Group Plans Monthly Luncheons To Promote Area Aviation
A consortium of business, government
and educational organizations in the greater Wichita, KS area are
joining together to form the Wichita Aero Club. Patterned after the
Aero Clubs of Washington and Atlanta and The Wings Club in New
York, the new group plans to host monthly luncheons and invite high
profile speakers to address major aviation industry issues.
Organizers tell ANN the new Aero Club will also have a website,
publish an online newsletter, and host fund-raising events
throughout the year.
An ad-hoc WAC Board of Directors has been conducting exploratory
and organizational meetings since April. Additional details on the
leadership and activities of the Wichita Aero Club will be
announced at a press conference scheduled at the upcoming National
Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting &
Convention.
"Aviation is the driving force in the greater Wichita area.
There have been more airplanes produced in Wichita than anywhere
else in the world, so the city has a rightful claim to the title of
Air Capital of the World," said Bob Stangarone, vice president of
corporate communications for Cessna Aircraft Company and chairman
of the ad-hoc committee which initiated the formation of the
organization. "It is appropriate that this community have a
world-class platform for discussion of key industry issues, the
recognition of achievements and innovations in aerospace, and a
forum that encourages interaction and cooperation."
"With six major airframe manufacturers operating here, a
plethora of suppliers, and more than 40,000 people employed in
aviation-related businesses locally, Wichita attracts numerous
industry and government leaders on a regular basis," Stangarone
added. "The Club will take advantage of that and will invite those
prominent individuals to address its monthly luncheons."
The new club may, in fact, be a revival of the Wichita Aero
Club. An organization bearing the same name was actually chartered
in 1915, according to documents filed with the state... but it
apparently faded from the scene after sponsoring a ballooning event
nearly a century ago. The new Wichita Aero Club plans to operate as
a non-profit organization.
The new entity will be
self-sustaining. It will offer a variety of membership categories
and dues structures for aviation-related companies and
organizations as well as individuals, students and retirees.
Individual Founding Members can join for a one-time Founder's fee
of $100 for the first year and $55 annually thereafter. Student,
retiree, and government/military memberships are available for $25
per year.
The club plans to recognize prominent aviators with an annual
trophy that will be presented yearly at a gala awards dinner. It
will also promote aviation-related educational and career
development initiatives, and will take a leading role in the
preservation of the region's aviation heritage.
Founding Members, those who have pledged $10,000 each to launch
the Club, include Bombardier Learjet, Cessna Aircraft, FlightSafety
International, Hawker Beechcraft, PIM Aviation Insurance, Pratt
& Whitney Canada, Spirit Aerosystems and Yingling Aviation.
Charter Memberships are also available for a one-time donation of
$5,000. Regular corporate members will pay annual dues of $1000.
Founding and Charter Memberships will be available until December
31, 2008.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.16.24)
See All