MTAA details future of Topeka airports

TOPEKA (KSNT) - When you think of the future, what comes to mind? For one local group, their version of the future involves big planes bringing big money into the local economy.

While Wichita is known as the aviation capital of the world, the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA) says Topeka has the longest runway in the state.

To grow the strength of the "Kansas Aerospace Triad" here in northeast Kansas, the MTAA's focus is on attracting new business with maintenance repair and overhaul. That looks like bringing in wide body jets, like a Boeing 777, and reconfiguring them from a passenger jet into freight aircraft.

To do that, the MTAA is looking on updating infrastructure, such as new hangars that are big enough to pull in those types of wide body jets.

“There is a lot of potential very lucrative work to be done there that requires high paid skilled workers to do that sort of work," MTAA Director of Development Curtis Sneden said. "You can anticipate that if an MRO provider sets up operations at Forbes, there will be other companies that need to come along to supply their needs.” 

For many though, the most important aspect of the future is lunch. The MTAA announced they've identified two potential food service providers for the new terminal at Billard Airport in Oakland, which will replace Tammy's Café. Due to supply chain issues, the new restaurant is eyeing a late June start date.

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