This year March 15, 2021 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center’s existence. With the majority of the Aeronautical Center’s workforce still on telework status due to the global health crisis, many commemorative activities are being re-evaluated to accommodate the safety of everyone. Nevertheless, there will be some creative celebration activities to honor this spectacular Diamond jubilee. Each month, some historical significance of this incredible aeronautical facility will be featured in MONRONeYnews. MMAC is recognized the largest Department of Transportation facility outside of the Washington D.C. locale.
By the summer of 1947, the Civil Aeronautical Authority’s Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City was bustling with students. The first group of international students came from the Philippine Republic. Their curriculum consisted of courses in air traffic control, airways communications, and airways facilities maintenance. It was Fred M. Lanter who became the second Director of Aeronautical Center (serving from 1947-1960). The CAA Center was tasked with fostering the development and promotion of aviation safety with regard to equipment, operations and maintenance in accordance with the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938.
By 1948, all the buildings at Will Rogers Field were occupied by the CAA. Some of the buildings in existence were Hangar 10, the Grounds Maintenance Building, and Building 50. Expansion was imminent, and additional buildings and warehouse space was needed, so the OKC Chamber purchased surplus war assets (in the form of warehouses) from Detroit, MI. Several buildings were dismantled, shipped, and then reassembled in Oklahoma City.
The dramatic increase in air travel at that time created a stronger need for better airports and more sophisticated management of air traffic. The CAA began conducting studies to determine the most desirable qualifications for people seeking employment as air traffic control operators.
The early 1950’s represented the first time in U.S. History that the number of miles flown by air passenger exceeded the miles traveled by train. The CAA began using a new phonetic alphabet, "Able-Baker-Charlie" which quickly became adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The English words had sounds that were common to all languages so the words could be pronounced internationally regardless of one’s nationality.
In 1952, English became the official universally accepted language in aeronautical radiotelephony, and is still required for communications involving international air services. Additionally, the CAA began using knots and nautical miles to establish a single military-civilian standard measurement for both speed and distance in air navigation.
As the Center’s work continued to evolve, the CAA developed a ten-year strategic plan and asked the Oklahoma City Council for their cooperation in implementing it. After three years of concentrated negotiations, the end result was the creation of the Oklahoma City Airport Trust. The Trust was established with the authority to purchase land, construct, maintain and lease buildings, and to issue bonds for financing. Ultimately, the Trust allowed for expansion of the facility to suit the CAA’s needs, and the CAA reciprocated by renting space in some of the completed facilities.
Over time, the CAA’s infrastructure began to change, and the Civil Aeronautics Board was delegated to the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The CAA became responsible for the investigation of accidents involving small aircraft. As the Nation rebounded from the war, more dependency was placed upon the contributions of U.S. engineers and scientists. Efforts were made to exceed development and production in the civilian world in hopes of strengthening our country. The CAA became concerned with the shortage of engineers and other trained aeronautical personnel who were entering the industry.
Soon, an Aviation Incentive Movement (AIM) program was launched, and its objective was to stimulate interest in aeronautics among pre-college students. AIM would equip grade schools with aviation displays, while conducting a series of nationwide clinics, encouraging competitions in the building and flying of model airplanes, while awarding flight or technical training scholarships. Unfortunately, budgetary restraints limited the program’s outreach efforts.
U.S. Senator A.S. "Mike" Monroney, an Oklahoma Democrat, became known as "Mr. Aviation" after introducing the 1955 Federal Airport Act. The Act provided the regulation and promotion of civil aviation to foster its development and safety. The Act set out to provide a safe and efficient use of airspace by both civil and military aircraft, as well as for other purposes. Subsequently, Senator Monroney also wrote the Federal Aid to Airports Act for 1959 and 1961. As the profession of air traffic control began to grow, so did the need to form a governing body comprised of representatives from all segments of the aviation community. In 1956, the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) was established to promote the progress and science of air traffic control while preserving a safe flight environment.
Communism and capitalism seemed to dominate the decade and the jet age was in its infancy. To adapt to this fast-moving industry, the CAA Center took the initiative to research the operational and functional challenges of high-altitude jet transport. The goal was to obtain a body of research before the civilian airlines received their first fleet of jet airplanes. Entering the jet age also represented a significant social change. Besides being able to fly higher, faster and farther, for the very first-time passengers would soon be able to access other parts of the world within just a day’s travel. For the CAA, this meant establishing new flight patterns for jets that were very different from the existing reciprocating engine aircraft.
Exponential growth of the aviation industry also meant development for the CAA facility. In 1957, the Flight Inspection building and the ILS Training building had just been completed. The CAA invested in a $13.5M expansion that was devoted to new buildings, supplies and operations. Slated for impending construction were eight new buildings: the Headquarters building, Air Traffic building, Air Nav Facilities No. 1, Flight Standards building, Radar Antenna Lab, Hangar 8, ARSR-1 Training Lab and Warehousing. All the equipment, supplies and material for the warehouse would be stocked at a later date, with the intent of eventually distributing critical aviation parts to worldwide destinations. Even in the late 1950’s, aviation was one of Oklahoma’s most prominent industries. The CAA Center was establishing quite a reputation with 1,600 employees operating, and a payroll of $7 million.
