City of Altus Lands Aviation Education Grant for Summer Aviation Camp

OKLAHOMA CITY –  Thirty-nine organizations were awarded Aerospace and Aviation Education Program grants or contracts totaling over $299,235 from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC). The record amount of funds will be used to bring more school-aged children in Oklahoma to STEM careers, particularly those in aerospace and aviation.  The funding was approved by the Commission at their most recent meeting.

The Commission approved an education grant for the City of Altus program titled Altus Aviation Camp. The program is intended to teach aviation basics through STEM education. It is their goal not only to teach children about aviation but to create a passion for it and an interest in pursuing aviation-related career fields later in life. The program will focus on rocketry, aerodynamics, lift theory, and aircraft design and control.

The goal of this program is to not only expose students (1st-8th grades) to aviation, but to create a passion for the industry. This program will focus on rocketry, aerodynamics, lift theory, and aircraft design and control. Each student will build their own rocket, glider\rubber band powered model and once complete test fly and document their aircrafts performance.  

It is estimated that 50 students will participate. The requested amount was $2,905 and $2,250 was granted.

Grants are for targeted learning programs that have a direct application to aerospace and aviation for primary through post-secondary education. The grant funds are part of the agency’s initiative to give more Oklahoma young people access to STEM careers in the aerospace and aviation industry.

The aerospace and aviation grant program, which has been awarding aviation education grants for over 30 years. Charged with the mission by state statute, the Commission fosters and encourages students to consider aerospace or aviation as a career. The Commission’s grant program has years of positive results. The initiative supports the Oklahoma Works project that aims to address the skills gap and connect students to programs that will help build the workforce of Oklahoma’s second largest industry.

Director of Aeronautics Victor Bird said aerospace supports 240,000 jobs with an average salary of $73,300 annually; “After a two-year study concluded in 2017, we learned that the Aviation and Aerospace sector in Oklahoma supports $43.7 billion in annual statewide economic activity. A competent workforce, which includes our desperate need for aerospace engineers, will be needed to sustain this industry”.

The nationally recognized program enjoys a positive reputation as one of the most robust aviation education programs among state aviation agencies.  Since FY2001, it has awarded over $2.8M in aerospace and aviation education grants.

“The City of Altus does a fantastic job with their summer aviation camp.  The strength of Altus Air Force Base, and the number of pilots in the community, and access to the Altus-Quartz Mountain Airport could make this camp the best in the state. We look forward to watching them grow their program and are proud of the work they are doing,” said Adam Fox, Aviation Program Manager and Aviation Education Coordinator for the Commission.