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Senate panel approves $1M boost for aeronautics to support unmanned aircraft systems and airport growth
Summary
The subcommittee recommended a $1,000,000 increase for the Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to support unmanned aerial systems/advanced air mobility infrastructure and continued airport growth projects. Officials said much of the UAS/AM funding could support Camp Gruber and described project timing and prior allocations.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee recommended adding $1,000,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics’ base budget, bringing the department’s total recommended appropriation to $16,000,000. The increment is intended to support two priorities the agency described: unmanned aerial systems/advanced air mobility (UAS/AM) infrastructure and the Pro-Growth Aviation Infrastructure Fund, which supports hangars, terminals, fuel systems and related airport development.
The agency’s executive director (identified in the hearing as Grayson Adair) told senators the department had previously received roughly $9,000,000 for UAS/AM infrastructure and that $2.5 million of that amount was allocated to the Oklahoma Military Department to support a Camp Gruber site. He said a new $1,000,000 increase would raise the UAS/AM infrastructure total to $3,000,000 and that a portion of the new funds would likely support Camp Gruber; the exact split would depend on bids and other projects that may require funds.
Senators asked whether operational or administrative cuts could be made to fund tax relief or other priorities; the director replied most agency cash flows go to infrastructure projects and that a 5% cut could eliminate two to five projects depending on matching requirements.
Why it matters: The additional funds support aviation infrastructure across Oklahoma and a national-priority area—unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility—while shaping which local airport projects proceed in the near term.
What the subcommittee decided and next steps: The $1,000,000 increase was approved to move to full appropriations. The department will continue to prioritize projects based on bids, sponsor match requirements and inflationary pressures; final project lists will be decided in upcoming budget negotiations.
Supporting details from the hearing: - Grayson Adair (executive director, Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics): the agency previously received about $9,000,000 for UAS/AM; "2 and a half of that was allocated towards the military department" for Camp Gruber and additional funding would "bring our total to $3,000,000 for U.S.A.M. infrastructure." (describing prior allocations and the expected effect of the new $1M) - The pro-growth aviation infrastructure fund supports hangars, terminals, fuel systems and taxi lanes; the department said inflation has required additional funding to maintain the same slate of projects.
Ending: The aeronautics funding recommendation will be negotiated in full appropriations; the department said it will recalibrate projects if the extra million is not provided.
