The City of Broken Arrow is moving closer to launching a feasibility study that will examine whether a regional municipal airport could be viable for the community.
But city officials want to make one thing clear: a feasibility study does not mean an airport is being built.
The proposed study is also not looking at the possibility of constructing a large commercial airport similar to Tulsa International Airport.
Instead, the study would take an in-depth look at whether Broken Arrow could support a regional municipal airport, similar in scope to the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport near Jenks.
What will the study determine?
The feasibility study will examine a variety of factors to determine whether there is a need and sufficient capacity for such an airport in Broken Arrow.
The City expects to select a consulting firm to conduct the study, likely in September. Once the consultant is chosen and the study is officially commissioned, the analysis is expected to take approximately 12 to 18 months to complete.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the possibility of a municipal airport has been studied in Broken Arrow. A previous study conducted in the 1980s concluded that a municipal airport was feasible for the city.
City Manager Michael Spurgeon recently discussed the upcoming study, including the factors that will be considered, the findings of the earlier study and what could happen if the new analysis also determines that a regional municipal airport is viable.
Even if the study ultimately recommends moving forward, residents shouldn’t expect to see airplanes taking off from a new Broken Arrow airport anytime soon.
According to the City, it would likely be at least a decade before construction could begin.
For now, the upcoming study is simply that — a study designed to gather information and determine whether a regional municipal airport makes sense for Broken Arrow’s future.
