[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6482454,"mediaKeyId","5615000-6b869299631d178d826c06413ce803b8","parentId",5615000,"title","Aeronautics commission approves change orders and statewide airport grants, including runway and hangar work at Max Westheimer","audioSeconds",341,"startMs",511000,"endMs",852000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5615000-6b869299631d178d826c06413ce803b8&start=511&end=852","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5615000-6b869299631d178d826c06413ce803b8/thumbnail_511000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482454/Oklahoma/Aeronautics-commission-approves-change-orders-and-statewide-airport-grants-including-runway-and-hangar-work-at-Max-Westheimer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482454-d5855177d03987a9d432ab9059f0432a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833024&Signature=CT0EPIpt9LTB1PKjZclBEG3ZiXDyyMdZOdA1VWupzg~6LGXcHt5Rqz~fNWynhx4t1Kyn-qbpLsDurb64EUtV9QJ40aH6LMhq~ry1QbKV7hBjvm4rXBAsMMHGP-FMytf~htMs5nd03hOe3WcXEYckOnYpQha7qnCrpKp5wVW3J50d6Z4bb6C~Bsi7iRMFNKcw~JadpFCgptk5EOF4LNsUoY4gJrabEapOdj9zU8rtV6S~7etGrI8Odq~UqKjy0JUq4EYzy4ugr2tD0wwd-mgsbryiaD8lObCkesK-pPsXIeizI627Ti5bvg0qHX2c0EG4I5zYMyhszyGGcaF66wRXRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Aeronautics Commission","date","2025-08-21T22:32:56.287Z","article","The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission on Aug. 21 approved a series of construction change orders and grant awards for airports across the state, including work at Max Westheimer Airport in Norman and runway reconstruction at Pauls Valley Municipal Airport.

Commissioners voted to accept staff recommendations to approve three change orders requiring commission action and to note three additional amendments that staff had executed under director authority. Michelle (staff member), who presented the items, told the commission the Atoka environmental-assessment amendment required an added airport layout plan and increased project cost by $214,110 (funded largely with federal grant dollars); Prague Municipal Airport needed $17,413 to remove and replace saturated soils under new hangars; and multiple amendments tied to Max Westheimer’s new air traffic-control tower covered equipment, fencing relocation and asbestos pipe replacement. Staff sought formal approval for three other change orders, including an $82,518 adjustment at Clinton-Sherman Airport and two supplemental contract amounts at Max Westheimer totaling roughly $181,680 for hangar and tower-related work. Staff recommended approval and answered commissioners’ questions about the Max Westheimer tower schedule and funding sources.

Why it matters: The approved changes and grants fund repairs, safety upgrades and new infrastructure — runways, taxiways, hangars, perimeter fencing and tower equipment — that airport managers said will extend pavement life, improve safety and allow new aircraft operations and services.

Major items described to the commission included:
- Max Westheimer Airport (Norman): multiple amendments to tower and hangar grants, including added equipment, fence relocation and asbestos pipe disposal and replacement; staff cited federal and state grant funding plus sponsor matches; commissioners approved related change-order requests on the consent docket.
- Pauls Valley Municipal Airport: a discretionary FAA-partnered runway reconstruction project with a total project cost staff described as about $11.7 million; the commission approved the department’s share of local match.
- Ardmore (Arbor Downtown Executive): a new terminal building project with an anticipated total cost of about $3.3 million, funded by FAA, department and local match; city representatives spoke in favor at the meeting.
- Chandler Regional: full perimeter fencing project ($337,469) to reduce wildlife incursions; Fairview and Perry: multiple box-hangar projects funded through FAA and department grants.

Several cities and airport managers spoke in support of specific projects during the consent-docket presentations, describing local economic or safety benefits. For example, McAlester officials said taxiway and lighting upgrades will support a new terminal opening this fall; Woodward officials described a multi-phase PREP-funded project that includes a 500-foot runway extension tied to apron rehabilitation and fuel-system work; and SkyTook reported a waiting list of more than 20 years for hangar space, underscoring local demand.

Commission action and votes: After staff presentations, commissioners moved and seconded motions to approve the change orders and grant dockets. Roll-call votes were recorded for each motion; the motions passed. (See the structured actions[] list below for motion text, movers/seconds when recorded and vote outcomes.)

Quotes:
- “We really appreciate your support,” Lance (University of Oklahoma representative) told the commission in reference to Max Westheimer projects.
- “These improvements are critical to extending the life of our taxiway, as well as enhancing the safety and operational capacity of our airport,” Billy Sumner (City of McAlester) said when discussing that city’s taxiway rehabilitation and lighting request.

What the commission approved (high-level): the commission approved staff-recommended change orders needing formal action and advanced a multi-airport consent docket that included terminal construction, perimeter fencing, multiple hangar builds and pavement rehabilitation projects. Staff noted the majority of project funding is a mix of FAA grant dollars, state department funds and local sponsor matching contributions.

Next steps: Projects proceed under the department’s grant and agent agreements. Several presenters said construction mobilization was imminent (one project noted an October mobilization window), and staff will return to the commission for future routine approvals and any additional change orders.

Ending: Commissioners closed the item and proceeded with the agenda. The meeting record shows roll-call votes in support of the motions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ODAA Commission Meeting August 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission on Aug. 21 approved a series of construction change orders and grant awards for airports across the state, including work at Max Westheimer Airport in Norman and runway reconstruction at Pauls Valley Municipal Airport.","taxTitle","Aeronautics Commission, Executive, Oklahoma","taxId",27362,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6482450,"Commission funds FY26 aerospace-education framework and approves grants to schools, camps and competitions",237,3063000,3300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5615000-6b869299631d178d826c06413ce803b8&start=3063&end=3300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5615000-6b869299631d178d826c06413ce803b8/thumbnail_3063000.jpg","/articles/6482450/Oklahoma/Commission-funds-FY26-aerospace-education-framework-and-approves-grants-to-schools-camps-and-competitions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482450-78185bec45ddf258bbf6fb48332ce84c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833024&Signature=kNLo2FvhCFzOzXLJfNXFLkXEh1W09ZCwa5u-xAttaJyXKgqGTASsig62ABbQBA8VCDVZm8ExoGgQV2hPMxKfClsTzyH2S5X0duT9GiUhpt-LPw-8DDL2NdHJR4XibhRqm8guN03-8C0p-yWMxaw~Qe0WKKiaadmFhY~-hu1a71X4U6RxilI3fXf70DlPorqcfHbQ3rfW6epoxodpyt6FDY~6CO6Jj4~Oj~Vm1ulN2Xzg5ARxRb-3JOO2fcaZhglJWs0ACxpYiVmdNnEjyDcjraB7MLAESEPlo7RXrg1l1fyms66glurdrWSxF-C3CJFes8HIcPAjXmyNR5R3Hm7hNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission on Aug. 21 approved a FY2026 aerospace-education budgetary framework and a slate of grant awards to airports, schools, museums and nonprofit programs across the state, part of the commission’s multi-year effort to expand aviation and UAS pathways.

Director Grayson Ardies presented a five-part budget framework that sets a maximum of $2 million for the fiscal year: roughly $1 million from statutory revenues and $1 million from appropriations. The framework allocates funds among competitive aerospace/aviation education grants ($824,921), a classroom/lab improvement grant program ($500,000), department-hosted events and professional development ($204,000), STEM competitions and aircraft-assembly programs ($271,000), and an aerospace-industry internship fund ($200,000). Staff recommended approval of that framework; commissioners voted to adopt it.

Paula (education staff) and Stephanie (education staff) then presented dozens of recommended grant awards across multiple consent dockets: summer camps and workshops, competitions and events, workforce- and outreach-focused programs, other school programs, and a broad set of school implementations of the AOPA You Can Fly curriculum (years 1–4). Presenters included university programs (Cameron University, University of Oklahoma Sooner Flight Academy, Southeastern Oklahoma State), museums (Stafford Air and Space Museum), industry incubators (FIRES Initiative Science and Technology Accelerator), and dozens of K–12 districts and career-technical centers.

Why it matters: Commissioners and many presenters described the grants as investments in a growing Oklahoma aerospace workforce pipeline — giving students hands-on exposure to flight mechanics, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), aircraft maintenance and engineering; funding simulators, drones, wind-tunnel instrumentation and teacher professional development; and supporting competitions that attract statewide participation.

Highlights and examples of approved awards and program design:
- Framework totals: competitive grants ($824,921), classroom/lab improvement ($500,000), events/training ($204,000), competitions/assembly ($271,000), internships ($200,000).
- Camp and workshop awards: Sooner Flight Academy ($40,000), True Sky / Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center aviation camp ($10,000), Southeastern’s Take Flight camp ($10,000), Cameron University weeklong academy (recommended $3,268).
- Competitions and events: FIRST and KISS robotics support, Oklahoma State University Speedfest (recommended $19,650), Oklahoma Engineering Foundation and FIRST Lego League awards.
- School program awards (AOPA You Can Fly curriculum implementations): funding recommendations for many districts across Oklahoma, including new and expanding programs at Ada, Ardmore, Bethany, Bixby, Pryor, Putnam City, Weatherford, Yukon, and dozens of small and rural districts (staff presented detailed line items for each school during the consent dockets).

Commissioners sought and received clarifications about matching requirements and cost-per-student calculations. Staff explained that grants under $3,000 may be funded at up to a 90/10 state-to-local ratio, while awards above $3,000 are generally capped at a 50/50 split; staff also noted that some equipment purchases serve cohorts for multiple years and that small rural programs may serve relatively few students but supply statewide geographic coverage and career-pathway access.

Several school and community leaders described local impacts: a city representative for McAlester said taxiway and lighting work will support a new terminal; multiple school presenters said AOPA year‑1 courses have rapidly increased enrollment and that students earned flight and drone certifications or moved into aviation college programs. Staff and commissioners repeatedly framed the education work as a statewide workforce strategy.

Commission action: Commissioners approved the FY26 education budget framework (item 14) and then approved the consent dockets for camps/workshops (item 15), competitions/events (item 16), outreach/workforce programs (item 17), other school programs (item 18) and school AOPA implementations (item 19). Roll-call votes were recorded and the motions passed on each docket.

Selected quotes:
- “This will be the last time I’m presenting for a turnover of the reins to our very capable education team,” Director Ardies said as he presented the framework.
- “We were proposed to host a one-week summer academy in aerospace engineering and applied mathematics for middle school,” Dr. Anne Nalley (Cameron University) said about her program.
- “Our students are excited to be a part of this program,” several K–12 teachers told the commission when describing recent growth in enrollment.

Clarifying detail (matching rules): staff explained that for awards under $3,000 the commission may fund up to 90% of the request, while for awards above $3,000 the typical maximum is 50% state match; commissioners asked staff to confirm matching rules when evaluating each application.

Ending: The commission approved the FY26 framework and the grant dockets. Commissioners and staff encouraged commissioners, guests and the public to visit funded programs and noted that many awardees will return to the commission for ribbon cuttings and further reporting as projects and programs launch.

","The commission approved a $2 million FY26 budget framework for aerospace education and awarded competitive and formula grants to dozens of schools, museums and nonprofit programs to expand aviation classes, camps, drone training and workforce pathways across Oklahoma.","actionData","errors"]

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Aeronautics commission approves change orders and statewide airport grants, including runway and hangar work at Max Westheimer

Commission funds FY26 aerospace-education framework and approves grants to schools, camps and competitions