SUMMARY

Statewide Impacts The Airport System Based on information gathered during There is a strong relationship between Kansas’ the study, approximately 91,000 jobs economy and aviation. The state’s system of seven are attributed to the aviation industry, commercial service and 73 general aviation , including 42,000 from Aerospace listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airports Manufacturing. These employees System (NPIAS), provide the gateway to the nation’s receive more than $4.4 billion in total air transportation system and the world’s economy. payroll, and generate more than $20.5 Airports support the Kansas economy by increased billion in total economic activity. In efficiency and productivity for all business activity, addition, the 80 NPIAS airports in including the transportation of passengers for Kansas provide a number of health, both recreational and business purposes. Airports welfare, and safety benefits, including are important economic catalysts, supporting aerial agricultural spraying, medical thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic transport and evacuation, emergency activity. Most of Kansas’ largest employers – both response, search and rescue, flight large and small – rely on the state’s aviation system training, law enforcement, wildlife to transport employees, customers, supplies, and management, military training, search products. Kansas’ 80 NPIAS airports serve as the and rescue operations, and education. base of operations for a variety of businesses, including airlines, air cargo companies, flight instructors, charters, concessionaries, government entities, and many others. Kansas tourism industry also depends on the state’s system of airports to Kansas’ Total Annual Economic accommodate thousands of visitors each year. Benefits from Aviation

Study Process Total Jobs 91,279 The Kansas Department of Transportation, Division Total Payroll $4.4 Billion of Aviation, implemented this study through a Total Output $20.6 Billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant, to quantify the economic impact and relationship between the state’s system of airports and the economy. The study follows an approved methodology that has successfully quantified the value of airports and airport systems throughout Impact Measures the United States. Employment measures the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs related The economic contribution of each NPIAS airport to airport activity including on-airport in Kansas was measured in terms of employment, construction. A part-time employee payroll, and output. A comprehensive survey counts as half a full-time employee. process was used to calculate the direct economic benefits related to on-airport businesses and Payroll measures the total annual government agencies, including the indirect benefits wages and benefits paid to all workers associated with visitor-related expenditures. whose salaries are directly attributable Secondary, or induced, impacts from these airport to airport activity. activities were calculated using economic models Economic Activity (Output) measures specific to Kansas. For example, when an airport the value of goods and services related employee purchases goods and services, those to airports in Kansas. The output from dollars circulate through the local economy which on-airport business activity is assumed results in additional economic activity in the region. to be the sum of annual gross sales and The total economic impact is the sum of all direct, average annual capital expenditures. indirect, and multiplier impacts. TOPEKA REGIONAL (FOE)

Topeka Regional Airport (formerly Forbes Field) (FOE) is a “joint-use” facility located south of Topeka in eastern Kansas. The airport is included in the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), making it eligible to receive federal monies. TOPEKA REGIONAL Additionally, its role within the Kansas Aviation System Plan is identified as a Regional airport which is intended to accommodate regional economic activities, connecting to state and national economies, and serve First Round Impacts all types of general aviation aircraft. Direct Output Indirect Output FOE maintains a two- system with a 12,803-foot primary Runway 13-31 that supports nearly 40 based $95,940,300 $228,100 aircraft and over 22,000 general aviation and military annual operations. The airport offers a precision instrument approach system, air traffic control tower Second Induced Output and on-site weather reporting. Round $66,826,300 As a “joint-use” facility, FOE is home to the 190th Air Impacts Refueling Wing (190 AW) of the Kansas . The 190 AW maintains and operates KC-135 Tankers in support of their mission to conduct global air refueling operations. In addition, the 1st Battalion Total Impacts 108th Aviation Kansas Army National Guard occupies Total Jobs 1,774 a portion of the airport and operate UH-60A Black Total Payroll $77,620,800 Hawks helicopters and provide tactical mobility of Total Output $162,994,700 troops, supplies, and equipment in the combat zone. Troops from nearby Fort Riley use FOE as a departure and arrival point for deployments. Due to the large amount of transient military aircraft that use the Impact Types airport, the fixed base operator, Million Air, serves a very unique market for a civilian owned company. In First Round Impacts include both addition to charter, corporate, and general aviation direct and indirect impacts. Direct aircraft, Million Air provides services to numerous impacts are those benefits associated military aircraft of all varieties. with on-airport businesses and Since 1979, the has been located government tenants. Indirect impacts generally take place off-airport and at the airport. The museum serves as a non-profit are usually attributable to visitor institution dedicated to educating the public on spending. military aircraft. The museum has 33 aircraft ranging from the WWI period to present day. The museum Second Round Impacts consist attracts visitors from all over the nation. of induced impacts, which are Life Star of Kansas, an air ambulance service providing those benefits that result from the rapid transport for critically ill or injured patients, is recirculation and re-spending of headquartered on the airport and has used the airfield direct and indirect impacts within as a base since 1987. Life Star has since expanded the economy. This re-circulation operations to three other airports in Kansas. is commonly referred to as the FOE supports various corporate, business and military “multiplier effect.” aircraft activity from across the nation. Airport tenants are the combination include the Federal Aviation Administration, American Total Impacts of all first-round and second-round Flight Museum, Combat Air Museum, Freeman Holdings impacts. LLC, Haselwood Farms, Inc, Shawnee County Sheriff, Topeka Air Ambulance, Topeka Police Department, Vaerus Aviation, and Wolf Construction, Inc.