The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) is an agency of state government that is responsible for promoting aviation in the State. Under the supervision of the
Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, the Commission fosters the growth of the aerospace industry and ensures that the needs of business and communities in the State are met by the State's airports. The Commission encourages the establishment and maintenance of public airports, including the preservation and improvement of the
State's 110 public airports.
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission's mission is to promote aviation, which includes ensuring that the needs of commerce and communities across Oklahoma are met by the state's 110 public airports that comprise the state's air transportation system, and ensuring the growth and vitality of the state's aerospace industry.
The commission is composed of seven members, each appointed by the
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of Oklahoma is the head of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves as the head of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. The governor is the '' ex of ...
, serving six-year terms. Five members are appointed from among Oklahoma's five
congressional districts
Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts and legislative districts, electorates, or wards in other nations, are divisions of a larger administrative region that represent the population of a region in the larger congressional bod ...
with the remaining two appointed at-large. The commission is responsible for appointing the State Director of Aeronautics to serve at its pleasure. The current director is Victor Bird, having served in that position since December 2002.
The commission was established in 1963 during the term of Governor
Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis Bellmon (September 3, 1921 – September 29, 2009) was an American Republican politician from the U.S. State of Oklahoma. A member of the Oklahoma Legislature, he went on to become both the 18th and 23rd governor of Oklahoma, mai ...
.
History
The commission was created by the
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 101 ...
in 1963. Its predecessor was the Oklahoma Aviation Commission.
Leadership
The Aeronautics Commission is under the supervision of the
Secretary of Transportation. Under current
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of Oklahoma is the head of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves as the head of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. The governor is the '' ex of ...
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin (; née Copeland; born December 9, 1954) is an American politician who served as the 27th governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She was the first and s ...
,
Mike Patterson is serving as the Secretary.
The commission is composed of seven members, each appointed by the
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of Oklahoma is the head of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves as the head of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. The governor is the '' ex of ...
. Each member serves a six-year term. One member is appointed from among each of
Oklahoma's congressional districts with the remaining two appointed from the State at-large. To be appointed to the commission, a member must be a citizen of the State with at least three years experience in aeronautics activities. The governor may remove any member of the commission for inefficiency or neglect of duty.
As of FY17, the members of the commission are as follows:
*Chairman Michael Ray - District 3
*Secretary Dr. David Conway - District 2
*Kevin Potter - District 1
*Vice Chair Wes Stucky - District 4
*Dave Amis, III - District 5
*Joe Harris - At-Large
*Jerry Hunter - At-Large
Budget
The Aeronautics Commission is a non-appropriated State agency. As such, it does not rely upon annual appropriations from the
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 101 ...
in order to function. Instead, the commission is funded by a dedicated 0.0008% tax on motor fuels bought for aircraft use and a dedicated 3.25% tax on the purchase of aircraft. Those two dedicated taxes make up 80% of the commission's annual budget. The remaining 20% comes from federal grants and other fees for the commission's services. About half of that budget is dedicated to providing assistance to local airport improvement projects. The remainder is used to operate the agency and to provide educational activities to inform the public about aeronautics.
See also
*
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...
External links
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission official website
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Aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics