The Wichita Aero Club has selected Spirit AeroSystems and its chief executive officer Jeff Turner as the recipients of the 2011 Wichita Aero Club Trophy.
Spirit and Turner were selected by the Selection Committee from seven nominees. The WAC Trophy will be presented at the Wichita Aero Club’s second annual Trophy Gala at the Wichita Airport Hilton on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.
“The selection of Spirit AeroSystems and Jeff Turner acknowledges the leadership and success they have exhibited since the company’s creation in 2005,” noted Dave Franson, Wichita Aero Club Executive Director. “The citation in the nomination did an excellent job of summarizing the basis for Spirit’s consideration. It notes that the company and Jeff Turner have grown their customer base, successfully made the transition to an independent company in a difficult economy, and have become the design/build provider of choice for commercial aviation.”
The nomination also highlighted Spirit’s significant contributions to the local community. The company and its employees, through their Good Neighbor Fund, are involved in numerous charitable organizations and activities. It noted that Spirit reached a number of important milestones during the past year, including helping Boeing realize the long-awaited introduction into service of the Model 787 Dreamliner and their selection as the provider of the KC-46A Tanker by the US Air Force. In addition, the nomination continued by recounting that Spirit expanded its facilities, added numerous employees, both in Wichita and elsewhere and continued to explore ways to retain jobs in the local community and surrounding areas, opening a sub-assembly facility in Chanute, rather than opting for outsourcing the work to another country.
The Wichita Aero Club was established in 2008 to foster and promote interest in aviation, provide a forum focused on the industry’s issues and achievements and bring together those with a passion for flight in an environment that expands and enhances professional relationships and furthers cooperation and understanding. The WAC Trophy is awarded annually to a living person, group, or existing organization with a strong relationship to the greater Wichita area, who have distinguished him,her or themselves in the field of aviation or aerospace within the most recent calendar year or during a cumulative career of significant achievements and contributions.
For more information: 316-681-4491 or WichitaAeroClub.org
