Seven of Oklahoma’s airports have installed Automated Weather Observation Systems (AWOS) thanks to funding from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics.
Airports in the communities of Ada, Alva, Claremore, Fairview, Grove, South Grand Lake (Ketchum), and Sallisaw each received the new AWOS systems as part of ODAA’s Airport Construction Program (ACP). The ACP is a five-year revolving plan the ODAA provides in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airport sponsors to support the combined goal of having a system of airports that serve the business, transportation, and commerce needs of communities across the state.
AWOS is a group of automated sensors that measure, collect and disseminate critical weather data and observations to pilots, flight dispatchers and air traffic controllers in real time. AWOS specifically collects and relays weather information like wind speed and direction, visibility, temperature, dew point, cloud height and precipitation information. The weather information is then available via the internet, telephone or VHF radio frequency.
Ada Regional, Alva Regional, Claremore Regional, Grove Regional and Sallisaw Municipal each had their aging AWOS set-ups replaced as part of the ACP update. Each updated system cost averaged $133,793.40 with $127,103.45 coming from ODAA funds and $6,689.95 from the local airport sponsor.
Fairview Municipal and South Grand Lake Regional each received new installations to help fill in gaps of service around the state. Each new system cost averaged $233,390.50 with $221,720.98 coming from ODAA funds and $11,669.52 from the local airport sponsor. In total, the investments in these AWOS across Oklahoma were $1,135,748 with $1,078,959.20 coming from ODAA and $56,788.80 from the local airport sponsor.
“Oklahoma is well-known for its rapidly changing weather, and it is critical that pilots know the real-time weather conditions at airports across the state,” said Nick Young, ODAA airport division manager. “These AWOS installations deliver on our commitment to improve safety and enhance operational reliability statewide.”
