WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Airbus Americas Chairman Allan McArtor today announced a partnership between Airbus and Kansas suppliers aimed at growing the aviation industry in Kansas through more contracts with Airbus. Sen. Moran and Airbus will co-host the first-ever Air Capital Supplier Summit at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita, Kansas, on August 6, 2012. The conference will help facilitate more business between Kansas companies and Airbus, and will enable suppliers to meet one-on-one with representatives from Airbus and other suppliers.

On the heels of Airbus’ 10-year anniversary in Wichita, I am pleased to deliver more good news about Airbus’ commitment to Kansas,” Sen. Moran said. “Today’s announcement is about solidifying Kansas’ reputation as the national leader in aviation manufacturing and job creation. The Air Capital Supplier Summit in Wichita will help make certain that when Airbus looks for new U.S. suppliers, it looks to Kansas companies."

“Ten years ago, Airbus built its first U.S.-based engineering center in Wichita because the talent pool of aerospace and aviation experts in Wichita and Kansas was amongst the richest in the world,” Chairman McArtor said. “I’m glad to say that hasn’t changed. We hope to tap into that talent and the many companies based in Kansas who house it. Airbus spent $12 billion for aircraft-related procurement with U.S. companies in 2011, and we intend to nearly double our procurement spending in the United States over the next 10 years. This partnership can help Kansas-based companies be a part of that growth."

Registration is required for the Air Capital Supplier Summit. To register, suppliers should visit the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition event website at www.gwedc.org/airbus.

Currently, there are more than 450 companies in the Kansas’ aerospace industry, accounting for more than 32,000 direct jobs. Airbus has an engineering center based in Wichita with more than 350 employees; and has contracts with many Kansas companies including Alcoa (Hutchinson), B/E Aerospace Interiors (Lenexa), Honeywell (Olathe) and Spirit Aerosystems (Wichita) among others.

Sen. Moran and Chairman McArtor participated in a conference call earlier today to announce the Summit. They were joined on the call by: Walter Berry, Chairman of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce; Suzie Ahlstrand, Interim President of the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition; and Dr. John Tomblin, Executive Director of the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University, an NCAT partner.

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