The Oklahoma Division of Aerospace and Aeronautics is rolling out a 5-year Airport Development Plan.
It will ship over $300 million to airports throughout the state, and the most important chunk to Will Rogers World Airport. “Be certain we’ve our 108 airports working in tip high form,” stated Govt Director Grayson Ardies.
One more growth venture can be within the works for Will Rogers, and it’s simply the subsequent on an extended record for OKC’s journey hub.
This one is concentrated on reinforcing what the airport already affords as hopes of worldwide journey are on the horizon.
Ardies says pro-growth infrastructure is vital because the aviation trade in Oklahoma continues to develop. “Utilities, taxiways, hangar investments, gas methods to permit our aviation companies to blossom,” he stated.
Aviation is the second largest trade in Oklahoma, which is why his division hopes to funnel over $316 million to airport enhancements statewide. “The spine of that trade being the infrastructure we’ve in place,” Ardies stated.
Improved infrastructure already paying off at Will rogers World Airport and they’d be set to obtain one other $40 million in funding from the ACP. “You need to construct on what you may have,” Airport Director Jeff Mulder stated.
The funding could be used to construct 3 new hangars for airplane upkeep and repairs. “It is responding to the demand for extra clients,” he stated. “These are all items of the puzzle that assist develop the economic system and supply new providers.”
He additionally says the “puzzle items” may in the end assist pave the best way to worldwide journey and future expansions, that are all on the horizon for Will Rogers World Airport. “I feel between the good work that the airport is doing and the good work the state is doing investing in industrial air service growth, i feel it’ll permit for both these worldwide locations or not less than extra nonstop locations throughout the continental america,” Ardies added.
The plan additionally consists of excellent news for a few of our rural airports right here within the state, because the concentrate on “pro-growth plans” additionally applies outdoors the metro. Ardies defined the Division is focusing closely on bringing extra companies and financial progress into smaller municipal airports.
“Once you see like a 50 to 75 individual firm in a small city that could be the center and soul of that airport and coronary heart and soul of the financial presence in that group,” he defined. “Serving to them out in any manner we will and investing in that infrastructure to allow them to develop. That is actually what we’re attempting to do right here with these pro-growth investments, not simply within the Oklahoma Metropolis metro space however throughout the state as an entire.”
Alva, El Reno, Woodward, and Altus are only a few of the smaller airports set to obtain funding.
The 5-year plan will return up for last approval on the Division’s fee assembly on Might 15.
