OKLAHOMA–WHAT THE HECK!
For our clients and friends who’ve never had the good fortune to visit Oklahoma, we’re preparing a series of blog posts that illustrate the diversity, strength, and beauty of our state. We’re not just “where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain”!
Did you know that Oklahoma City has been ranked the #1 most affordable and a Top 5 fastest-growing city in America? The oil and gas industry is a big economic contributor, but we are also home to 265 aviation and aerospace companies employing 38,000 workers.
In 2009, Oklahoma published its “Strategic Plan for the Growth of the Oklahoma Aerospace Industry,” providing a road map by focusing on emerging areas critical to the industry:
- Nanotechnology, composites, and advanced materials
- Engine technology
- Alternative fuels for aviation
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and sensors
- Aerospace simulation, testing and training
- FAA NextGen system development and testing
- Lean and green operational practices
According to www.okcommerce.gov, there are more than 500 aerospace-related companies in the state (265 in Oklahoma City), employing nearly 150,000 workers, with an aggregated payroll of $5 billion, and exporting to 170 countries.
High-Flying Entities
- Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City is the largest military aircraft repair facility in the world.
- The American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Center in Tulsa is the world’s largest commercial aircraft repair facility.
- The FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City serves as the central nerve center for the nation’s air transportation system.
- Spirit AeroSystems employs 2,750 and manufactures conventional and composite bonded aerosystems.
- Nordan employs 1,643 in Oklahoma, providing repair and overhaul solutions to the commercial aircraft industry.
- The Boeing Co. employs 945 in Oklahoma to provide engineering logistics and services.
Photo by Ron Shenk courtesy of Wikimedia Commons