Legislative Session Launches AERO Industry Growth into Stratosphere
By Sandra Shelton
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Legislature and Governor continued to take significant steps forward this spring for the state’s second largest industry, aerospace and defense. Recognizing the importance of this industry, the first session of the 59th Legislature was a successful endeavor as lawmakers and our state’s leaders considered several pieces of legislation to support the growth of aerospace and defense across Oklahoma.
This year’s policy measures follow on the heels of the largest single financial investment by the Legislature in the aerospace and defense industry last fall during special session when over $230 million was provided for various infrastructure projects across the state. It is this one-two punch of funding for infrastructure improvements and positive policy measures that will help propel the industry to the next level.
The first major policy measure to complete its flight this session was a rebranding of the state’s aviation and aerospace agency, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. The Aeronautics Commission was originally established as the “Aviation Commission” in 1945 and activated in 1947 by Gov. Roy Turner. Senate Bill 782, by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow changes the name of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission to the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics.
“This rebranding of the agency and changing their name will ensure they’re able to be properly represented as the state’s go-to agency for the aerospace industry and to show that Oklahoma is establishing a Department to help support and promote aerospace across the state,” said Sen. Rosino. This rebranding effort comes exactly 60 years after the agency became known as the “Aeronautics Commission” in 1963.
“Having a Department to represent our second largest industry is important within state government. I know this rebranding will help show to the world that Oklahoma is ready and willing to support aerospace and defense,” said Rep. Hilbert. The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics’ mission will continue to be promoting aerospace and aeronautics throughout the state, ensuring each of our communities have their air transportation and aviation commerce needs met by the Oklahoma Airport System, continuing the growth and viability of the aviation and aerospace industry, and ensuring the state’s second largest industry has the workforce it needs to be successful.
Throughout the session, and leading up to it, excitement for the aerospace and defense industry was notable. Much of this awareness and success of the industry in recent years is due to the limitless need for skilled workers in the aviation, aerospace and defense sectors not only in Oklahoma but across the Nation. This need for workforce is driving attention amongst audiences that previously never looked at the potential of an aerospace career. Several bills were introduced in 2023 to address workforce concerns specific to aerospace, as well to help support one of the more exciting sectors of the industry, advanced air mobility.
Senate Bill 930, by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City and Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, creates a program within the Aeronautics Commission called “AeroSPACE” or Aero Student Pathways for Aerospace Careers and Education. The general goal of this effort is to create a central resource in state government that possesses the aerospace and aviation expertise to promote, advocate, and facilitate the distribution of aerospace curriculum and education concepts into classrooms across the state and to partner with higher education and CareerTech to ensure students are prepared to enter the aerospace and defense workforce or gain additional education after they graduate high school to support their career aspirations.
“Just this past year we’ve seen the impact of the Aeronautics Commission in the AERO Education field when they were recognized for their advocacy work on the AOPA “You Can Fly” 4-year high school program where Oklahoma led the Country with 57 schools teaching the curriculum,” said Rep. Baker.
Senate Bill 773, by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City and Nicole Miller, R-Edmond aimed to amend existing statutory language and sharped the scope of the Advanced Mobility Programs for the state to ensure that the future of advanced mobility technologies for both air and ground vehicles can benefit all Oklahomans. In addition, SB 773 reinforced the Aeronautics Commission as the clearinghouse organization in state government for advanced air mobility and provided them an avenue to invest in much needed infrastructure to support this burgeoning industry.
“We are proud to invest in advanced mobility infrastructure and continue making these policy initiatives that will ensure Oklahoma is seen as a fly-to state for the testing and development of UAS and AAM,” said Rep. Miller.
“The combination of record funding investment in infrastructure and policy changes for the aerospace and defense industry is intended to stabilize this industry as it is coming out of the COVID era and moving into the next growth phase here in Oklahoma,” said Tim Gatz, Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation. “The needs of the state airport system are being addressed by new appropriations and these investments in hangars, terminal buildings, fuel systems, and runway extension are helping to grow our aerospace industry,” Gatz continued.
Working with lawmakers, state leaders, fellow agency partners, and the airport community the Aeronautics Commission identified airport growth-related infrastructure items to help spur economic activity in our local communities. The agency also received funding directed towards advanced air mobility to help invest in various radar, detection, and vertiport infrastructure. With the state’s ultimate goal of being a fly-to entity for the testing, research, development and eventual manufacturing of these new technologies, investments like these will be critical to help achieve success along this flightpath.
“The agency has led the way to advocate for the aerospace and aeronautical industry in the state since its inception in 1945. Our commitment to improving airport infrastructure to attract new businesses and operations, administering nationally recognized aerospace education programs, and enhancing the overall industry has been recognized across the Country,” said Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Director Grayson Ardies. “Bringing awareness to the positive steps and significant milestones the industry is achieving every day here in Oklahoma will hopefully inspire the next generation of aviators,” Ardies continued.