales Inc., Kansas Association of Airports, Kansas Aviation Museum, Kansas Historical Society, Kansas Soaring Association, Kiewit, KS Ag Aviation Association, K-State Polytechnic, Lee Aerospace, Life Save Transport, Mission Aviation Fellowship, National Weather Service, NBAA, Pilots For Christ, RANS, Textron, Spirit, University of Kansas, Westar Energy, Wichita Airport Authority, Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport and WSU/NIAR.

Aviation Day Expands! Industry growth, economic development the focus for Mar. 1

The Kansas Department of Transportation Division of Aviation, in partnership with the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education (KCAE) will hold their 4^th annual Aviation Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 1.

The event was initially created to provide networking opportunities and industry exposure but has expanded in scope and purpose. During this year’s event, a large gathering of legislators, manufacturers, suppliers, and aviation organizations, is structured specifically to help facilitate industry growth opportunities and address development potentials for Kansas economic stakeholders.

To facilitate, KDOT Division of Aviation will host an economic development training event for city officials at Memorial Hall from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., before the start of Aviation Day. This will prepare commerce and development stakeholders to discuss, with over 36 industry leaders, how best to harness state and local resources to boost the aviation industry and best address global aviation and UAS needs for the future.

“This event highlights strong partnerships that Kansas manufacturers enjoy as a globally recognized aviation team,” said Bob Brock, KDOT’s Director of Aviation. “We are honored by the enthusiastic response to this event, and look forward to a year of growth for this industry.” 

In addition to the available industry development opportunities throughout the day, the event also serves to spread awareness regarding STEM and aviation education through the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education (KCAE). Lindsey Dreiling, President of KCAE, also highlighted the mentorship opportunities that the event provides Kansas aviation organizations. “Today, we celebrate the opportunity for aviation leaders to shape the future of our state by leveraging their resources to train Kansas youth as leaders of tomorrow.”

Companies that will be present include: Airmap, Bombardier, Garmin, Spirit Aerosystems, Textron Aviation, University of Kansas Engineering, Wichita State University, Lee Aerospace, Kansas Air National Guard, Westar, AOPA, Butler Community College, Burns & McDonnell, Civil Air Patrol, Commemorative Air Force, Cosmosphere, Explorer Post 8, Flight Safety, Garver, Kansas Associate of Airports, Manhattan Regional Airport, Kansas Agricultural Aviation Association, Kansas State Polytechnic, Lifeteam, NIAR, Pilots for Christ, Pulse Aerospace, VAA, Wichita Aero Club, Exploration Place, Dodge City Community College, Kiewit, Kansas Aviation Museum, EAA Chapter 88, NBAA, Wichita Area Technical College, NCAT, National Weather Service, and Mission Aviation Fellowship

Interest in aircraft, UAS soar at Aviation Day at the Capitol

The aviation industry is incredibly important to the state of Kansas. On Thursday, that fact was celebrated at the Aviation Day at the Capitol. The event welcomed both the public and legislatures to tour and learn from 30 aviation businesses and organizations.

"Aviation, as you all know, has a huge impact in our state," Transportation Secretary Richard Carlson said. "Kansas is home to one of the five world-largest clusters of aviation. More than 48,000 jobs are created directly by our businesses, our tenants and other activities located at commercial services and general aviation airports in the state of Kansas."

The Kansas Air National Guard was just one of the 30 organizations that were represented at Aviation Day at the Capitol. 

Ed Young, Vice President of the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education (KCAE), said that this event drives all levels of aviation together so they can meet with legislatures about how important aviation is to Kansas.

Joe N. Miniace, the Central Region Regional Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration, said that 76 percent of the world's fleet of aircraft have been manufactured in Kansas.

One of the biggest presences at this year's Aviation Day at the Capitol was Unmanned Aerial Systems. Dean of Research at Kansas State University, Kurt Barnhart, said that the one of the major reasons for the use of UAS devices was to help people.

Kansas State University's Booth at the Aviation Day at the Capitol event. 

“We are doing the things we have always done, with less risk and a fraction of the cost,” Barnhart said. "We are excited. It's a revolution." 

The University of Kansas Department of Aerospace Engineering partnered with NASA to display a 65 pound UAS system, dubbed the Argus, that will be testing flight in the next month. 

University of Kansas' 65 pound UAS, Argus, on display at the Aviation Day at the Capitol event. 

The Argus is an airborne radar sensor built for collision avoidance. With over 2.5 hours of flight time, this device could replace older models that fly over glaciers in West Greenland to determine the thickness of the ice. The older models could only fly for 1 hour. 

Businesses like Westar Energy, explained that at times they use UAS devices when they inspect potential damage to various infrastructures because it could be safer than sending out a technician in dangerous situations.

Check out a video of some of the speakers at the event below: