Salina Regional Airport is a major power source for the development of businesses and jobs.
“It’s an economic driver. The airport is at the center,” said Gary Foss, Salina Airport Authority’s air service development consultant.
What sets this huge complex apart is being hitched to the Salina Airport and Industrial Center. Salina’s scheduled air service, supplied by United Airlines and operated by SkyWest, is an engine of the growing ecosystem, where one-part benefits another.
At the north end of the airport property is 1Vision Aviation performing yearly heavy maintenance of the 50-seat jets that carry thousands of passengers a year to hubs in Chicago and Denver. Many connect from there to other destinations.
Heavy maintenance is “a monthlong job,” he said.
Starting in November, 1Vision will become an overnight maintenance base for United Airlines, said Jim Sponder, CEO of the maintenance, repair and overhaul company. It also has a painting division. His career began by fixing airplanes for airlines at night.
“Whatever needs to be fixed, we’ve got eight hours to do it,” Sponder said. “We will try to get as much done as we can, and they won’t have to fly to another maintenance base.”
The arrangement is a win-win for 1Vision and scheduled air service in Salina, he said.
Sponder aims to offer premier service and calm the scheduling concerns airlines have with overnight maintenance.
“A lot of cities don’t want that. When you have maintenance, you find things, and a lot of times, you won’t have the parts on site. It causes cancellations,” he said.
“With 1Vision running it, I don’t care if I have to fly to Chicago overnight — or wherever there is a big parts vendor — and get the part. We’re going to do everything within our power so people can safely fly out of here the next morning.”
Sponder’s crew is often called to Hays and Manhattan to fix airplanes at night.
“I would rather fix them in Salina so I can go home to my bed,” he said. “I’ll be down there at the terminal watching (passengers) board, and making sure the pilots have no issues before they taxi out.”
"The introduction of overnight maintenance for SkyWest at Salina Regional Airport is a major win for the airport, 1 Vision and SkyWest. We want to see the Salina Airport positioned as a vital hub for aircraft servicing. This not only strengthens our partnership with SkyWest but also boosts local economic growth by creating jobs and enhancing the airport’s operational impact in the region.", said Pieter Miller, Executive Director of the Salina Airport Authority.
