Aviation and Aerospace Bills Make Their Way through 58th Legislature
The committee process has concluded for several aviation and aerospace bills introduced during the first four weeks of the 2021 session. Lawmaking advocates of the state's second largest economic engine filed several bills that will advance the aviation and aerospace industry in the state.
SB 659 and HB 2174, Commission request bills, establish the Aeronautics Commission as the Clearinghouse for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the state. Regarding engineer tax credits in the state, SB 893 clarifies qualified programs as they relate to the income tax credit for aerospace employees to include graduate and undergraduate programs. The introduced language provides that undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution would be part of the qualified program if either program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The Commission wrote the original engineer tax credit legislation in 2008 when the incentive first became law. These bills are now being considered in their respective house of origin.
Aviation legislation that was filed but did not prevail included a measure that would remove the $4.5 million cap on revenues allocated to the Commission from the excise tax collected on aircraft sales in our State. Other bills introduced but not heard in committee include HB 1694 that would have protected privately owned airports in the state from construction encroachment and SB 938 which would have sunset the tuition reimbursement from companies at the end of tax year 2021 for automotive and aerospace manufacturers.
2020 Aeronautics Commission Delivers Annual Report
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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, OAC was created in 1963 by an act of the Oklahoma Legislature. Since FY2002, the Commission has invested $212.8M in federal funds and $75 million of the $89.3M it has received in state funds into airport infrastructure - 84% of OAC’s total revenues invested in airport infrastructure across the state. OAC is a non-appropriated agency funded directly by users of the Oklahoma Airport System through aircraft excise and fuel taxes, and aircraft registration fees. Find our FY20 Annual Report here. |
2021 State Aviation Art Contest Winners Announced; "A Friendlier World with Air Sports"
 The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission announced the names of students that placed in the Oklahoma 2021 International Aviation Art Contest.
The state-level Aviation Art Contest, sponsored by the Aeronautics Commission, encourages youth, ages 6 to 17, to reflect on aviation by designing a piece of art based on the year’s chosen theme. This year’s contest theme was “A Friendlier World with Air Sports.” (Click the students names in the link to see artwork.) Read More >>
WATCH: Chair DeFazio's Vision for Rebuilding America's Infrastructure
This week at the Aeronautics Commission
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American Airlines Pilot, Chase Hall, joined OAC’s Paula Kedy today to visit Wynnewood Public Schools and Elmore City-Pernell Schools to talk about the importance of aviation education. As always, we thank industry representatives who are willing to share their time to spread the word about aviation careers! |
Now Accepting Aviation Education Grant Applications: The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission's Aviation Education Program is currently accepting applications for the 2021-22 academic year. The deadline to submit the application is May 31, 2021. Grants are for education programs that are aviation and aerospace minded for primary through post-secondary education. The program funds are part of more than $300,000 the agency annually provides to programs statewide aimed at exposing more Oklahoma young people to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and careers in the aviation and aerospace industry.
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The Commission continues to work to inform schools about aviation education opportunities. This week, Paoli Public Schools welcomed OAC’s Paula Kedy to campus to learn more about the AOPA “You Can Fly” Curriculum! A former teacher and district administrator, Paula Kedy is traveling the state, making school districts aware of the program, and helping them incorporate it into their high schools. For more information about the Oklahoma AOPA curriculum, contact pkedy@oac.ok.gov. |
 The Aeronautics Commission has filed a Notice of Rule Making Intent to modify Administrative Rules Title 25 Chapter 1 in an effort to help clarify and ensure efficiency within the Commission’s Operations pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-3, which asked agencies to identify all unnecessary and outdated regulations.
Contact:
Michelle Bouziden, Grants Administrator
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission
110 N. Robinson, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
mbouziden@oac.ok.gov
(405) 604-6912
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PLEASE TAKE THE SURVEY THIS WEEK!
The Aeronautics Commission is embarking on a comprehensive update to our State Airport System Plan. This will provide OAC with important information to identify adequacies, deficiencies, and any redundancies in the public airport system. Contact Nick Young, OAC’s Aviation Program Manager, at NYoung@oac.ok.gov. Every pilot, business, or individual who utilizes an airport within the system plan should take this survey! |
 State Aerospace & Aviation
OPA - March Newsletter Read More>>
FLIGHTGLOBAL - Boeing 777-9 performing runway tests in Oklahoma Read More>>
McALESTER NEWS-CAPITAL - Lawsuit: Spirit violated CBA in plant closure plan Read More>>
OKMULGEE TIMES - So You Want to Work at Covington Aircraft? Read More>>
OKLAHOMAN - ConocoPhillips closing lab, ending shuttle service Read More>>
WICHITA BUSINESS JOURNAL - Union takes Spirit AeroSystems to court over Oklahoma plant closure Read More>>
TULSA WORLD - Sand Springs' Pogue Airport to get $13k in coronavirus relief funds Read More>>
KFOR - $15 million in COVID-19 relief to be provided to Oklahoma airports Read More>>
NEWS 9 - More Dining, Retail Options Coming to Will Rogers World Airport Read More>>
AERO NEWS NETWORK - Inhofe Leads CONTRACT Act Introduction to Support Air Traffic Controllers Read More>>
Military Aerospace & Aviation
THE DRIVE - The Air Force Is Having To Reverse Engineer Parts Of Its Own Stealth Bomber Read More>>
DECCAN HERALD - Loyal Wingman, the first pilotless military aircraft completes tests in Australia Read More>>
VALDOSTA DAILY TIMES - BAE Systems Starts Electronic Warfare System Production for U.S. Air Force F-15s Read More>>
REUTERS - Boeing to base U.S. Air Force prototype on Australian pilotless combat jet Read More>>
AIR FORCE MAGAZINE - For Military Superiority in Space, Start with Safety Read More>>
EXTREME TECH - The US Air Force Quietly Admits the F-35 Is a Failure Read More>>
National and International Aerospace & Aviation
FORECAST INTERNATIONAL - Boeing Awarded $10M for E-3 AWACS Mods Read More>>
NEW YORK POST - United orders more of Boeing’s controversial 737 MAX planes Read More>>
AVIATION WEEK - The Weekly Debrief: USAF Pilot Shortage Prompts Privatized Training Proposals Read More>>
GLOBENEWSWIRE - Aviation Week Network Enhances Community Focused Forums in 2021 Read More>>
WALL STREET JOURNAL - Boeing Moved to Replace 777 Engine Covers Before Recent Failures Read More>>
FORBES - Here’s What Boeing 777’s Engine Problem Teaches Us Read More>>
AMERICAN MILITARY NEWS - FAA using satellite technology to monitor every Boeing 737 MAX in flight Read More>>
REUTERS - Airline CEOs urge White House support for greener aviation fuel Read More>>
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The March TBIP Tenant and Aerospace/Defense Community Zoom will feature Col. Keven Coyle, Vice Commander (and future Commander of the 552 Air Control Wing). The Zoom call will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 22nd. Registration information for the call is provided below. |
 The Oklahoma Airport Operators Association will host their 2021 Annual Conference virtually April 6-8. For more information, contact Jan Williams, Executive Director, at jan.oaoa@gmail.com.
 
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