The Global Aerospace Leader
In 2009, Oklahoma published its “Strategic Plan for the Growth of the Oklahoma Aerospace Industry.” This plan provides a road map for Oklahoma to continue to be a world leader in aerospace by focusing on the following 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
- Aerospace workforce education and training
- FAA NextGen system development and testing
- Lean and green operational practices
Fully Integrated Supply Chain with Demand
More than 500 aerospace-related companies make their home in Oklahoma. From MRO, sensors, air transportation, to OEMs, nanotech and unmanned aerial technology and testing, Oklahoma is equipped and ready to supply products and services to a growing aerospace industry.
Globally Recognized Training, Research and Education
Oklahoma excels at training aviation/aerospace workers and each year is producing growing numbers of qualified recruits. Programs at Oklahoma’s technology centers, colleges, universities, the Mike Monroney FAA Aeronautical Center and private aviation schools offer training, certificates and degrees in all the necessary specialties, including:
- Air Frame and Power Plant Technicians
- Nondestructive Testing
- UAS/UAV/MAVs
- Transport Aircraft Training
- Flight Simulator Maintenance Technician
- U.S. Navy Technology
- Avionics
- Piloting
- Air Traffic Control
- Aviation Management
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Aviation Sciences
Nation’s Best Aerospace Workforce
Oklahoma’s aerospace industry already employs nearly 150,000 workers, with a payroll of $5 billion. Aerospace industrial output exceeds $12.5 billion annually, including export of $4.4 billion to 170 countries. With a talented, existing aerospace workforce that is growing every day, thanks to Oklahoma’s top-ranked training programs and educational institutions, the aerospace industry is assured a pipeline of proficient labor for years to come.
| Occupation | 2011 Jobs | Oklahoma Median Hourly Wages | National Median Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 1,100 | $25.36 | $33.17 |
| Construction Managers | 10,261 | $16.07 | $22.36 |
| Logisticians | 2,277 | $31.15 | $31.89 |
| Aerospace Engineers | 505 | $38.47 | $43.66 |
| Chemical Engineers | 211 | $46.50 | $41.59 |
| Electrical Engineers | 1,616 | $33.14 | $38.89 |
| Materials Engineers | 188 | $29.88 | $39.12 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 2,003 | $31.77 | $36.19 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | 3,119 | $19.83 | $19.75 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks | 9,232 | $12.41 | $13.57 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | 709 | $11.18 | $13.06 |
| First-line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 5,584 | $25.39 | $27.65 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 12,930 | $15.63 | $16.97 |
| Power Plant Operators | 304 | $30.62 | $29.00 |
| Total | 50,040 | $19.05 | $23.43 |
Source: EMSI Complete Employment 2011
Oklahoma’s Aerospace Clusters
Some of the United States’ most important and largest aerospace clusters are located in Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma is one of the seven centers in the world for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO).
- The American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Center in Tulsa is the largest commercial MRO facility in the world.
- The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base is the largest depot in the U.S. Department of Defense.
- Oklahoma has a dedicated hangar, runways and military airspace available for UAS/UAV research and testing.
- Tulsa is ranked 8th in the nation for the size of its aerospace engines manufacturing cluster and 20th for its defense related cluster, according to a Harvard study.
- The FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma is the central support and training facility in the U.S. for the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The center employs 5,500 and trains over 20,000 students a year.
The Oklahoma Aerospace Tax Credit
The legislation extends tax credits of $5,000 a year for up to five years to engineers who are hired in Oklahoma. The aerospace companies hiring the engineers will receive a tax credit of equal to 10% of the compensation paid to an engineer during the first five years of his or her employment if the engineer graduated from an Oklahoma college. If the engineer graduated from a college outside Oklahoma, the employer will get a tax credit equal to 5% of the compensation paid to the employee during the first five years.
In addition, the law grants Oklahoma aerospace companies a tax credit in the amount of 50% of the tuition reimbursed to a new engineer graduate for the first four years of his or her employment. The tax credit is limited to 50% of the average annual tuition paid by an engineer at a public university in Oklahoma.