Some Kansas officials felt betrayed when Boeing decided to close its defense plant in Wichita, and the area’s congressman says he’s researching whether the company can be held to promises to bring thousands of jobs to the state.

But the state’s leaders are pursuing another path, too.

Gov. Sam Brownback is promising aggressive attempts to attract new commercial aviation work.

Boeing’s longtime presence fed Wichita’s claim as the aviation capital of the world, and state officials were aggressive Boeing boosters over the past decade. The company announced last week that its Wichita plant, with 2,160 workers, will close by the end of 2013.

Brownback attempted to soften the psychological blow by predicting that the state’s aviation industry will emerge larger and more vibrant.