Aerospace Industry in Casper: Flying into the Future
It's wings up for this soaring sector, thanks to the international airport, a robust talent pipeline and a thriving business climate.
With an international airport nearby, a thriving business community and a robust talent pipeline, the defense and aerospace industry in Casper is poised for growth.
In 2023, Casper hosted the Aerospace and Defense Industry Conference, which helped statewide manufacturers and technology companies get on the government’s radar.
Soaring Future in Wyoming
One aerospace manufacturer based in Casper is Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Co., a sister company of CP Technologies that works with NASA and the Department of Defense.
While many of the projects are highly classified, one involved a cutting-edge propulsion system developed by the company for an Air Force satellite for maneuvering in space. Hardware made at the Casper facility went into orbit at an altitude of over 22,000 miles.
Casper was the right choice for his company, says John Wickman, president. “It may be hard for people in Casper to understand how important this is, but having local officials work with a company and not against it is a big thing,” Wickman says.
“After being in California, where the local government was working against us, it was so refreshing to have city and county officials working with us as our business established operations here and expanded.”
Wickman says he recently had an engineer from General Dynamics remark that he was amazed the company was located at the airport.
“I told him they were very supportive of us and had helped us out on several occasions,” Wickman says. The variety of local businesses that can support the company’s material and machine shop needs is also an advantage, he says. The businesses that support the oil and gas industry dovetailed nicely for supporting many of its government contracts, such as machining large pieces for rocket chambers and nozzles.
Wickman says his company will continue working with larger contractors and universities to support its projects. In regards to the growth of the aerospace and defense industry in the Casper region, Wickman is not surprised.
“There has been this mistaken belief that Casper cannot be a high-tech business area, particularly in aerospace,” he says. “We worked with the state to help establish the Wyoming Phase 0 program to support businesses getting into government contracting with NASA and the Department of Defense. It has been a very successful program and was actually copied by other states.”
“I have had several engineers, from major contractors and government agencies, remark on how nice Casper was and how they could picture themselves living here.”
John Wickman
Aerospace and Defense Industry Conference
The Aerospace and Defense Industry Conference held in Casper in 2023 helped the sector in the region, says Wickman, adding that the city is attractive for prospective aerospace employees, especially when compared to the current locations of other aerospace companies around the nation.
“I have had several engineers, from major contractors and government agencies, remark on how nice Casper was and how they could picture themselves living here,” he says.
Casper College is preparing students to work on those high-tech businesses Wickman mentioned.
“We offer programs that lead to many jobs in the industry, including everything from STEM to the trades,” says Christopher Lorenzen, Casper College’s public relations director.
Aspiring Pilots in Casper
In addition, the college offers an aviation program that complements the Rising Wings Aviation flight school located at the airport. The program aims to provide educational opportunities that could lead to future employment in commercial aviation.
Rising Wings Aviation offers a fleet of four aircraft, which includes one technologically advanced Cirrus Aircraft that is equipped with an airframe parachute system for ultimate flight safety, as well as a fully staffed flight instruction department to meet every student’s flying schedule.
Academic coursework takes place through Casper College. Full-time students in Casper should be able to complete the program at a lower cost than competitor flight schools in four semesters and be prepared for employment as commercial pilots.
“Casper College’s aviation program is a great way for students to begin a career as a pilot, allowing them the opportunity to not only gain a college education but also to become an FAA-certified commercial pilot,” Lorenzen says.
Casper-Natrona County International Airport is the site of Foreign Trade Zone 157 and the only international airport in Wyoming, offering flights through United Airlines and Delta, with nonstop destinations to Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colorado.
Glenn S. Januska, airport director, says the facility is working with its air carrier partners to bring larger planes to service passengers. In addition, he says the airport is continuing to develop infrastructure for the aerial firefighters. The airport is home to the Wyoming Regional Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Training Facility, which offers classroom and hands-on training.
“The facility serves as the preeminent ARFF training facility in the Rocky Mountain region, if not the entire country,” Januska says.
Get to Know Casper
Want to learn more about living and working in Casper, WY? Check out the latest edition of Livability Casper, Wyoming.
