OK open skies

              OK Open Skies
A publication of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Volume 4, No. 3 FALL 2011
In This Issue
2
Stafford to Receive Wright Trophy
3
Weatherford Airport Opens Runway Stucky Reappointed to OAC
Alexander Joins OAC Staff
4
Lankford Visits Aerospace Officials
FAA Recognizes Davis Field
Similar to a format you might find at a speed-dating event, representatives from 21 Oklahoma aerospace companies, all AS9100 certified, showed off their capabilities to Tinker Air Force Base officials and several prime contrac­tors
during the Oklahoma Aerospace Prime Contractor Suppliers Round­table
on Oct. 27 in Del City.
The one-day event was spon­sored
and hosted by the Center for Aerospace Supplier Quality (CASQ), a program created by state lawmak­ers
within the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.
Director of Aeronautics Victor Bird said the free event, which was specifically tailored for AS9100-certi­fied
companies,was a reversal of sorts from the Tinker and the Primes event held annually in Midwest City. In that event, Tinker and its prime contractors, such as Boeing and Pratt & Whitney, make presentations to the suppliers. During the CASQ roundtable, suppliers were the ones doing the talking, while the prime contractors were doing the listening.
AS9100 companies are compa­nies
that are certified in the quality management standard specifically written for the aerospace industry that maximizes the probability of producing defect-free parts and as­semblies.
“We wanted something unique that would show the primes and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufac­turers)
what capabilities Oklahoma suppliers have that could lead to more business in our state,” Bird said. “And from the comments we
Suppliers Make Pitches to Prime Contractors
During CASQ Roundtable Event
Mike Teague of Green Country Aircraft Exhaust, Inc., left, gives an overview of his company’s capabilities to officials representing several prime contractors during the Oklahoma Aerospace Prime Contractor Suppliers Roundtable held in Del City.
Communities Receive Grants for Various
Airport Improvements
Several airport improvement projects around the state are one step closer to completion following the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission’s recent announcement that it had approved more than $1.5 million in state grants toward those projects.
“We are pleased to provide these state grants for these worthwhile airport projects,” said Victor Bird, director of Aeronautics. “It is impera­tive
that our local airports are con­sistently
maintained in a way that ensures the safety of the pilots, their passengers and the aircraft they fly in. The Commission looks forward to helping other communities with their future airport projects as we contin­ue
to strengthen Oklahoma’s system of general aviation airports.”
The grants are part of the Com­mission’s
Capital Improvement Pro­gram
(CIP), which provides funding to Oklahoma airports for various in­(
See GRANTS, page 2)
(See CASQ, page 4)OK Open Skies - Page 2 Fall 2011OK Open Skies
Aeronautics Commission
Rick Armstrong, Chairman
David Conway, Vice Chairman
Joe Harris, Secretary
Dave Amis III
Michael Ray
Tom Stephenson
Wes Stucky
Victor Bird, Director
A publication of the
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission
120 N. Robinson, Suite 1244 W
Oklahoma City OK, 73102
Phone: 405.604.6900 Fax: 405.604.6919
Website: www.aeronautics.ok.gov
Oklahoma native and former astronaut Gen. Tom Staf­ford
was recently named the 2011 recipient of the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy by the National Aeronautics Association in Washington, D.C. He will be pre­sented
with the award during the Wright Memorial Dinner on Dec. 16 at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
“I couldn’t be more pleased for General Stafford,” said Victor Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronau­tics
Commission, who was one of three aviation officials to nominate Stafford for the Wright Trophy. “He is a true aviation pioneer and his contributions in aviation and space are unmatched.”
Bird said Stafford has been very supportive of various aviation-re­lated
issues with which the Aero­nautics
Commission have been
involved, most notably the Aero­space
Industry Engineer Workforce Bill in 2008 and the Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act in 2010.
“The general has been one of our most ardent supporters, and we are grateful for his friendship, his candor, his honesty and his wisdom,” Bird said.
Stafford, 81, first fell in love with aviation as small boy growing up in Weatherford. He served many years in the U.S. Air Force flying various types of aircraft; however, it was his time spent at NASA with the Gemini and Apollo missions as well as the Apollo-Soyuz Project that made him a household name.
Stafford continues to make a lasting impact in aviation and aerospace today, serving on various boards, committees and
Stafford Named 2011 Recipient of Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
task forces, and appearing before Congress as an advocate for the aerospace industry. Q
frastructure needs, such as runway maintenance and construction; installation of navigational aids; land purchases; terminal improve­ments;
and installation and repair of airfield lights and signage.
Airports Receiving Grants
Enid Woodring Regional - $445,000 to reconstruct the taxiway and taxilanes located in the hangar area as well as pavement in specific areas of the main apron.
•
Kingfisher Municipal - $400,000 to help construct a 2,800-foot paved runway and connector taxiway.
Stillwater Regional - $363,158 to realign the south and center portion of the airport’s paral­lel
taxiway system, installing taxiway lights, and reconfigur­ing
the main apron and taxiway signage.
Shawnee Regional - $221,006 to rehabilitate and strengthen the runway, remove the MALS
•
•
•
lighting system, improve the runway safety area and install new LED runway lights.
Claremore Regional - $12,795 to remove a small earth ob­struction
that is located near the south end of the runway.
McAlester Regional - $47,696 to improve the runway safety area and runway object free area, which includes relocating a drainage structure at the end of the runway and extending the runway safety area to meet FAA guidelines, and remov­ing
an earth obstruction that is situated near the runway and within the object free zone.
Frederick Municipal - $9,225 to help replace the airport’s constant current regulator. Q
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•
•
GRANTS (Continued from page 1)
Gen. Tom Stafford (photo courtesy)OK Open Skies - Page 3 Fall 2011
Stucky Reappointed to Aeronautics
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commis­sioner
Wes Stucky of Ardmore was recently reappointed by Gov. Mary Fallin to serve another six years on the Commission. His term expires Dec. 31, 2017.
Stucky represents the fourth congressional district.
Since 1987, Stucky has been president and CEO of the Ard­more
Chamber of Commerce; Ardmore Development Author­ity;
Ardmore Tourism Authority; and Ardmore Chamber Founda­tion.
The Ardmore Development Authority also manages the Ardmore Industrial Airpark (Ard­more
Municipal Airport). Q
Alexander Joins
Commission Staff
Tamara Alexander was recently hired by the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commis­sion
as the agency’s new assistant operations offi­cer.
Her duties include handling purchase orders and maintain­ing
various agency records and reports. She previously served as an administrative technician for the State Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence. Q
Weatherford native and former astronaut Tom Stafford joined several state and city officials as well as many well wishers in Weatherford on Oct. 14 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened the new runway extension at the Thomas P. Stafford Airport.
“There was a lot of hard work that went into getting this project done, especially from the Oklaho­ma
Aeronautics Commission, but we finally did it,” said Stafford.
Airport Manager John Creswell said the extension was another step for the airport.
“We are really excited about this extension and seeing larger aircraft flying in and out of Weatherford,” Creswell said.
Aeronautics Commission Direc­tor
Victor Bird commented that the runway extension project, which increased the runway length from 4,400 feet to 5,100 feet, would not
have been possible without the support of the Federal Aviation Ad­ministration,
which provided $1.9 million for the project. The Aero­nautics
Commission pumped in $821,000 toward the project, while the City of Weatherford contributed nearly $102,000 in local matching funds.
Just prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a Lear jet took off from the now 5,100 foot runway, an ap­propriate
beginning to the informal ceremony that occurred just out­side
the terminal building on the tarmac.
The additional 700 feet of pave­ment
will accommodate most corporate jets, which is an impor­tant
tool for economic development efforts, officials said.
In addition to the runway exten­sion,
the airport also widened the airport’s parallel taxiway and extra 15 feet to meet FAA safety stan­dards.
Q
Weatherford’s Tom Stafford Airport Celebrates Completion of Runway Extension Project
Gen. Tom Stafford (retired), second from left, and Victor Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, cut the ribbon that officially opened the new runway extension at Tom Stafford Airport in Weatherford. The two were joined on the tarmac by several well wishers, including many city and state officials.OK Open Skies - Page 4 Fall 2011
Muskogee’s Davis Field Airport recently earned recognition from the Federal Aviation Administration as Oklahoma’s airport of the year.
The award recognizes compli­ance
with federal regulations, airport infrastructure improvements and financial support apart from federal aviation funding.
“When I go to meetings involv­ing
other airport operators, I hear about all the great work that is being done across the state. So to receive this kind of recognition is very humbling. The airport staff
Lankford Meets With Aerospace
Officials, Hears Concerns
Congressman James Lankford met with nearly 50 people from various Oklahoma aerospace companies during a tenant coffee this fall at the Tinker Business and Industrial Park.
Lankford provided a brief update on current issues per­taining
to aerospace and defense such as the national deficit, defense spending and FAA reauthorization.
Following Lankford’s briefing, attendees had the opportunity to share their concerns with the congressman, particularly issues regarding contracting with the Department of Defense and creating a better-skilled workforce for the aerospace industry.
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Director Victor Bird expressed his gratitude for Lankford’s support of the state’s aviation and aerospace industry. He encouraged Lankford and his colleagues in the House and Senate to pass a clean FAA reauthorization bill soon so that the state’s airports can plan infrastructure improvement projects and finish them in a timely manner.
Bird also lauded the success of the Center for Aerospace Supplier Quality (CASQ), a program of the Aeronautics Commission that helps small Oklahoma aerospace companies compete more effectively for gov­ernment
contracts with DoD and its prime contractors. Q
received from all participating com­panies
following the roundtable, the event was truly a success.”
During 5-10 minute presenta­tions,
each AS9100 company provided an overview of each their facilities, equipment, products, current customers, quality/delivery schedule performance and capacity for additional workload.
Allen Shipes, Oklahoma City site manager and senior consultant for Logistics Specialties, Inc., the com­pany
contracted to operate CASQ, said the CASQ roundtable was geared toward aerospace suppliers that manufactured aircraft parts but may expand to include other areas such as research and development and engineering.
To date, CASQ has helped 150 Oklahoma aerospace companies that has resulted in more than 300 contracts awarded worth an esti­mated
$32 million, a 24 to 1 return on investment from the $1.6 million the state has spent on the program since its inception five years ago. Q
CASQ (Continued from page 1)
Oklahoma’s Director of Aeronautics, Victor Bird, left, visits wtih Congressman James Lankford following a tenant coffee in Midwest City on Oct. 17.
and Board have worked real hard to turn our airport around, and I can’t thank them enough,” said Airport Manager Garry Lynn.
Davis Field was one of four other airports in the FAA’s South­west
Region that received the honor.
The award recognizes outstand­ing
contributions airports make to
FAA Selects Davis Field as Top
Airport in State for 2011
enhance aviation in their state.
Airports of the year were also selected in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. Q
Aerial view of Davis Field (photo courtesy)