Several of Oklahoma’s general aviation airports will see important safety and infrastructure updates after the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics’ (ODAA) August 21st meeting where Aerospace and Aeronautics Commissioners approved 18 projects across the state. In addition, Commissioners approved the aerospace education funding framework which staff will utilize throughout the next fiscal year.
Notable airport projects include several pro-growth aviation infrastructure items such as the new terminal at the Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport expected to cost about $3.3 million. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will provide $1.33 million while the ODAA will provide $949,097 in state grant funds and the local airport sponsor will provide a little more than $1 million towards the new terminal. Also included in this category of projects were new hangars at El Reno, Fairview, Perry, Skiatook, and Thomas. Hangars to be constructed will range in size from smaller 50’ x 50’ hangars at Perry to a larger 130’ x 90’ hangar at El Reno.
Three significant airport runway projects were approved during the August meeting which will solidify those airports’ key infrastructure assets for more than 20 years. Included on the list is Pauls Valley Municipal Airport’s runway reconstruction which is projected to cost around $11.7 million. Federal funds will cover most of the cost with about $11 million in grants. The ODAA and the local airport sponsor will cover about $293,000 each. Woodward will extend its runway with the last of the PREP (Preserving Rural Economic Prosperity) funds it received from the Legislature in 2022. The overall $7.4 million project which is funded by $6.1 million in PREP, $1.3 million in FAA funds, and $34,000 of local matching funds will extend the runway by 500’ out to a total length of 6,000’, repair the existing runway pavement, and reconstruct a portion of the apron to support fueling operations. Lastly, Stroud Municipal Airport will see a runway extension and widening to 4,000’ x 75’ along with lighting and Navigational Aid (NAVAID) improvements that will cost approximately $6.7 million. Three million dollars will come from the FAA whereas $2.8 million will come from legislative-directed state grant funds, $114,513 of sponsor matching funds, and $739,448 of traditional state grant funds.
In Ketchum, the South Lake Regional Airport will receive $6.3 million to build a parallel taxiway to help alleviate congestion from the increased traffic at the airport. FAA funds will cover around $5.9 million with the state and local airport sponsor both providing $157,000 each.
ODAA staff have been supporting several airports through their role as acting as agent on behalf of the airport sponsor to contract for necessary services and infrastructure upgrades. This includes the rebuilding of Shawnee Regional Airport after it was hit by a tornado in April 2023 causing significant damage to many of its structures. The current phase construction includes building taxilanes to support the replacement of damaged T-hangars as well as rehabilitation of the apron pavement. The total cost is just under $1.6 million with $885,000 coming from FAA grants, $634,000 from state grants and about $80,000 in airport sponsor matching funds. ODAA has also assisted with infrastructure support at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port in Burns Flat. Commissioners approved contracts for phase 4 of the concrete pavement repair project for a total of $6.75 million which will improve portions of the parallel taxiway, connector taxiways, and apron areas.
Each project is part of the Department’s Airport Construction Program (ACP). The ACP is a five-year revolving plan that the ODAA provides in cooperation with the 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. All approvals are contingent upon ODAA receiving an acceptable grant application.
“The Department is committed to continually building and investing in critical aviation infrastructure in Oklahoma,” said Grayson Ardies, ODAA executive director. “A strong airport system is crucial to local communities and ensuring the success of aerospace commerce across the state. We are excited to see these projects move forward to accelerate the growth of air transportation in Oklahoma.”
Listed are the remaining details of Commission-approved airport projects from the August meeting:
- Chandler Regional Airport: The project consists of constructing a perimeter fence. Total project cost: $337,469; $320,595 of state funds; $16,874 of sponsor funds.
- Fairview Municipal Airport: The project consists of constructing three 60 ’x 60’ box hangars. Total project cost: $1,600,320.51; $880,176 of FAA funds; $640,128.20 of state grant funds; $80,016.31 of sponsor funds.
- Hinton Municipal Airport: The project consists of rehabilitating the airport pavements. Total project cost: $294,275; $279,561 of state funds; $14,714 of sponsor funds.
- McAlester Regional Airport: The project consists of rehabilitating the taxiway pavement and replacing the taxiway lighting system and NAVAIDs. Total project cost: $2,112,485.10; $980,999 of FAA funds; $1,051,676 of state funds; $79,810.10 of sponsor funds.
- Perry Municipal Airport: The project consists of constructing four new 50’ x 50’ box hangars. Total project cost: $1,266,815; $696,748 of FAA funds; $506,726 of state funds; $63,341 of sponsor funds.
- Skiatook Municipal Airport: Project 1: The project consists of constructing a 10-unit T-hangar building. Total project cost: $935,800; $514,690 of FAA funds, $374,320 of state funds; $46,790 of sponsor funds. Project 2: The project consists of constructing taxilane and apron pavement to support new hangars. Total project cost: $907,456; $862,083 of state funds; $45,373 of sponsor funds.
- Thomas Municipal Airport: The project consists of constructing a new 75’x 75’ and a 68’x 60’ hangar. Total project cost: $1,544,000; $849,200 of FAA funds; $617,600 of state funds; $77,200 of sponsor funds.
- El Reno Regional Airport: The project consists of constructing a new 130’x 90’ box hangar and associated utility work. Total project cost is $1,855,905; $1,020,747 of FAA funds; $742,362 of state PREP funds; $92,796 of sponsor funds.
Finally, the Commission approved ODAA’s aerospace education framework for FY 2026 which totals $2 million. The aerospace education framework is separated into five distinct areas as follows: $824,921 for the competitive aerospace and aviation education grant program which totals 102 aerospace education programs around the state, $500,000 for Aerospace Classroom Laboratory Improvement Grants, $204,079 for ODAA hosted or partnered trainings, symposiums and events, $271,000 for Aerospace Competitions and Aircraft Assembly Programs, and $200,000 for an Aerospace Industry Internship Program.
