Kansas lawmakers, local aerospace companies in England this week

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas aerospace manufacturers and local lawmakers were in England on Monday for the Farnborough International Airshow, an opportunity to bring business to Kansas.

For aerospace companies in the Wichita area, the meet gives them a chance to partner with companies across the globe. For area representatives, it’s a chance to bring in manufacturers and show that the industry has plenty of support here.

“What we want to do is we want to make sure that folks are thinking about either expanding their operation into Wichita or buying jets from Wichita,” said Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell.

Manufacturers want Wichita to be known, too. The more Wichita is thought of as a global hub, the more parts will be manufactured in the area.

“The more accessibility we have in our area, we don’t have to go to other countries or other states to get things were able to provide better quality parts and more efficient because it’s readily available,” said Amir Etezazi, Etezazi Industries CEO.

Etezazi said having more industry in Wichita also encourages a bigger, more experienced workforce in the area.

“You know as far as NIAR goes and Wichita State training our workforce and the new generation in regards to the availability of that because we all know that’s been difficult lately,” he said.

“There’s so much opportunity here for the aircraft world and there’s a lot of skilled employees due to that,” Craig Jones, Globe Engineering vice president.

The air show is already leading to work orders for the Wichita community: Boeing has orders from Korean Air and Japan Airlines, and local supplier Harlow Aerostructures is signing two contracts with Turkish Aerospace.

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