Could Topeka's Forbes Field help convert Boeing 777 passenger planes into cargo freighters?
Topeka Regional Airport, formerly known as Forbes Field, was the last stop of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran's visit to Kansas before returning to Washington, D.C.
"This is my last visit with Kansans before I get on an airplane and go to Washington, D.C., so I'm getting my last dose of normal people with common sense," he said.
Topeka is in line to share in the benefits of a project at Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research.
The project at NIAR WERX converts Boeing 777 passenger planes into cargo freighters. The giant jets require long runways and jumbo hangars. Topeka and Salina both have runways that are long enough and space to build the hangars.
"The remodeling of commercial aircraft — passenger aircraft to freight aircraft — seems like it's on a trajectory for a lot of opportunity," Moran said.
This spring, the Kansas Legislature provided funding for hangars to help get the passenger-to-freighter conversion program off the ground.
"We have the runways, so we have the big part done," Wichita State administrator John Tomblin told lawmakers in January. "But the work is going to go where the hangars are."
"My regular conversations with Dr. Tomblin is do not forget Topeka and Salina," Moran said. "This is a statewide conversation."
Moran, who was invited to the tour by local officials, lauded their work to highlight the project for him.
"You need to elbow your way into my world, too," Moran said with a laugh. "It doesn't take much. Those elbows don't have to be very sharp. But this is a good reminder of the potential that is at Forbes."
Curtis Sneden, president of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, said he is taking a group of Shawnee County legislators to Wichita next week to learn more about the project.
"Now our legislators are seeing that that opportunity is here in Kansas, and hopefully will help us with that effort," Mayor Mike Padilla said. "As Forbes goes, oftentimes that's where Topeka goes."
Moran has urged the state's aerospace industry to diversify.
"It seemed to me that Kansas was too centered on commercial planes and not enough on defense and space," Moran said. "If all of the business in Kansas is related to manufacturing commercial aircraft, we're going to continue to have the significant ups and downs in our economy.
"It's gone from trying to reduce the pain that comes from the drops (to) recognizing that I think Kansas has an even brighter future in aviation generally. There is more growth to be had here."
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What are the infrastructure needs at Forbes Field airport?
"We're on the cusp of really booming in the state of Kansas," Padilla said. "I think Kansas is an opportunity just waiting for somebody to recognize."
Airport director Eric Johnson said the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority wants to be ready for the NIAR WERX project, but the space doesn't exist yet.
"We certainly have the space for it," Johnson said. "But ... it's the chicken and the egg. We don't have anyone that's ready to go in here, but we're not going to have anybody go in here unless we get ready. So we have to do some design work, and eventually, we have to find funding for the buildout of the road and the utilities."
Design work of the airport grounds aims to be complete by next year.
"You're talking about a mile-long road, a couple miles of fence line, then all the utilities, water, sewer, gas, storm water, electric, all of that," Johnson said.
But the key to the NIAR project would be a "massive hangar for massive aircraft," Johnson said. There is plenty of acreage to the south of the airfield, he said.
"This is an untouched gem that has not been really cultivated over the years," Padilla said.
Meanwhile, federal CARES Act grant funding has allowed for "a lot of catch up work," Johnson said. Moran said the tour gives him a chance to see how the COVID-10 aid money was used, so he could "make sure that taxpayer spending was something that was done well."
Topeka's Philip Billard Municipal Airport is also in line for improvements, most notably a new air traffic control tower.
"Any development around Billard is going to be appreciated by the residents that are nearby," Padilla said. "That is part of our city that many of them felt had been overlooked, and any kind of development that happens there will make it look like, OK, they recognize that this is important for the rest of the city as well. And, it's a quick connection to downtown."
Similarly, Moran said, Topeka could benefit from the regional animal science corridor from the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan.
"I want to make sure that Topeka and Shawnee County and the airport authority are looking for opportunities as NBAF comes online," he said, specifically noting the capital city's pet food industry.
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Forbes Field airport leaders want to build new fire station
Moran toured fire and police department facilities as part of his airport visit.
The airport wants to build a new fire station, and the city wants to help foot the cost of the new station in exchange for housing quarters and a few bays to house trucks at the airport. Such an arrangement would save the city money.
"We need a fire presence out this way because we have all the industrial park," Padilla said.
If there were a fire at the industrial park, such as at Mars, Target or Walmart, the closest city fire station would be the one at S.W. 37th and Burlingame.
Interim city manager Bill Cochran, the city's former police chief, said firefighters would take up to 10 minutes to respond to the industrial park.
"When you're talking industrial stuff, that's a lifetime," Cochran said.
Airport police and fire chief Col. Bill Wempe said MTAA firefighters can get to the area in less than 3 minutes.
But the airport's fire station already has limited space.
"We are maxed out on the ability to house equipment," Johnson said, adding that living quarters and office space are also "very cramped."
"Just looking at the facilities, it's clear that there needs to be some improvements in the quarters for those officers," Moran said. "We need to make certain that the fumes that come from the trucks aren't something that is damaging or dangerous to those who work here."
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Johnson asked the senator if federal funding could help with project. Moran said there is money available to support civilian infrastructure used by the military.
"We're glad to try to figure out if there's ways that we can be of help to take advantage of that program," he said.
Johnson said the airport authority wouldn't seek to raise the property tax mill levy if it can't secure federal funding, opting instead to prioritize projects as budgets allow.
Jason Tidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jtidd@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Tidd.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jerry Moran visits Topeka airport; long runway could attract NIAR WERX
