11 March 2024
MAIZE, Kan. (KSNW) – One airplane part company is expanding its footprint in the Air Capital.
On Monday, Cox Airparts, a repair and overhaul facility located in Wichita, broke ground on its new building at Maize Industrial Park. The company specializes in hydraulics and electrical components for small aircraft.
The company’s co-owner says not many people do what they do or see the money in it.
“What’s important for us is to make sure the little people are still taken care of. Just because they’re not some big corporate jet owner – we want to take care of those little piston props as well,” said Bryan Cox, Co-Owner of Cox Airparts.
The reason behind the expansion is to make more room for test equipment required by the FAA. Cox says they have seen a need for certain parts since COVID-19.
“There is a need; there’s been competition that dropped out during COVID due to some other issues that were arised. It was hard on everybody,” said Cox. “General aviation took off, really. It really took off during that time, and we were able to help assist with where that void was necessary – or where that void was, so now we just want to make sure to continue to help that.”
Cox says they chose this area because it’s in the heart of the Air Capital, and finding good workers won’t be hard.
“You get people here. The only thing really here to work for is aviation so you’ve got some little tidbit knowledge so you can pull from everybody else outside the circle.,” said Cox.
Cox Airparts breaks ground in Maize on March 11, 2024 (KSN Photo)
Cox Airparts breaks ground in Maize on March 11, 2024 (KSN Photo)
The $3 million facility will be 20,000 square feet. Cox expects to add 10 jobs in the first 1.5 years, then later add another 10,000-15,000 feet and even more jobs in about five years.
Construction begins in a few weeks. Cox plans to have the keys to the new building between October and December.