Yingling Hiring, Adding 13th Hangar As MRO Demand Grows

Yingling Aviation in Wichita is adding its 13th hangar at its site at the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport—the company’s eighth hangar addition in three years—to keep up with expanding demand. 

The 22,000 ft.² hangar, acquired from another aviation business at the airport, is expected to be fully operational by March. The hangar, which includes offices on two levels, will provide additional space for Yingling’s maintenance, repair and overhaul operations and for expansion of its government programs department, officials say. 

In addition, Yingling, which employs more than 170 people, plans to hire more than 20 additional airframe and powerplant mechanics, avionics technicians and program managers. 

As some hotels, hospitals and office buildings avoid having a 13th floor, Yingling is skipping numbering the hangar #13 and instead naming it #14. 

With the latest hangar acquisition. Yingling now operates more than 270,000 ft.² at the airport. 

The company flourished during and after the pandemic, says Andrew Nichols, Yingling Aviation president. “The rate of increase of new customers and percentage of repeat business makes everyone at Yingling very, very proud,” Nichols says. “As we continue to expand our capabilities and support, in response to strong customer demand, this hangar was the perfect solution.”

Customers include both longtime operators and those new to aircraft operations, says Jerry Pickett, Yingling director of maintenance sales and aircraft sales.

“We consider ourselves extremely blessed,” Pickett says. “We have thrived during the pandemic and the momentum has just continued and it’s increased .... We’re growing in all aspects.”

Yingling has also been busy performing prepurchase inspections for new aircraft buyers.

The company provides support for all Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft models with airframe, engine, propeller, avionics, parts, paint and interiors, with a focus on service, repair, refurbishment and upgrades on turbine model aircraft. It also is a fixed-base operator on the field.