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Before leaving for home Tuesday, Greg Dellinger pulled out handwritten notes and extolled some Salina virtues.

The director of recruiting for AAR Corp. also expressed local deficiencies near the end of the firm's Aviation Career and Networking Fair.

The event was meant to gauge the available workforce, a key component in Chicago-based AAR Corp.'s decision on whether to expand its maintenance, repair and overhaul division -- AAR Aircraft Services -- to Salina.

"If we make it past that, get the sunflowers out, AAR's comin'," Dellinger said.

More than 500 people -- which was the goal -- provided resumes either in person or online through KansasWorks during the two-day fair. The 501st visitor arrived more than an hour before the hangar's walk-in doors closed.

The turnout pleased Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, which helped stage the two-day event, along with KansasWorks and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

"I think the AAR career fair has gone as planned," Rogers said. "The response from Salina, Saline County and area job seekers has met, if not exceeded, AAR's expectations."

Those who visited left "very positive impressions about the potential of the Salina area workforce," Rogers said.

Wearing a Salina Airport Authority cap and at times waving a small American flag, Dellinger encouraged the hosts, who are trying to land 100 or more good paying aviation jobs.

"If it was up to me, we'd already be here," said Anita Brown, AAR's senior human resources manager.

We can overcome

The company is looking for workers skilled in areas such as avionics, interiors, inspections, aircraft mechanics and sheet metal works.

"We always need A&Ps," Dellinger said, which stands for airframe and powerplant mechanics.

"We have seen those types of resumes, but not as many as you would need to start up," he said.

Dellinger doesn't view that shortage as a deal breaker.

"We can overcome that, absolutely," Dellinger said. "We're adventure capitalists. We are obsessed with vertical surfaces. Through partnerships and teamwork, obstacles can be overcome."

Workers are available here, he said, but some tweaking may be needed.

"Do they need additional training? You bet, but who doesn't?" Dellinger said.

State and federal job training dollars are available, he said -- up to $3,500 for each displaced worker. KansasWorks will administer those grants.

K-State Salina's role

Hawker Beechcraft employees who will lose their jobs or have to move when that company's Salina plant closes no later than February already have qualified for those retraining dollars, said Tucky Allen, a workforce development specialist with KansasWorks.

He was "very pleased" with the fair's results.

"There are a lot of highly skilled candidates," Allen said.

Among the Tuesday visitors were folks from Kansas State University at Salina, who touted their aviation training programs. Dellinger praised the school's movement toward "educating to the skills that are in demand. It's a very positive aspect," he said.

"They have students in the pipeline, getting ready to graduate. Enrollment is upticking," Dellinger said. "It's absolutely doable."

First, we need a contract

If AAR recruiters return to Salina, they will stage a true job fair -- which would involve taking applications, conducting one-on-one interviews and offering positions -- during September or October.

"All of that is contingent upon getting a signed facility agreement, and getting a customer to bring their aircraft in," said Barry Breckle, an AAR human resources recruiter.

AAR Aircraft Services is negotiating with Pinnacle Airlines for a maintenance contract.

"We've got to sell them on bringing their planes to Salina to work on," he said. "Their initial contract is out of Oklahoma City."

If all conditions are met and the company expands to Salina, the goal is for work to begin in February.

Benefits and a good job

Among the Tuesday hopefuls was Sean Miller, 34, of Salina. He first stepped into the KansasWorks Mobile Center. With the help of Joe Walter, of Hays, and some computer software, Miller put together a printed resume that listed his qualifications and work experience. Included were three years in line assembly at Raytheon in Wichita.

AAR represents opportunity, he said.

"They could offer me a lot of benefits and a good job," Miller said.

What Chicago can learn

Current AAR Aircraft Services workers in other plants -- Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Miami, and Hot Springs, Ark. -- could be available to help jump-start an expanded operation in Salina, Dellinger said.

"That would give us time to spin up the local workers," Dellinger said.

A lot can be taken back to Chicago about Salina, where "three or four generations" have stayed put, Dellinger said. "They enjoy the community."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by email at tunruh@salina.com.

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