Okmulgee Regional Airport Explained

Okmulgee Regional Airport
Iata:OKM
Icao:KOKM
Faa:OKM
Type:Public
Owner:City of Okmulgee
City-Served:Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Elevation-F:720
Website:OkmulgeeAirport.org
Coordinates:35.6681°N -95.9486°W
Pushpin Map:USA Oklahoma#USA
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Label:OKM
Pushpin Label Position:right
R1-Number:18/36
R1-Length-F:5,150
R1-Surface:Concrete
Stat-Year:2009
Stat1-Header:Aircraft operations
Stat1-Data:12,410
Stat2-Header:Based aircraft
Stat2-Data:16
Footnotes:Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Okmulgee Regional Airport is in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, three miles north of the city of Okmulgee, which owns it. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021-2025 categorized it as a general aviation airport.[2]

History

Opened as Okmulgee Field in 1942 as a United States Army Air Forces airfield with three 6,000-ft hard surface runways, (00/18; 04/27; 15/33). began training United States Army Air Corps cadets under contract to Sooner Air Training Corp. Assigned to Gulf Coast Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command) as a primary (level 1) pilot training airfield. Hangar Six, Inc. conducted pilot training. Airfield had four local auxiliary airfields for emergency and overflow landings. Flying training used Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer. Also had several PT-17 Stearmans. Also provided contract glider training using C-47 Skytrains and Waco CG-4 unpowered Gliders.[3] [4]

Inactivated on June 30, 1944, with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program. Declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers on September 30, 1945. Eventually discharged to the War Assets Administration (WAA) and became a civil airport.

Central Airlines scheduled flights to Okmulgee in 1950–53; in June 1950 it was a stop between Tulsa and Holdenville, Oklahoma.[5]

Facilities

The airport covers 1,100 acres (445 ha) at an elevation of 720 feet (219 m). Its one remaining runway, 18/36, is 5,150 by 100 feet (1,570 x 30 m) concrete.

The airport averaged 34 operations per day for the 12-month period ending July 29, 2019, with 95% transient general aviation and 5% local general aviation.[6] 19 aircraft were then based at the airport: 18 single-engine and 1 multi-engine.[6]

In May 2015, the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (TAIT) and the Okmulgee City Council approved a contract to bring operation and management of the Okmulgee Regional Airport under TAIT's umbrella effective July 1, 2015, while the city would continue to pay airport-related expenses. The contract was intended to bring new clients and businesses to the airport while relieving pressure on the 750-acre TAIT-operated Jones-Riverside Airport, 20 minutes north, which has already expanded to capacity.[7] The contract has since been extended.[8]

In 2016, TAIT drafted an Airport Capital Improvement Plan, also known as a Five-Year Plan, for Okmulgee Regional Airport, which was approved by the Okmulgee City Council on November 15, 2016. The document shows improvements and funding sources for fiscal years 2018 through 2022.[9]

See also

References

  1. . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective May 31, 2012.
  2. Web site: National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (2021-2025), page A-84. FAA. December 28, 2020.
  3. Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
  4. Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC.
  5. Web site: Central Airlines Timetable, June 5, 1950. www.timetableimages.com . January 29, 2019.
  6. Web site: Okmulgee Regional Airport. AirNav.com. June 16, 2021.
  7. Casey Smith, “Tulsa Airport board approves operation deal with Okmulgee Regional Airport,” Tulsa World, May 15, 2015.
  8. Larry Levy, “Contract awarded for airport control tower," Tulsa Business & Legal News, May 18, 2016.
  9. Web site: Tulsa International Airport Website . August 16, 2017.

External links