The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission voted Dec. 10 to approve several construction change orders and grants across the state, add five projects to its five‑year airport construction program (ACP) and to fund the design of a hangar and support aprons for Dawn Aerospace at Clint Sherman.

Michelle (agency staff) outlined change orders for multiple airport projects, including a $12,387 adjustment at Frederick Regional Airport — funded with $6,813 in federal grant funds, $7,955.49 in state grant funds and roughly $619 in sponsor match — and a $470,000 amendment for phase 2 pavement rehabilitation at Clinton‑Sherman to address additional concrete and panel replacement work on the runway’s keel sections. Director Artis explained that deeper panel replacements discovered during spall repairs increased costs and that addressing them now should reduce the frequency of future runway closures.

Nick Young asked the commission to add five projects to the ACP: three 50×50 interconnected box hangars at Cherokee Municipal (project cost about $1.5 million), similar hangars at CE Page (estimated $1.5–$2.0 million), a Durant Regional air traffic control tower (initial legislative appropriation of $3,000,000 for early phases and siting work), a 10‑unit interconnected hangar at El Reno and three 50×50 hangars at Holdenville (about $1.5 million). Young said the agency plans to seek a mix of FAA entitlement funds and state sponsorships so that the state share will typically be about 40% for the hangar projects.

On grants and design approvals, staff recommended and the commission approved: a crack‑seal and seal‑coat project at Anadarko (state funded), $113,000 for CE Page hangar design (agency share $45,211), a $257,522 siting study for the Durant tower (funded by state legislative appropriations contingent on a grant application), and a Guthrie‑Edmond land acquisition appraised at $1,600,000. Nick Young said the Guthrie acquisition would seek $740,000 in FAA funds, $791,856 in state grant funds and an $80,624 sponsor match to acquire roughly 35 acres for aeronautical development.

On the Clint‑Sherman item, staff presented a design contract — via Garver and Guernsey — for a 100×100 hangar with office, a viewing area, payload processing, and two small aprons (fuel and oxidizer) to support Dawn Aerospace operations. The design cost was estimated at $490,900 and is to be funded with PREP site funds. Director Artis described the broader economic development approach: "the state of Oklahoma is acquiring the spaceplane itself" under a new‑product development incentive and will own the craft while Dawn would operate it initially; the commission approved the design funds to stay on a schedule that aims for readiness in 2027.

The commission also approved a contract amendment with Vigilant Aerospace Systems to add upgraded electrical components to radar trailers used for BVLOS flight testing, at a total additional cost of $67,100 ($13,500 for a single retrofit and $53,600 for additional trailers) so units arrive field ready.

All of the described construction amendments, ACP additions, grants and contracts were approved by voice/roll call votes during the meeting. The commission generally recorded unanimous ayes for the measures presented, and votes were captured on the record during each item.

The commission’s actions seek to use federal entitlements, state appropriations and sponsor matches to accelerate airport projects, expand hangar capacity across small airports, and advance spaceport readiness and testing infrastructure. Staff noted that federal continuing resolutions could constrain the FAA’s ability to obligate AIP grants until appropriations are finalized, a factor the agency said it is monitoring.

The commission will reconvene in regular session at 9 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2026, at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.