Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission

PROJECT PURPOSE

Oklahoma?s 108 publicly owned airports that make up the Oklahoma Airport System (OAS) create significant economic impact to the state?s economy contributing $10.6 billion to the overall $44 billion in annual economic activity that the aviation and aerospace industry creates. These airports not only act as important transportation assets to provide commercial, business, and private flying opportunities, but they are tremendous economic development assets to our state and the communities that surround them. With the state's aviation and aerospace industry recovering from the pandemic there is no better time to look to modernize our airport system than today. With the air transportation sector being hit particularly hard from COVID-19, many airport infrastructure investments that would have traditionally occurred were deleted or pushed back until full recovery is achieved. This airport modernization program will look to accelerate our state's airport system forward into the future by investing in necessary infrastructure projects that promote sustainability and growth, ensure resiliency against future pandemics, and keep our airports on pace with their peers across the region. Six different project categories are included in the overall airport modernization program: Air Traffic Control Facilities, Apron Reconstruction/Expansion, General Aviation Terminal Buildings, Hangar Construction, Runway Construction/Extension/Improvement, and Taxiway/Taxilane Construction. This program submittal is for the Terminal Buildings category.

EVIDENCE

While airports are still in the middle of operating and experiencing the pandemic, it has been shown that those airports which receive greater financial assistance during past economic downturns have a significantly higher chance of sustaining success and operating more efficiently through those economic recessions. No specific interventions or studies at the state/federal level have been conducted as it relates to airport infrastructure.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Oklahoma's more rural airports are routinely hit the hardest during economic downturns in the aviation sector. Airports that serve these communities rely heavily on grant funding and regularly struggle to come up with local funds needed to sustain airport operations and make grant matches. With this in mind, these rural Oklahoma airports were hit significantly through the COVID-19 pandemic. These airports also didn?t receive the same amount of attention as the larger, commercial airports throughout the Country in the various relief packages that Congress passed. Through this airport modernization program we will ensure that projects from rural, economically underserved, and vulnerable populations are considered and that grant funding will be provided to small and large airports alike. These investments will ensure sustainable airport environments and access to the benefits of air transportation to those communities that have airports.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

OAC has collected infrastructure data for all 108 system airports to ensure their viability over the next 20 years. This data along with the Oklahoma Airport System Plan goals and objectives will be used to determine project selection for the airport modernization program. Project performance and selection will be based on the impact to both the community the airport serves as well as the state. Project performance will also be based on how the project can help the airport recover and become more economically resilient. Programmatic data will be collected on projects that are selected in this category at the time of selection and during the implementation/construction of each project.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma