Oklahoma’s aerospace industry is a vital economic engine for our state. The aviation heritage of our state is strong, and numerous industries continue to solidify Oklahoma as a worldwide leader in aviation, aerospace, and aerospace and defense. Oklahoma has been one of the world’s major aerospace industry centers since World War II. Whether you fly recreationally or for business, Oklahoma’s air transportation system is truly a “gateway to the world!” See for yourself what makes Oklahoma skies an impressive aerospace destination for innovation and hard work:

Aerospace Facts & Figures:

• Oklahoma’s aviation and aerospace industry is one of the state’s top economic engines, providing more than 120,000 jobs and generating an economic impact of $12.5 billion annually.
• More than 500 aerospace companies are located throughout the state.
• The average annual salary for an Oklahoman working in the aerospace industry is nearly $63,000.
• Aerospace is the state’s top export.
• Oklahoma is recognized as one the seven centers in the world for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft.
• Tinker Air Force Base, the state’s largest single-site employer with 26,000 employees, is the world’s largest military aircraft repair facility.
• The American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Base in Tulsa is the world’s largest commercial aircraft repair facility, employing more than 6,000 people.
• Aerospace and defense in Oklahoma is responsible for $27 billion in sales.
• Over 6% of the state’s economy is attributed to aerospace and defense.

Oklahoma Airports Facts & Figures:

• General aviation has an estimated $2.5 billion economic impact in Oklahoma.
• With 137 public-use airports, including 110 that are publicly owned, Oklahoma is ranked in the top 10 nationally for the number of airports per capita.
• Out of the 110 publicly owned airports, 107 are general aviation airports, including 49 that are regional business airports. Forty-three (43) of those 49 have jet-capable runways of at least 5,000 feet in length.
• About 97 percent of Oklahoma’s population is within 25 miles of a regional business airport and about 94 percent lives within 25 miles of an airport with a jet-capable runway.
• Oklahoma has more than 3,900 general aviation aircraft that are actively flying in the state and nearly 7,900 pilots.
• The FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City trains 20,000 air traffic control students annually and also employs 7,000 Oklahomans.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Facts & Figures:

• Oklahoma is a national leader for unmanned aerial system research and testing.
• Oklahoma was the Department of Homeland Security’s selected site for its small UAS Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) program that supports first responders.
• Oklahoma State University in Stillwater has the only UAS Master’s and Ph.D. programs in the nation.
• University of Oklahoma researchers are using UAS platforms for weather and radar-related research, and, along with OSU, are collaborating with the National Severe Storms Laboratory to use UAS to characterize severe storms.

Reference: Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Feb/2016
The mission of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission is to promote aviation, which includes ensuring that the needs of commerce and communities across the state are met by the state’s 110 publicly owned airports that comprise the Oklahoma Airport System, and helping ensure the viability of the state’s aerospace industry.