Wichita State University and Textron Aviation, a Textron Inc. company, have announced the next step in ongoing collaboration efforts to develop the future of the aviation industry and next generation of employees when the company signed a long-term lease at the Wichita State Innovation Campus.
Around 40 Textron Aviation employees will share the 5,000 square foot space with Wichita State students to advance product innovation and help students better understand career opportunities within general aviation.
“Our business is built on continuous product development and requires a diverse, professional workforce,” said Maggie Topping, Textron Aviation senior vice president of Human Resources and Communications. “As the competition for employees tightens, Textron Aviation is committed to leading the way in building creative education and community collaborations through efforts such as the applied learning model at WSU.”
Textron Aviation has a long-standing relationship with WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and collaborates extensively with WSU’s Ennovar Institute for Emerging Technologies and Market Solutions. In the new space at Wichita State, the company plans to conduct research and development in the areas of additive manufacturing, parts casting and electrical design.
“WSU students working with Textron Aviation through the applied learning program are gaining valuable experience, skills, and contacts that will jump-start their careers while also providing Textron Aviation valuable access to local talent,” said John Tomblin, WSU vice president for research and technology transfer. “WSU is excited to expand and grow this program across Textron Aviation.”
In addition to the company’s ongoing work with NIAR and WSU Tech, Textron Aviation operates a company Help Hangar through Ennovar to offer employees information technology and human resources support. More than 60 Wichita State students work side by side with Textron Aviation employees to support regular business needs.
About Wichita State University
The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the
greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly
15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas
of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and
12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation
Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use
areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to
the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on
Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.
About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft,
Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation
aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation brands represent unrivaled innovation, performance
and leadership in the industry, and offer an unmatched value proposition rooted in
the total ownership experience. Leveraging unparalleled speed-to-market, Textron Aviation
provides the most versatile and comprehensive business and general aviation product
portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general
aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft,
military trainer and defense aircraft and a complete global customer service organization.
Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft in over 143 countries. Its
broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation business jets,
King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are
backed by the industry’s most capable global service network. For more information,
visit www.txtav.com.