Photo above – Left to Right: Nick Young, the Airports Division Manager for the ODAA, welcomed Chris Batchelder, Vice President of Business Development for the Bartlesville Development Authority, and Mike Richardson, Airport Manager for the City of Bartlesville. They expressed their appreciation to the Commission for facilitating the construction of a large hangar, which has the potential to attract another aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul company to the city. The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission has granted $2 million towards a project for the construction of a 120-foot by 130-foot box hangar at the airport. With a total investment of just over $5 million, this initiative is supported in part by a $3 million contribution from the Bartlesville Development Authority.
The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) started off Fiscal Year 2026 with approvals for improvements to several Oklahoma airports. The July Commission meeting focused on authorization of upgrades and developments around the state, as well as the first approvals within the aircraft and space engine test cell grant program.
Fresh off the agency’s recently approved 5-year Airport Construction Program in May, Commissioners turned their attention to approving a slate of airport construction projects to support the agency’s goal of having business-ready airports statewide. The following Oklahoma state airport improvements have been approved as part of the Airport Construction Grant Program. The final costs are based upon current bids, and most of the projects will start construction before the end of the year:
- Ada Regional Airport: $3.6 million project to add a parallel taxiway B (east side). The project will be funded with $3.4 million in federal grant funds, $90,000 in state grant funds, and $90,000 in sponsor funds.
- Antlers Municipal Airport: $255,000 project to rehabilitate the runway with state grant and sponsor funds.
- Bartlesville Municipal Airport: $403,000 to construct hangar apron/taxilane pavement with state grant funds and sponsor funds.
- Clinton Regional Airport: $1.9 million to construct a new 10-unit T-hangar and 60′ x 60′ box hangar. The project will be funded with $1 million in federal grant funds, $769,000 in state grant funds, and $96,000 in sponsor funds.
- South Grand Lake Regional Airport: $5.5 million to construct a new terminal building and 120’ x 80’ box hangar fully funded by legislative-directed state grant money and sponsor funds.
- Stigler Regional Airport: $1.9 million to construct four 60′ x 60′ box hangars. The project will be funded with $1 million in federal grant funds, $759,000 in state grant funds, and $117,000 in sponsor funds.
- Tahlequah Municipal Airport: $1.9 million to construct a T-Hangar facility. The project will be funded with $1 million in federal grant funds, $773,000 in state grant funds, and $125,000 in sponsor funds.
- Tulsa Riverside Airport: $2.3 million to rehabilitate and widen runway 13/31. The project will be funded with $1.5 million in federal grant funds, $700,000 in state grant funds, and $117,000 in sponsor funds.
- Wilburton Municipal Airport: $263,000 to construct a taxilane/apron. The project will be funded with $250,000 in state grant funds and $13,000 in sponsor funds.
The Commission approved the allocation of Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity (PREP) funds to help develop local airports in the following communities:
- Bartlesville Municipal Airport: $5 million to construct a new 120′ x 130′ box hangar with associated office space. The construction will be funded with $2 million in state grant funds and $3 million in sponsor funds.
- Guymon Municipal Airport: $2.3 million to construct a new 120′ x 100′ box hangar. The construction will be funded with $1.3 million in federal grant funds, $920,000 in state grant funds, and $115,000 in sponsor funds.
- Wilburton Municipal Airport: $713,000 to construct a 65′ x 62′ box hangar. The construction will be funded with $518,000 in federal grant funds, $156,000 in state grant funds, and $39,000 in sponsor funds.
The Commission also approved two grants for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in Bristow, the first awards under the recently developed aircraft and space engine test cell grant program. The first grant will allocate $2.7 million to expand the engine test cell capabilities for maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities by placing a second engine test cell at Consolidated Turbine Specialists, a Kratos company, on the Bristow Jones Memorial Airport. The second grant will allocate $5.4 million to help fund the creation of three new engine test cells to test newly manufactured engines at a recently announced engine manufacturing facility that will be located in Bristow. These grants will help Kratos bring in an additional 110 jobs to Bristow over the next 5 years.
“We’re very proud of the progress Oklahoma continues to make in the aerospace and aviation industry,” said Executive Director Grayson Ardies. “New, innovative grant programs such as the engine test cell program, along with the many pro-growth aviation infrastructure projects approved in July, showcase the forward-thinking mindset of our state’s leadership. Strengthening our infrastructure while encouraging the next generation of aviation professionals will continue to be our main focus as we work to boost Oklahoma’s dominance in the aerospace community.”
ODAA staff wrapped up the meeting with a review of the Department’s participation in recent conferences, trade shows, and other events.
In May, ODAA teamed up with Oklahoma partners, including the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, OSU – Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, Skyway36, Tulsa Innovation Labs, Airwise Solutions, and Vigilant Aerospace Systems, among many others, at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) XPONENTIAL 2025 Conference in Houston. In mid-June, ODAA partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to represent the state’s aerospace and aeronautics industry at the 56th International Paris Air Show. In addition to the previously announced Kratos engine manufacturing facility, state officials also announced a partnership with Dawn Aerospace at the show. The announcement solidifies an agreement to launch the first Aurora suborbital spaceplane, with operations set to commence from the Oklahoma Air and Space Port. Dawn Aerospace, a New Zealand-based company, will operate the Dawn Mk-II Aurora Mark vehicle, with flights anticipated to begin in 2027.
In conjunction with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the ODAA’s aerospace and aviation education program hosted a 3-day training for the state’s aerospace educators. The event drew more than 200 attendees and included classes held at Rose State College in Midwest City and a tour of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. The training also featured a banquet held at Innovation Hall in Oklahoma City, where the AOPA announced that Oklahoma had been named first in the nation for aerospace high schools for the fourth consecutive year.
Lastly, in late June, ODAA staff hosted a student-focused STEM booth at the 2025 Tinker Air Show held at Tinker Air Force Base. The science, technology, engineering, and math-centered activities included building model rockets and balsa airplanes. Staff helped more than 3,000 children assemble the models over the two-day airshow event, where Oklahomans experienced some of the best aerial demonstrations available, including historical aircraft such as Tora Tora Tora and present-day aircraft such as the USAF Thunderbirds.
