February 10, 2010 - Vol. 7-4 NIAR programs benefit from WIRED The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University is one of seven major regional partners in the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative—a 3-year, $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor aimed at accelerating development of the South Central Kansas region’s workforce expertise, research and development, entrepreneurship and economic growth related to composites and advanced materials.   Numerous new composite aircraft programs have been aided by the Composite Kansas WIRED initiative, a 2009 finalist for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Excellence in Economic Development Awards.   In June 2008, funding from the WIRED initiative allowed NIAR to hire research engineer Royal Lovingfoss, a former chemical test engineer for Toray Composites, in order to diversify the services offered by NIAR’s Composites & Advanced Materials Laboratory.   Within 6 months of hiring Lovingfoss, NIAR established a new area for the Composites Lab to house thermal, physical and chemical characterization instruments—one of them a new Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer that was added based on Lovingfoss’ expertise as a polymer chemist. These changes allowed the lab both to expand and streamline material testing services. The use of the WIRED grant showed quickly to be a sound investment when the largest single NIAR industry contract in Wichita State history followed in February 2009. The long-term contract meant NIAR involvement in the FAA certification of the new all-composite Learjet 85* business jet, from the testing of coupon samples to the structural certification of full-scale components.   “WIRED funds have enabled the South Central Kansas region to accelerate the migration of state-of-the-art composites and advanced materials processes to the workforce,” said Debra Franklin, WIRED project director. “More than 1,400 workers will be trained.”   “The WIRED initiative has proven to be an excellent resource for numerous new aircraft development programs involving composites as the primary airframe structure,” said Dr. John Tomblin, NIAR executive director. “Without funding from the WIRED initiative, we may not have been able to maintain and recruit the skilled engineers needed to make these programs successful.”   * Either registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.      NIAR / NCAT to host composites maintenance and repair course online   Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and Wichita Area Technical College through the new National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) will host an on-line Composites Maintenance  Technology course that will focus on critical composite materials maintenance and repair safety issues beginning March 1. There are two enrollment options for the course: Intro to Composites Maintenance Technology online course (non-credit) $950 Intro to Composites Maintenance Technology online course (2 credit hours - WATC) $1,174 The dates and enrollment for an optional three-day Composite Maintenance Technology lab will be available at the close of the online course. To enroll in the online course, visit the registration site. For more information contact Laura Rhoades at 316-978-3873.   The National Institute for Aviation Research, an unincorporated division of Wichita State University, is a prestigious state-of-the-art aerospace research and development laboratory with global reach and expertise in research, design, testing, and certification. The Institute’s clientele includes many of the world’s aerospace manufacturers, NASA and the FAA. It is the largest aviation R&D academic institution in the United States.