Airport leaders from across the State gathered at the Autry Technology Center in Enid on Wednesday for the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association (OAOA) Quarterly General Membership Meeting. While the agenda included many topics related to legislative advocacy, industry promotion and outreach, and airport development initiatives, the Association took the most pride in celebrating the inaugural class of Oklahoma Certified Airport Professional (OCAP) recipients.
Established in 2021, as a tool to engage airport managers and municipal leaders across the State, OCAP provides participants with a practical overview of airport management, tackling issues such as FAA Grant Assurances, Minimum Standards, Pavement Maintenance, and Airport Master Planning in a peer setting that is easily accessible to airport operators across the State. Participants are required to attend a minimum of seven out of nine classes offered throughout the year and then must pass a written exam.
Leading the OCAP initiative for OAOA has been a passion project of the Association’s Treasurer and the Assistant Airport Director of Stillwater Regional Airport, Foster Becquet. “Our OCAP committee members have worked hard to create an education program for airport leaders in Oklahoma, which has been a vision of the organization since its founding. The pandemic taught us how connected virtual platforms make us, and because of it, we’ve been able to reach many members from around the state who are looking to better serve their local airports and communities.”
The following airport managers and employees were recognized at Wednesday’s meeting as an Oklahoma Certified Airport Professional:
- Austin Wheeler, Tulsa Riverside Airport
- Chase Tindle, McAlester Regional Airport
- Dan Luttrell, Ardmore Municipal Airport
- Daniel Adams, Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport
- Jim Brown, South Grand Lake Regional Airport
- John Wyatt, Durant Regional Airport
- Joshua Matekovic, Durant Regional Airport
- Kathryn Parker, Shawnee Regional Airport
- Matthew Lovelace, Shawnee Regional Airport
About OAOA
For over 30 years, Oklahoma Airport Operators Association has advanced Oklahoma airports and the aviation industry, by providing resources and training to airport operators, and through cohesive legislative advocacy, to provide a robust aviation transportation system for the benefit of Oklahoma citizens.
