Kansas State University continues to adapt to meet the needs of the next generation of pilots, mechanics and other aeronautical engineering positions, with more than $33M in new federal funding for Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus set to expand programming to support learners and industry partners.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran today announced a transformational federal grant to build a $28M facility that will serve as an education hub for several of K-State Salina's programs. He also announced a separate $5.5M grant to provide aviation training equipment to amplify the pilot training partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.
"The federal resources I worked to secure will grow K-State's research and development footprint to better serve Kansans and attract new students and faculty to Salina," said Moran, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. "It has long been my goal to make certain Kansas is a place where students can find a quality education and a fulfilling career without having to leave the state. K-State Salina is a hub for learning, research and innovation, and these federal resources are an investment in expanding the great work being done at the university."
The Aerospace Education Hub and the partnership with NOAA reflect K-State Salina's continued commitment to aeronautics education, especially as the aerospace industry continues to grow in its demand for groundbreaking research and well-equipped, job-ready graduates.
"This investment marks the next phase in K-State Salina's continuous growth," said Alysia Starkey, CEO and dean of K-State Salina. "As we develop this new, state-of-the-art space for our uncrewed aircraft systems, composites and aviation maintenance programs, we are also establishing the future of aerospace education. The alignment of these critical disciplines enables K-State Salina to educate learners, collaborate with industry and further advanced air mobility solutions for the region and nation."
The new facility is the second phase to revitalize the southernmost end of the K-State Salina campus as the General Atomics Aerospace Innovation Ramp, following General Atomics' $10 million gift to kick off the revitalization plan in October 2022.
The anchor of the Aerospace Innovation Ramp is the Aerospace Education Hub, which will house the Kansas AAM Flight Test and Training Center, the Advanced Composites Laboratory and the Aviation Maintenance Training Center.
