Commission Approves Grant for Muskogee Terminal, Other State Projects

The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission issued the following news release:

The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission recently approved state funding totaling $1.3 million for several airport projects across the state as part of its Capital Improvement Program.

Muskogee's Davis Field is set to receive a $500,000 CIP grant from the Aeronautics Commission to replace the airport's existing terminal building at a cost $1,135,800. The City of Muskogee will provide $635,800 in matching funds for the project.

"Making sure that our public airports meet the needs of businesses using our airports and that they are safe are priorities for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission," said OAC Director Victor Bird. "Businesses these days come calling on an aircraft, not a bus. This terminal, along with its runway, will make the airport Muskogee's front door to the world."

Aeronautics Commission officials point to the existing terminal's age and current condition as reasons for a new terminal. The new, larger facility will provide many of the amenities that are commonly found in today's airport terminals such as a public reception area; men's and women's rest rooms; administrative offices; conference room for public use; pilot flight planning and weather briefing area; and a kitchen or vending area.

"We have continued to make investments into our airport and with assistance from the Aeronautics Commission, we will continue to make major improvements and grow our airport," said Muskogee city manager Greg Buckley.

Buckley said the airport, which was named Oklahoma's airport of the year for 2011 by the Federal Aviation Administration, has added a hangar in recent years and is in current discussions about adding yet another hangar to satisfy increased demand.

The Commission approved a $400,000 CIP grant for the City of Perry that will help pay for the rehabilitation of the runway at Perry Municipal Airport. The city will provide $44,444 in matching funds for the rehabilitation project.

State officials said the runway surface is currently experiencing some cracking due to a combination of age and weathering and will need an overlay to extend the life of the pavement.

Perry City Manager Jon Cameron said the grant from the Aeronautics Commission, coupled with a previous grant award from the FAA, will allow the City of Perry to complete the runway resurfacing as one project.

"Without the additional grant award from the OAC, the city would have had to complete the project in phases over several funding cycles, which would have caused additional inconveniences to the customers of the airport," Cameron said.

The City of Guymon will also be getting a $400,000 grant from the Commission that will be used to rehabilitate taxiways, taxilanes and aprons within the T-hangar area at Guymon Municipal Airport. The city's share of the entire project is $44,444.

Aviation officials cite significant deterioration of the pavements as a reason for the rehabilitation project. If not corrected soon, aircraft run a greater risk of being damaged by loose gravel and rocks produced by the distressed pavements, they said.

"Without the grants from the Aeronautics Commission and the federal government, we could not have improved the airport as fast as we did. It's important that we keep the airport safe and looking professional, and we have tried to do just that with these and other grants," said Guymon City Manager Ted Graham.

The Guymon airport is used as an economic development tool for the area, Graham said, especially since there has been a rise in traffic from various industries such as agriculture, oil and gas, wind energy and, more recently, the bio-science industry.

"We also have two air ambulances landing here that can transport patients to either Oklahoma City or Amarillo, which is extremely critical for our community," Graham said.

The CIP grants are part of the Commission's Capital Improvement Program which provides funding to Oklahoma airports for various infrastructure needs, such as runway maintenance and construction; installation of navigational aids; land purchases; terminal improvements; and installation and repair of airfield lights and signage.

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