NEWS
NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma today celebrated the opening of a new air traffic control tower at the OU Max Westheimer Airport. Standing 106 feet tall, more than double the current 52-foot facility, the new tower will modernize air traffic control operations and improve safety for pilots and students operating in the airspace.
Max Westheimer Airport generates $212,069,941 in annual economic impact and supports 1,227 local jobs, ranking fourth in economic impact among Oklahoma’s non-military airports, according to the 2026 Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics economic impact study. The tower is the first fully new non-military air traffic control tower built in Oklahoma since the 1970s.
Speaking at Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. reflected on the decades of collaboration among university, government and community partners that made the new tower possible.
“Today is a powerful reminder of how much stronger we are when we work together and what it takes to create real progress,” Harroz said. “As we look to the future, this ribbon cutting symbolizes more than a tower. It represents the power of partnership and what we can accomplish together to build a better future for our university, our community and our state.”
The $17.2 million project was made possible through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, the late U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. In 2024, Cole secured $36.5 million in federal funding for broader improvements to Max Westheimer Airport, including more than $7 million toward the new air traffic control tower, as well as runway expansion and strengthening, a new taxiway, and additional hangar space to accommodate the growth of OU’s aviation programs and airport operations. Conversations about a new tower began in 1998, more than 28 years ago, but federal and state funding to complete such a complex project became available only in the last few years. The tower’s groundbreaking took place in March 2025, and it will begin operations in early 2027.
“The new air traffic control tower represents a significant investment in the safety of Max Westheimer Airport and the future of aviation,” said Lance Lamkin, Max Westheimer Airport director. “We are incredibly excited to bring a world-class facility like this to our own backyard, providing our air traffic controllers with the tools they need to safely manage aircraft while helping inspire and prepare the next generation of aviators.”
The six-story tower offers 6,100 square feet of space. Moving the tower away from the terminal building improves airfield safety in two ways: the taller cab — the glass-enclosed room in which air traffic controllers are stationed — meets current FAA line-of-sight standards, and the new site creates a secure environment that limits public access to the facility.
The new building also gives controllers improved office space and fully meets the FAA’s minimum equipment requirements for U.S. contract towers. It was designed to meet current energy-efficiency standards and integrate advanced technology recommended by industry professionals.
“Aviation is ultimately about looking forward, and the University of Oklahoma is helping to ensure that the United States will continue to lead the way in aviation by training the next generation of aviators, mechanics and aerospace professionals,” said Chris Kelly, FAA associate administrator for airports.
Each pane of glass in the tower cab is specially designed to reduce glare and fog. The structure is rated to withstand 130 mph winds, the equivalent of an EF2 tornado. In addition to the safety and technological upgrades, the new tower will also be illuminated with the OU logo on both sides of the tower at night.
According to the economic impact study, Oklahoma’s 107 public-use airports generate nearly $13.8 billion in annual economic impact and support about 64,878 jobs, while the broader aerospace and defense industry accounts for $52.5 billion and more than 250,000 jobs. According to ODAA, Oklahoma leads the nation in high schools teaching aviation curriculum, and facilities like Max Westheimer Airport, home to the Oklahoma Aviation Academy, help turn that early interest into careers.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
The University of Oklahoma has received a transformative gift from Jon and Shannon McCartney, which will name the McCartney Family Tunnel of Champions, the McCartney Family Gate of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and the McCartney Family Grand Lecture Hall in the Michael F. Price College of Business. The gift will also support the Inspiring Champions and the Athletic Director’s Discretionary Fund, in addition to establishing the McCartney DFW Career Trek program at Price College.
The University of Oklahoma today celebrated the opening of a new air traffic control tower at the OU Max Westheimer Airport. Standing 106 feet tall, more than double the current 52-foot facility, the new tower will modernize air traffic control operations and improve safety for pilots and students operating in the airspace.
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