Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics! 🛠️✈️

Today, we honor the dedication, skill and innovation of the workforce driving Oklahoma’s second-largest and fastest-growing industry.

A special salute goes out to our Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations across Oklahoma.

As the MRO capital of the world, Oklahoma relies on the unmatched expertise of the technicians, maintainers and engineers who keep both commercial fleets and military aircraft safely in the skies.

From our busy metropolitan centers to every local airfield across the state, your hard work propels our economy and keeps Oklahoma soaring. Thank you for your dedication!

09/03/2026

It’s been nearly 10 years since Oklahoma took a comprehensive look at the economic impact of its aerospace and defense industry. A lot has changed since then.

On October 6, we’re revealing the new numbers, and you’re invited to be there! ✈️

Join the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics at the Oklahoma History Center for the official Aerospace & Defense Industry Economic Impact Study Reveal.

We’ll take a closer look at the jobs, growth, innovation, and economic impact fueling one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing industries, and what the numbers say about where we’re headed next.

📅 Tuesday, October 6, 2026
📍 Oklahoma History Center
☕ 9 a.m. | Mix & Mingle

🎤 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Formal Program & Economic Impact Study Reveal
Come for the big reveal. Stay for the conversation with aerospace, aviation, defense, and government leaders from across the state.

Seats are limited, so reserve yours today: https://vist.ly/5h7t2

09/02/2026

Two Union High School students are already turning their passion for aviation into professional credentials. ✈️

Congratulations to Union High School senior Joseph Majed on earning his private pilot’s license and junior Layden Gray on securing his commercial drone license! Their accomplishments show what can happen when students have access to aviation education, hands-on experience and strong local partnerships.

As Oklahoma’s aerospace industry continues to grow, programs like these help students build the skills and credentials to pursue careers right here in our state.

Read more about Joseph and Layden in the Tulsa World: https://tinyurl.com/h84n9ja6

Joseph Majed, a senior, became the program’s first student to complete a solo flight and has earned a private pilot’s license. Junior Layden Gray got airborne in a different way.

09/01/2026

🚀 The future of microgravity manufacturing is launching from Oklahoma!

The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority is excited to welcome Astral Materials and Dawn Aerospace to Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport.

Through a new agreement announced today, Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane will conduct up to 100 microgravity flights over two years from Infinity One beginning in 2028.

With a 4-hour turnaround time, researchers will be able to fly, recover and re-test hardware multiple times in a single day, dramatically accelerating the development of next-generation semiconductor crystals and other advanced materials used in quantum computing, advanced electronics and photonics.

This partnership further positions Oklahoma as a premier U.S. destination for high-cadence commercial spaceflight and a launchpad for the next era of advanced manufacturing. ✈️🚀

👇 Read the full announcement from Dawn Aerospace below!

https://www.dawnaerospace.com/latest-news/astral-materials-microgravity-flights

08/28/2026

The future of Okmulgee is officially taking off! ✈️

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics joined Okmulgee Regional Airport and community leaders this morning to break ground on a new terminal building — a $2.5 million investment in the airport’s future.

The project will modernize airport operations, support regional business and create a welcoming new gateway for visitors to Okmulgee and the surrounding area.

The new terminal is the centerpiece of a larger package of improvements that includes a motorized security gate, ADA-accessible pathways and upgraded signage.

ODAA Airports Division Manager Nick Young joined Oklahoma State Senator Bryan Logan and Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin to celebrate the milestone and highlight the partnerships making continued investment in Oklahoma’s airport system possible.

Thank you to everyone who joined us as we marked another step forward for Okmulgee Regional Airport and Oklahoma aviation. 🛫

08/27/2026

Investing in infrastructure to move Oklahoma forward! ✈️✂️🏗️

This morning, our team at the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics was proud to stand alongside City of Fairview officials and community leaders for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Fairview Regional Airport (6K4)!

We are excited to celebrate the completion of three new 3,600 sq-ft hangars. We are especially happy to announce that Bearhawk Aircraft will be utilizing one of these new hangar spaces, bringing exciting manufacturing and aviation innovation directly to the field! 🛠️🛩️

This infrastructure expansion marks a major milestone. It officially elevates the facility to regional airport status, featuring an extended 4,400-foot runway with a full parallel taxiway. These upgrades allow Fairview to safely accommodate larger general aviation aircraft, support regional travel, and unlock new economic opportunities across Western Oklahoma.

A huge thank you to all the community members who joined us to celebrate this incredible leap forward. ODAA remains committed to building a stronger, more competitive future for aviation across our great state!

08/26/2026

Oklahoma takes the space race inland! 🚀🛰️

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics team spent an incredible time in Salt Lake City attending the 40th Annual Small Satellite Conference.

We connected with global leaders, shared Oklahoma’s unique space advantages, and highlighted our booming ecosystem of space defense, manufacturing and tech innovation. From advanced payloads to scalable engineering, Oklahoma is positioned to capture a major share of the global space economy.

It was fantastic catching up with industry peers and meeting new partners who share our vision for the future of flight. Thank you to everyone who stopped to discuss how we are building the future of aerospace right here in Oklahoma.

Let’s keep the momentum flying forward!

08/25/2026

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics was honored to participate in the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education Counter-UAS Symposium at the Hamm Institute for American Energy, delivering the event’s closing remarks.✈️

📣 The event featured insights from keynote speakers representing:

▪️ The University of Tulsa Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute
▪️Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
▪️Joint Counter-UAS University at US Army Fort Sill
▪️Point Defense Battle Lab Kansas (184th Wing, McConnell AFB)
▪️Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (The Pentagon)

🛡️Expert panels discussed law enforcement, Counter-UAS operations, countering drone swarms and how the Oklahoma National Guard is applying lessons from the Ukraine war to training at Camp Gruber.

Thank you to Dr. Jamey Jacob and the OAIRE team for hosting.

ODAA also extends a sincere thank you and farewell to Victoria Natalia, former Director of Strategic Innovation for OAIRE, as she begins a new chapter in Toulouse, France. Her contributions to Oklahoma’s aerospace sector have been highly valued. We wish Victoria and Paul the very best on their new adventure.

08/24/2026

Oklahoma is helping shape the conversation around the future of flight and space exploration! ✈️🚀

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics was well represented at the 34th Aerospace States Association Annual Meeting and 7th State Aerospace Policy Summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell and ODAA Executive Director Grayson Ardies joined aerospace leaders from across the country to discuss national infrastructure, industry growth and the policies shaping the future of aviation and space. Lt. Gov. Pinnell also took the stage to moderate a policy discussion on inland and sea-based spaceports.

As Oklahoma’s second-largest industry, aerospace and defense continues to play a critical role in our state’s economy. From advanced air mobility to space commerce, Oklahoma is positioning itself for what’s next.

We also extend our sincere thanks to Lt. Gov. Pinnell for eight years of dedicated service as Oklahoma’s official representative to the Aerospace States Association. His leadership and advocacy have helped elevate Oklahoma’s voice nationally and advance opportunities for aerospace and aviation across our state.

08/21/2026

✈️ It’s been a busy time for the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics team! We are working hard to advance our state’s aviation and aerospace industry.

Here is a look at our recent goings-on:

🏛️ Congressional Visit: We were excited to host Congressman Kevin Hern at the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport. We also joined him for an insightful tour of AAR’s facilities in OKC.

🎓 Aero Education: Our Aerospace Education team hit the road to visit EAA Chapter 455 at Enid Woodring Regional Airport. It is inspiring to see how people across the state are working together to support and grow aerospace education in their local communities!

🛫 Airports Team: Members of our Airports team traveled to Fort Worth to attend the 2026 Blue Side Up Conference at the Federal Aviation Administration Southwest Regional Office. We collaborated with agency peers on flight safety, operational standards, and regional management to highlight key efforts in aviation safety.

Thank you to everyone who partners with us to keep Oklahoma’s aerospace momentum soaring!