Longtime Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) Director Victor Bird, a recognized state and national aviation leader who retired as a public servant on Nov. 1, has been named chief operating officer for Aircraft Towing Systems (ATS) World Wide LLC. ATS Vice President/Chief Executive Officer Vince Howie said he’s been impressed with Bird’s significant leadership and management […]
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission names new State Director of Aeronautics
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission has named Grayson Ardies as its new State Director of Aeronautics. The appointment was confirmed at the Commission’s Oct. 14 meeting and his tenure as director officially began Nov. 1. Ardies, 33, started as an Airport & Aerospace Industry Development Intern in 2009 and has moved up the ranks with his […]
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology Expands Fleet with Purchase of 32 New Piper Trainers
Piper Aircraft and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology announced the expansion of its aircraft fleet with the purchase of 32 new Piper trainers to meet the future demand for certified pilots in the United States. State and local officials joined Spartan College and Piper Aircraft leaders for the historic delivery of the 5000th Piper […]
Oklahoma State Aeronautics Director Victor Bird Retires
At its Wednesday, Oct. 14 meeting, the seven-member Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission accepted the retirement of long-time State Director of Aeronautics Victor Bird. Bird leaves a long legacy of state policymaking with 36 years of public service to the State of Oklahoma. During his 18-year tenure with OAC, Bird’s emphasized promotion of the aerospace industry, one […]
OK Aeronautics Deputy Receives State Aviation Distinguished Service Award
For more than 10 years of state service to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, deputy director Grayson Ardies has been recognized with the 2020 State Aviation Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO). This award was established in 1989 to honor State Aviation personnel who have excelled in their service and […]
$16M in Airport Projects for Oklahoma Announced, Slated to Begin This Fall
Airport construction projects totaling $15,919,332 will soon commence across the state following a recent announcement of funding by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The fourteen grants for Oklahoma airports were announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. The FAA funding that was a part of the announcement is a mixture of FAA Airport […]
Oklahoma Airport Operators Association Announce Annual Awards, Name Guthrie-Edmond Regional as Airport of the Year
Members of the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association (OAOA) named Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport as the state’s top airport for 2020. Schellon Stanley, the Guthrie/Edmond Airport Director was also selected as the 2020 airport manager of the year. Stanley came to the Guthrie/Edmond airport in 2015 after serving as the Airport Operations Officer at OU Westheimer Airport […]
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Grants Record Amount of $335,400 for Aviation and Aerospace Education Funding
Forty-five years ago last month, millions of people around the world watched on television as the U.S. Apollo and U.S.S.R. Soyuz spacecraft docked to mark the first historic international space mission and what is generally considered the end of the Space Race. The Apollo module was commanded by Oklahoma favorite son, General Thomas P. Stafford. […]
Skydweller Announces Oklahoma City as U.S. Corporate Headquarters
Skydweller Aero Inc., a U.S.-Spanish aerospace company developing renewably powered aircraft for defense and commercial industries, announced the establishment of their corporate headquarters and engineering operations in Oklahoma City and testing and integration in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Skydweller plans to increase operations to 120 aerospace engineering and field technician jobs in Oklahoma by 2024. “It has […]
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Approves $136M Five-Year Airport Construction Program
A $136 million plan to improve Oklahoma’s airports over the next five years has launched following approval at the May 20 meeting of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC). The statewide Airport Construction Program (ACP) is for fiscal years 2021 through 2025 and will address needs at 50 of Oklahoma’s public airports. Projects range from extending […]
