The Blackwell-Tonkawa Municipal Airport’s Runway 17/35 has been widened and rehabilitated with a pavement overlay. The upgrades were necessary to improve safety, upgrade pavement conditions and meet federal standards.
The new runway width is required to accommodate the number of larger aircraft with wider wingspans that utilize the airport located in north central Oklahoma, particularly larger agriculture spraying aircraft. In order to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards, the dimensions of the runway were widened by 15 feet, growing from 60 to 75 feet.
The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is a standardized method for assessing the condition of airport pavements. In 2020, Blackwell-Tonkawa’s runway was inspected by engineers with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and given a low rating which indicated major work would be needed in the upcoming 5-year window. These inspections, along with the required wider runway, helped to determine the project’s inclusion in the ODAA’s five-year Airport Construction Plan (ACP). The full cost of the improvements was $1.65 million. The lion’s share of the cost was provided by the FAA with grants totaling a little more than $1.5 million. The local airport sponsor contributed $88,000 while ODAA provided $76,000. The ACP is a five-year revolving plan 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.
“This is a tremendous development for the Blackwell-Tonkawa Municipal Airport,” said Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City. “This runway upgrade improves access for larger aircraft while also ensuring the airport meets modern safety standards. It’s great to see state and federal resources coming together to support regional air travel that drives growth in rural communities.”
Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, celebrated the improvements, highlighting the airport’s importance to the community and future growth.
“This airport means opportunity for Blackwell, Tonkawa and the surrounding communities. I’ve used the runway myself during flight training,” said Luttrell. “I know how valuable it is to have a resource like this close to home. These upgrades open the door for growth and new possibilities for our area.”
Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Executive Director Grayson Ardies emphasized improvements were essential in attracting commerce to the area.
“The Blackwell-Tonkawa Regional Airport has been a great asset of the small general aviation airport community for decades,” said Ardies. “As traffic continues to grow and larger aircraft utilize the Oklahoma airport system, we’ll continue to invest state and federal funds to support improvements that bolster safety, improve pavement conditions, and meet FAA standards. Access to air transportation is fundamental to community growth and bringing business to the state.”
