Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Friday the Kansas aviation industry remains well-positioned in the global market.

Fresh off a trip to the Farnborough International Air Show outside London, Sebelius said that the state’s efforts to strengthen its aviation industry had paid off. Sebelius said 50 percent of the aircraft in the United States and 40 percent worldwide had a direct connection to Kansas.

Sebelius said aviation manufacturers and suppliers from Wichita, Topeka, Manhattan and other cities, along with economic development representatives, were among the 1,500 exhibitors at the 60th annual show.

“By being at this air show, Kansas is right in the middle of all of it,” she said. “They anticipate doing literally billions of dollars worth of business from this show.”

Aviation accounts for 40,000 workers in Kansas, with exports reaching almost $3.1 billion in 2007 – a 21 percent increase from the previous year. The sector has been steadily adding jobs in Kansas, rebounding from layoffs after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks prompted a recession.

However, Sebelius said competition for the aviation jobs already in Kansas would continue to be tough. She also said state officials needed to have all the financial tools possible to recruit and retain firms.

“It’s very clear that there’s stiff competition, not only from states across the country, but countries around the world that would love to have this sector of the manufacturing marketplace relocate someplace else.”

She said the Legislature’s efforts to support expansion by Cessna and Boeing in Wichita were good examples. In both instances, they provided financial help to the firms to boost production of next-generation aircraft.

However, Sebelius would like legislators to revise economic development policy. She wants them to make cash and other financial incentives available for the Kansas Department of Commerce to lure new aviation firms or assist expansion year round and not rely on action in a brief 90-day legislative session.