October 13, 2010

Aviation leaders call it a bright spot after weeks of bad news for Wichita's aviation industry. New jobs are on the way to Kansas.

Yingling Aviation announced Wednesday what it calls the largest single contract it has received in more than 60 years. FedEx has hired Yingling to install new GPS and ice prevention technology on a fleet of 250 Cessna caravan planes.

"I think it's a bright spot. It represents that there is still life in this industry," said Yingling Aviation President Lynn Nichols.

The contract will last five years and could lead to 30 new jobs. Yingling says it will hire from the pool of laid off workers in Wichita.