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

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…