KDOT Team Unites with Strategic Partners at AUVSI

Kim Stevens Featured, Kansas, Unmanned Systems
FAA Michael Huerta, center, visits with Kansas Aviation Director, Merrill Atwater, left and Bob Brock, Kansas Director of UAS.
FAA administrator Michael Huerta, center, visits with Kansas Aviation Director, Merrill Atwater, left and Bob Brock, Kansas Director of UAS. Photo by Lindsey Dreiling

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Division of Aviation visited Dallas, TX this week for the largest gathering of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry leaders in the world at the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s (AUVSI’s) Xponential 2017.  Over 7000 industry professionals and 850 exhibitors unite to participate in a 3 day workshop and exhibition.

“This was a great opportunity to showcase Kansas as a leader in UAS, continue the growth of this segment and foster strong relationships in UAS,” said KDOT Director of Aviation, Merrill Atwater.

“Xponential allows us to highlight the outstanding talent and expertise we have in Kansas. There’s an obvious reason we are called the ‘Air Capital of the World,’” he added.

KDOT Director of UAS, Bob Brock stated, “Xponential is an ideal venue for established aviation leaders from Kansas to meet the UAS industry and continue our rich history in aviation.

Kansas is building on its established leadership in aviation, working in conjunction with in-state partners to promote the UAS industry, including:

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Kansas Department of Commerce

Kansas State University

Greater Wichita Partnership

Salina Community Economic Development Office

University of Kansas

Kansas Aviation activity accounts for $20.6 billion in economic impact. Over 700 aerospace and aviation companies live and work together in the Sunflower State. Ninety-two percent (92%) of Kansas airports support flight training and over 60% have aviation outreach programs. Aviation activity supports over 91,000 high-paying jobs in the state.

More than 18 years of active UAS research – including one of the first UAS Bachelor’s degrees in the country – add to Kansas’s industry leadership. The state’s rich aviation history is built on a century of aircraft production. Over 73% of the world’s general aviation fleet is manufactured in Kansas. (Pictured above at the Kansas booth are from left, Halee Lindstrom, Bob Brock, Merrill Atwater, Lindsey Dreiling, and Greg Chenoweth).

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.