World-class aviation and aerospace training joined world-class research, design, testing and manufacturing in a ceremony Tuesday at the Wichita State University National Institute for Aviation Research booth (No. 1107).

The event marked the official opening of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita, the city that bills itself as the “Air Capital of the World.” NCAT’s 130,000-sq-ft facility on Wichita’s Jabara Airport will be offering “cutting-edge technology in customized training for companies and traditional technical training for students, along with a unique partnership between training and research.”

NCAT is a partnership of Wichita’s aircraft manufacturers and suppliers, Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita, the State of Kansas, the university’s National Institute for Aviation Research and Wichita Area Technical College. Sedgwick County is the funding partner for the center, working with industry leaders and public partners.

NCAT has already opened its doors and offers 37 certifications and degrees. It contains 21 classrooms and 25 labs to provide hands-on, real-world training for up to 1,500 students. Construction for the $52-million center began in 2008.

“This training campus is a commitment from the Wichita community to the aviation industry,” said Vicki Pratt Gerbino, president of the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition.