On the afternoon of August 2, the Aeronautical Center’s leadership had the pleasure of hosting the 28th Governor of the State of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt. Along with the Governor were the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, Matt Pinnell, and the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Brent Kisling. For each of them, this was their first visit to the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.

Upon getting a welcome briefing from Kevin O’Connor, Deputy Director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, the distinguished guests took a tour of the FAA Academy’s EnRoute Section. The Governor had the opportunity to see what it’s like from an air traffic student’s perspective using multi-million dollar simulators to learn about the volume of airspace between airport approaches and departures, and the nature of controlling and handing off aircraft among different aviation sectors. Keith DeBerry, Director of the FAA Academy and Wayne Coley, Air Traffic Division Manager enlightened the visitors about whom the FAA Academy trains and how training for the National Airspace System extends beyond the U.S. to over 172 countries. Michelle Coppedge, Director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center presented Governor Stitt with a token of his actual FAA-issued pilot certificate in an enlarged format. Governor Stitt has had his private pilot license since 2015.

Due to limited time, the Governor had to depart the Center early, but the Lt. Gov. Pinnell and Commerce Director Kisling continued on the tour, with the next stop of joining Dr. Melchor Antuñano, Director of the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI). Dr. Antuñano took them on a swift tour throughout the CAMI facility. They visited the helicopter flight deck with head- up displays; they then toured the National Airspace System Human Factors Safety Research Lab while greeting employees along the way. They received a tour of the high-bay area, research pool, sled testing area, high altitude chamber and then a quick stop to the Flex Sim, where they were able to experience egress from a smoke-filled aircraft.

The afternoon passed quickly, and all three visitors were fascinated and surprised with several of the missions represented at the Aeronautical Center. It was quickly realized that a few hours visit was not long enough to comprehend all the activities that go on at the Center. A return visit is being discussed for the near future.