SKIES OF OPPORTUNITY Talking Arkansas aviation with former state Rep. Joe Jett

By Mark Carter

Joe Jett is director of business strategies and corporate development for Rose Group Advisors in Little Rock, but the former five-term state representative spends most of his time at the family farm in Success or in the skies above it.

His hometown lies northwest of Corning, just off the Current River. Its run through Clay County designates a line of demarcation between the orderly green grid of the Arkansas Delta and the rough-and-tumble lay of the Ozark foothills.

Jett, who works with the Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance, has seen that line many times from above. He’s a former state representative who served five terms in the Arkansas House, as well as a former member of the Arkansas Division of

Aeronautics Commission. While enlisted as an air traffic controller, he attended the Community College of the Air Force, where he received the United States Air Force Commendation Medal.

Jett also attended Phillips University and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and holds single and multi-engine instrument flight instructor licenses and an airline transport pilot license.

And he’s a certified aerial firefighter who’s flown numerous missions, to boot.

Jett is as connected as it gets into the aviation industry in Arkansas, and AMP caught up with him in between trips from the Jett farm in Success to Little Rock.

AMP: The aviation/aerospace industry in Arkansas — excuse the pun — flies under the radar. Does Arkansas as a state punch above its weight class in aviation?

Jett: Absolutely, Arkansas is the envy of not only surrounding states, but the rest of the country. A big reason for that is the way Arkansas supports our airport network. Arkansas airports — 90 publicly owned — receive grants through the Division of Aeronautics. Taxes on sales of aviation fuel, parts and repair on certain aircraft and sales of aircraft are placed directly into the Aviation Trust Fund, then disbursed to airports for safety and economic development projects. That keeps participating airports safe and self-sustaining in their communities. A 2016 study commissioned by the Division of Aeronautics found that Arkansas airports have an economic benefit of more than $3.5 billion to local communities.

When you travel the state, you will find many great airports operating at very high levels. At the end of the day, air trans- portation is about traveling from point A to point B. If only a few airports were kept to high standards and the rest were safety hazards, our airports would be a liability, not an asset. Thankfully, Arkansas sees aviation as a good investment, and this will allow us to continue landing solid investment “punches.”

AMP: Many Arkansans might be surprised to learn that aerospace/defense represents the state’s No. 1 export. How does Arkansas compare per capita to other states in this area?

Jett: Most Arkansans would say rice or poultry is Arkansas’ No. 1 export to the world. Very few realize that aerospace and defense have such a large presence in the state.

More than 170 aerospace and defense companies call Arkansas home. Those companies generate well over $1.03 billion in exports. The aerospace industry is by far the largest value-added industry to the state.

The Arkansas General Assembly has made positive strides in supporting these businesses, making Arkansas a more businessfriendly state for the aerospace and defense industries. One example is a law known as a “state fly-away exemption.” This allows aircraft to come into the state for maintenance or other work and then be sold to an out-of-state buyer without any tax liability. This is a huge win for the maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) shops that conduct maintenance on aircraft. Other examples include expanding the tax exemption for repair, parts and labor on aircraft and the effective elimination of the sales tax on machinery and equipment used in manufacturing.

AMP: Are the state’s primary commercial airports poised to begin bouncing back with the industry in 2023?

Jett: I think time will tell on this issue. But one thing is certain — air travel will always be an important factor in everyday life. While air travel is certainly cyclical, it’s still the most efficient, safest form of travel.

AMP: An important part of growing aerospace and defense in Arkansas is telling the story. Who are some of the stronger advocates for the industry?

Jett: They are several that come to mind. On the private side, a very cool thing going on over in Northwest Arkansas is led by a company called the Runway Group. They are involved in everything from building world-class aerobatic aircraft, opening up backcountry airstrips for aviation enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty of Arkansas to operating an outstanding aviation operation at Thaden Field in Bentonville.

In addition, I’m excited to be working with the Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance (AADA). It’s a trade association representing more than 55 aerospace and defense companies and represents the core of what makes aerospace and defense such an asset to Arkansas. From known powerhouses such as Lockheed Martin, Dassault Falcon Jet and Aerojet Rocketdyne to some of the homegrown companies like CMT, AirReady MRO, Cobalt, Rose Aircraft and Mundo-Tech, they represent the ‘A to Z’ of Arkansas aerospace, defense and aviation.

Finally, the Arkansas Economic Development Council does a great job recruiting new companies and promoting Arkansas as an aerospace/defense state. They are strong advocates for the industry and, through their partnership with industry leaders, Arkansas will be represented at the Paris Air Show this summer. This will truly give Arkansas a global presence. There are others that play important roles but too many to name.

I’m proud and appreciative we have so many talented and effective people working to promote and grow our industry.

AMP: The state has a rich aviation history — Eberts Field in Lonoke, where WWI pilots were trained; Lindburgh’s first night flight, which took place over Lake Chicot; Louise Thaden in

Bentonville ... What else should Arkansans know about aviation and aerospace in the state?

Jett: Several years ago, while a commissioner at the Division of Aeronautics, I had the honor and privilege to meet Mr. Milton Crenchaw.

Mr. Crenchaw was one of the original Tuskegee Airmen who broke so many barriers during World War II and the years after. He loved Arkansas and aviation here in the state. His name should always be mentioned when discussing Arkansas’ rich history.

AMP: How did flying become such a big part of your life?

Jett: I grew up on Air Force bases, so I had been around airplanes all my life. I can never remember a time in my life when I heard an aircraft flying overhead that I didn’t take the time to look up and see what it was. After getting married years ago and raising a family on the family farm, I used my downtime to fly on the side. I didn’t do it for another job, but I fell in love with the learning aspect of aviation. I used aviation to push myself to learn, set goals and not quit until I conquered what I was trying to obtain in aviation.

I found the challenge and setting goals to learn and achieve another type of airplane license or endorsements was very satisfying. After all the years of studying and flying, I hold an airline transport license and single and multi-engine instrument flight instructor licenses. I have the privilege to have flown approximately 40 different makes models and types of aircraft over the years.

AMP: Did you ever consider becoming an Air Force pilot?

Jett: No. Growing up, all I ever wanted to do was become an air traffic controller. I went into the Air Force as a controller and loved the job.

Telling my age here, I had a job going to LAX in Los Angeles out of the Air Force as a controller. The controllers went on strike, and President Reagan shut down all hiring and training for a year. So, I returned to Success, married, started raising a family and never wanted to leave home.

AMP: You also have experience flying firefighting missions. What makes that type of flying different?

Jett: Out of all the different types of flying I have done over the years, firefighting flying, by far and away, is the most challenging, stimulating and rewarding flying I have ever done. Each mission has its unique challenges.

Last season, I flew to Arkansas, Texas, Arizona and Utah. I crossed the Rocky Mountains four times in a single-engine, single-cockpit firefighting aircraft and never got above 10,000 feet. The scenery was beautiful, and I wish everyone could see how beautiful our country is.

Lockheed Martin’s Camden Operations facility encompasses almost 2 million square feet of manufacturing and support-function floor space on more than 2,000 acres of land. (Photos provided)