Norman Public Schools commemorated a major construction milestone Thursday with a beam-signing event at the future home of the Oklahoma Aviation Academy (OAA), located at Max Westheimer Airport. The new facility, which is scheduled to open in January 2027, represents a multimillion-dollar investment in the future of aviation and aerospace education in Oklahoma.
Funded through a combination of ARPA dollars and 2023 Norman Public Schools bond, the new academy space will serve students across Norman, the region and state through immersive, industry-aligned education tied directly to Oklahoma’s growing aerospace workforce needs.
OAA launched in fall 2022 with its inaugural freshman class and now proudly serves approximately 300 students. The academy provides multiple pathways into aviation careers, including:
Engineering and aerospace coursework supported through strong partnerships with Boeing and other industry experts
Career certification in Airframe and Powerplant maintenance through Moore Norman Technology Center
Drone pilot certification and aviation coursework at OAA
Opportunities to pursue a private pilot’s license
Aviation-focused concurrent college credit through the University of Oklahoma and Rose State College
Civil Air Patrol membership; OAA is home to its own cadet squadron
Tango Flight: students build FAA-certified aircraft as part of a multi-year engineering experience
Students remain fully enrolled in Norman High School or Norman North High School and continue to participate in athletics, fine arts, and activities while completing aviation-based coursework and applied learning.
OAA will celebrate its first graduating class in May 2026. Superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino emphasized how the project reflects the community’s collective commitment to serving students and building Oklahoma’s talent pipeline.
“This milestone reflects the tireless work of so many dedicated partners,” Migliorino said. “When schools, higher education, government, industry, and the community unite around a shared vision for students, the results can be transformative. The Oklahoma Aviation Academy stands as a powerful example of what collaboration can achieve.”
OAA Director Terry Adams said the new facility will elevate student experiences already underway.
“Our students are building aircraft, earning flight hours, learning alongside industry professionals, and preparing for real careers,” Adams said. “This building will match the excellence of the program they have helped shape, and we are incredibly proud of what comes next.”
Designed in partnership with the University of Oklahoma and a broad statewide advisory board, OAA offers hands-on learning, direct industry engagement, and pathways into one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing sectors. Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense industry is now the state’s second-largest employer and continues to experience significant demand for pilots, technicians, engineers, and support professionals.
Construction of the new academy facility will continue through 2026, with doors scheduled to open for students in January 2027.
More information about the Oklahoma Aviation Academy is available at www.normanpublicschools.org/o/aviation