CITY OF PONCA CITY PONCA CITY, OKLAHOMA “WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, THE OKLAHOMA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION AND THE CITIZENS OF PONCA CITY, THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. NOW THAT WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW CONCRETE RUNWAY WHICH WILL LAST US AT LEAST ANOTHER 40 YEARS IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN GET TO WORK ON RECRUITING NEW AVIATION AND AEROSPACE BUSINESSES TO OUR COMMUNITY.” - MAYOR HOMER NICHOLSON “ FLY-INS AND FOOD GREEN SPACE X MARKS THE SPOT AIRPORT FOUNDED IN 1938 THE BUSINESS OF AEROSPACE $10.1M ANNUAL IMPACT Ponca City Regional Greenwood Aerospace Since 2000, this airport Airport is unique and is an aviation company has received over $26M is one of only a few based at Ponca City in funding to support facilities in the state Regional Airport infrastructure upgrades. that has a restaurant doing defense and The facility currently on the airport. Ponca MRO work, employing hosts more than 50 City’s airport is known 15 people in the based aircraft for its food, and pilots community. They are including three business across the region will nationally recognized as jets. Phillips 66, be pleased to return an award-winning small Community Health to their favorite fly-in business of choice. Systems, Albertsons, Mexican restaurant. Walmart and Wyatt Construction use the airport for business. 2 GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT “The new runway at Ponca City Regional Airport will attract new businesses to Oklahoma help our economy continue to grow. A strong infrastructure is key to becoming a Top Ten state and Oklahomans should take pride in these improvements to our state airport system.” “ U.S. SENATOR JIM INHOFE “At 7,200 feet long, this runway is the ninth-longest civilian runway in the state. It can accommodate just about any aircraft in the business jet fleet, opening the airport and the surrounding region to future economic development opportunities. I would also like to commend the City of Ponca City for taking on such a tremendous project in the height of the COVID pandemic as it demonstrates their vision and leadership in the aviation community.” 3 PONCA CITY REGIONAL AIRPORT The Ponca City Regional Airport in Ponca City, Oklahoma is celebrating the airport’s new 7,200-foot runway. The project, which began in 2020, was one of the largest single-phase undertakings at a general aviation airport in Oklahoma. The project reconstructed a majority of the runway, replaced the runway lights and guidance signs and significantly enhanced the drainage of the area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for the $8.1M project was directed through the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission’s (OAC) 5-year Airport Construction Program and consisted of a combination of FAA Supplemental Appropriations, Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding and Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act local matching funds. Since 2000, this airport has received over $26M in funding to support infrastructure upgrades and support the functionality and improvement of the facility. Ponca City Regional Airport plays an important role in the community and training tomorrow’s pilots and aviation professionals. Located at the airport are flight instructors who provide instruction upon request. The airport currently hosts more than 50 based aircraft including three business jets. Many local businesses utilize the airport including Community Health Systems, Albertsons, Walmart and Wyatt Construction. A large oil refinery, owned by Phillips 66, is located approximately four miles south of the airport. The airport provides easy access for executives and employees to visit the refinery for inspections and training. With aviation and aerospace as the state’s second-largest economic engine, this community is perfectly positioned for further aero commerce and tourism. 4 SECRETARY TIM GATZ TRANSPORTATION “The construction completed at this airport will ensure the viability of the runway for the next 40-plus years and provide for a great aviation infrastructure asset for the north-central Oklahoma area.” “Ponca City’s airport has a firm foundation in Oklahoma’s aviation history, from supporting the British Flying Training School during the 1940s, to being a hub for commercial service up until the mid-2000s. This new runway will renew our community’s commitment to aviation and aerospace commerce and embolden our recruitment efforts for new business.” REP. JOHN PFEIFFER, DISTRICT 38 “The new runway shows Ponca City is a growing community and values its infrastructure. This project connects two of the state’s biggest growth areas, energy and aerospace. Oklahoma will continue to grow in those areas. With a new runway, Ponca City is poised to take advantage of the future.” SEN. BILL COLEMAN, DISTRICT 10 “Ponca City’s airport generates over $10M in annual economic activity and supports 61 direct and indirect jobs for the community. We thank the Commission and the FAA for their efforts, and we look forward to welcoming new aircraft owners and businesses now that this new runway is open.” REP. KEN LUTTRELL, DISTRICT 37 5 OKLAHOMA AIRPORT SYSTEM THE 108 AIRPORTS IN THE OKLAHOMA AIRPORT SYSTEM GENERATE $10.6 BILLION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THANKS TO THE 440 BUSINESSES LOCATED ON AIRPORTS AND MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION ANNUAL VISITORS THAT COME TO OUR STATE VIA COMMERCIAL AND GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT. Gateway to the World 2nd Largest Industry Military Aviation The state has 108 public airports in the Convenient access to a general aviation Oklahoma has an important legacy Oklahoma Airport System, four of which airport is rated as one of the top reasons of military airports that support our are commercial airports and the businesses relocate or expand to a National Defense. A key date, April 25, remaining 104 are general aviation particular community. General 1953, is the last date the United States airports. 43 of these airports are Aviation increases a businesses ef- of America lost a ground soldier to an considered jet-capable (5,000 feet or ficiency and productivity by reducing enemy air attack. This is due much in longer). These airports provide important travel time and allowing greater access part to our advance armed services connections for Oklahoma than that of commercial aviation. As a personnel and the aircraft our United communities to ensure that people, major part of the $44 billion aviation/ States Air Force operate. Many military services, and goods can be transported aerospace industry in the state, our 108 aviators get their flight training right across the country and world. There is airports support over 74,000 direct and here in Oklahoma at Vance Air Force a famous saying in aviation, “build me indirect jobs. Our state’s economic well- Base and Altus Air Force Base. Tinker a mile of highway and I can get a mile being is greatly improved by our airport Air Force Base has more than 26,000 down the road, but build me a mile of transportation network. Nearly 93% of military and civilian employees and is the runway and I can take you anywhere in Oklahomans live within 25 miles of one largest single-site employer in the state the world.” of the state’s 43 jet-capable airports. of Oklahoma. 6 RUNWAY CELEBRATION PRESENTATIONS CEREMONY ORDER Presentation of Colors by #524 with the First Lutheran Church Pledge of Allegiance National Anthem by Emma Valgora, Miss Ponca City’s Outstanding Teen 2021 Welcome by Homer Nicholson, Mayor of Ponca City Sen. Jim Inhofe, United States Senator for Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, Tim Gatz, State of Oklahoma Rep. Ken Luttrell, Oklahoma State House District 37 Chairman Garrett Bowers, Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce Craig Stephenson, City Manager for the City of Ponca City State Director of Aeronautics Grayson Ardies, State of Oklahoma Ribbon Cutting VGF Microjet Static Display and Flyover Ponca City Regional Airport welcomes the “Worlds Smallest Jet” which has been thrilling airshow audiences across the globe. Using advanced technology, the VGF Microjet flown by Navy pilot Lt. Col. Justin Lewis amazes with an aerial performance that displays the VGF Microjet’s high performance and aerobatic capabilities. 7 CITY OF PONCA CITY OUR PROUD HISTORY The annuls of history report that in January 1938, Ponca City’s airport was sod, a half-mile square; and later that year in November, a 3,600-foot concrete runway opened. The United States Army Air Forces took over the facility in the summer of 1941 and used it as part of the British Flying Training School Program until 1944. Airline service to Ponca City began in the late 1920s when National Air Transport was doing business as United Airlines, and flew from Chicago to Dallas via Burlington, IA, Kansas City, Wichita, Ponca City, Oklahoma City, and Fort Worth. Braniff Airways, later known as Braniff International Airways, took this route over in 1934. Braniff resumed flights to Ponca City in 1946. Central Airlines replaced Braniff in 1953, merging with Frontier Airlines in 1967. Frontier continued to serve Ponca City with the 50-seat Convair 580. Frontier ended their service in 1979 after the passing of the Airline Deregulation Act and Ponca City then only saw service by small commuter airlines. Air Midwest served Ponca City from 1979 until 1981. Metro Airlines served from 1981 to 1986 with one-stop to Oklahoma City. Exec Express began service in 1986 with Piper PA-31 Navajos to Tulsa. Exec Express changed names three times over the next ten years, first to Exec Express II in 1988, then Lone Star Airlines in 1991, and finally Aspen Mountain Air in 1996. Service switched from Tulsa to Dallas/Fort Worth by the late 1980s and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners replaced the Navajos until 1998. Big Sky Airlines took over serving Ponca City in 1999 with flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and to Denver with one stop at Enid, OK.