Overview

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics has a mission to promote aviation, which includes ensuring that the needs of commerce and communities across the state are met by the state’s 108 public airports that comprise the Oklahoma Airport System and ensuring the viability of the state’s aerospace industry. Empowered and directed to encourage, foster, and assist in the development of aviation and aerospace in this state and to encourage the establishment of airports and air navigation facilities, the former Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) was formally created in 1963 by an act of the Oklahoma Legislature, succeeding the Oklahoma Aviation Commission. Since FY 2001, the Department has invested $274 million in federal funds and $76.5 million of the $94.5 million it has received in state funds into airport infrastructure. ODAA is funded by users of the Oklahoma Airport System and the Legislature through aircraft excise and aviation fuel taxes, aircraft registration fees, and appropriated funds. On average, 81% of funds received go directly back into airports.