A federal judge is aiming for trial early next summer for the man charged with plotting a suicide bombing at a Wichita airport.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot on Thursday set deadlines for motions in the case against Terry Loewen, an avionics technician facing terrorism-related charges, but he stopped short of setting a firm trial date.

Loewen has been in jail since his December arrest for allegedly trying to bring a van filled with inert explosives onto the tarmac at Mid-Continent Airport.

The judge told Loewen during a brief hearing that he recognizes where he is, and is sure he doesn’t like it. Loewen replied, “Not a lot, sir.”

He has pleaded not guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and other charges.