Photo – The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics and Stroud Municipal Airport celebrated airport improvements with a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2025. The airport will widen and extend the runway to meet federal safety standards.
The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and Stroud Municipal Airport celebrated the widening and extension of their Runway 18/36 on Sept. 17, 2025.
The project will widen the runway from 60 to 75 feet wide and extend it from 3,000 to 4,000 feet long. The project will also rehabilitate the existing portion of the runway. The new size and improvements are necessary to satisfy Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards to provide better safety enhancements and increase economic development opportunities for larger aircraft that would utilize Stroud’s airport.
In addition to the improvements to the runway, the airport will also see the installation of new LED runway lights and Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPIs) to improve pilot guidance and trajectory, increasing safety during landings.
The full cost for the runway and lighting improvements is about $6.7 million. The ODAA will provide $3.6 million while FAA will provide $3 million and the local airport sponsor will contribute nearly $115,000. The improvements are part of ODAA’s Airport Construction Program (ACP). The ACP is a five-year revolving plan ODAA provides in cooperation with the FAA and airport sponsors to support the combined goal of having a system of airports that serves the business, transportation, and commerce needs of communities across the state.
“Stroud’s runway and lighting upgrades will boost operations and elevate the flight experience for both business and general aviation in the community,” said Grayson Ardies, ODAA executive director. “This pro-growth investment is fundamental to ensuring maximum safety and efficiency while driving commerce across Oklahoma’s airport system.”
Stroud Municipal Airport originally began as part of a Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) project in 1931. The CAA leased 90 acres to be used as an emergency landing field for military pilots during training flights. Since 1943, the airport has been operated by the City of Stroud. Stroud Municipal has expanded to 180 acres and is home to 16 based aircraft and sees about 3,600 takeoffs and landings annually.
