Lawmakers: Oklahoma Can Save $1M by Moving State Planes from Wiley Post

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

BETHANY, Oklahoma -- Two Oklahoma lawmakers say they can save the state more than $1,000,000 over the next decade by moving state agency planes from a hanger at Wiley Post Airport to Max Westheimer Airport in Norman.

State Representative Randy Terrill and State Senator Anthony Sykes are behind the move.

Two planes reserved for Governor Brad Henry, including the governor's flagship aircraft "The Spirit of Oklahoma," along with at least five other aircraft operated by the Department of Public Safety are currently housed at Wiley Post. The state is charged $15,300 a month to rent the hanger at Wiley Post.

By moving to Norman, the state will only be charged $4,000 a month for the hanger there.

"So it really is a win, win, win, that will produce a cost savings of somewhere between $100,000 to $150,000 a year," said State Representative Randy Terrill.

The state has been a tenant at Wiley Post since the 1960's.

"It's becoming essentially a hub if you will for small scale personal as well as commercial aircrafts and that has over the last couple of years been substantially driving up the cost of rents and in particular fuel," said Rep. Terrill.

The state planes will relocate to Norman on July 1.

The City of Oklahoma City operates Wiley Post, but says there will be no huge financial impact because they only lease the land. The hanger itself is privately owned.

"But we will see some indirect impact probably more with other tenants who have businesses on the airport property…fueling vendors, maintenance people. Those people could see some loss of business for them," said Karen Carney, the Wiley Post Airport spokesperson.

State lawmakers are also hoping the move will improve the prestige of Westheimer Airport. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics already operates their aircraft from there. OU's flight school is based there and there is a new military complex just north of the airport.

"So it really makes sense that we have all of our public safety law enforcement assets that are located in one central location," said Rep. Terrill.

In addition to saving money, state lawmakers say this will also allow the state to put its aircrafts in one location for better efficiency. The Norman airport was selected over the airports in Shawnee and Ardmore.