SE Kansas News

This week marked the launch of Textron Aviation's Career and Learning Center in Wichita. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place to celebrate this new facility, which began operations in August 2024. The center serves as the main training hub for Textron Aviation's workforce of 10,000 Wichita-based employees.

In recent legislative developments, the Aviation Workforce Development Enhancement Act, which was introduced in the last Congress, was included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. This act aims to establish a new aviation manufacturing workforce development program to support the education and recruitment of technical workers in the aviation manufacturing sector. Wichita and Kansas are recognized for their significant contributions to the aviation manufacturing workforce, and this investment by Textron Aviation is seen as crucial for sustaining and advancing this leadership.

Textron Aviation President and CEO Ron Draper, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, and Congressman Ron Estes were acknowledged for their contributions to these efforts, alongside thousands of Kansans involved in manufacturing aircraft in Wichita.

The opening of this facility symbolizes an important step forward for the local aviation industry by fostering a skilled workforce to continue building high-quality aircraft.