Runway rehab, new facilities planned for Poteau, Sallisaw airports

Two eastern Oklahoma municipal airports — located in the Fort Smith area — have or will receive more than $12.5 million to rehab and extend runways, build hangars, and build a new terminal, according to the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics.

The agency’s commission is now in its public comment phase with planned work on airports in the state, and the commission is set to meet May 14 to take action on the Airport Construction Program (ACP). The plan, which includes work from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2029, outlines $422.625 million in airport projects, with the airports — or local governments or authorities — contributing $72.603 in matching funds toward the total.

“The ACP is based on anticipated funding levels that were determined from historic state and federal allocations for airport development in the state of Oklahoma,” according to the department. “Once the actual funding levels are established, project implementation and funding will be adjusted.”

The Robert S. Kerr Airport in Poteau is scheduled to receive $5.902 million for a runway overlay and extension. The runway extension, estimated to be completed in fiscal year 2026, is estimated to cost $4 million. The city of Poteau is obligated to pay $200,000 of the total cost. The runway is now 4,007 feet, with the extension pushing the length to 5,000 feet.

“The Overall Development Objective (ODO) of the proposed project is to extend runway 18/36,” noted the ACP document. “With the current runway length of 4,007 (feet), the airport is not usable by most jet traffic. The extension of the runway and taxiway will be approximately 1,000 (feet) to the south to achieve a total length of 5,000 (feet).”

The overlay is estimated to cost $1.902 million, with the city contributing $95,127 toward the total.

Annette Christenberry, airport co-manager, said the overlay has been needed for five years, and she expects the work to be complete “in a year or so.” She also said the community has been waiting more than eight years for the runway extension. She said there are now 32 general aviation planes based at the airport, and the goal is to have more hangars added in the next round of program work.

Sallisaw Municipal Airport has three projects in the ACP with a total estimated cost of $6.681 million. The largest project is a new $2.5 million terminal building. According to the ACP, the state is contributing $1 million and the city is funding the remaining $1.5 million. The schedule has the work set for fiscal year 2028.

“The current building has become outdated and is in need of repair/maintenance and updating,” according to the ACP. “The existing building does not provide sufficient room and facilities to accommodate the mix between waiting passengers, pilots, and others visiting the airport. The improvements will provide passengers and users of the terminal the facilities and amenities they would expect to receive at a regional business airport.”

A project to improve airport drainage and rehabilitate the runway at Sallisaw is estimated to cost $2.181 million, with the work scheduled between fiscal years 2025 and 2027. The city of Sallisaw is expected to contribute $109,085 to the total cost.

The program also has scheduled $2 million to build a 10-bay T-hangar, with the city contributing $920,268 to the total cost. That work is scheduled in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

“This is in support of a statewide effort to increase revenue-generating aircraft storage facilities at airports across the state,” according to the ACP.