Groundbreaking Ceremony for Emerging Aviation Technology Center held by Choctaw Nation

Emerging Aviation Technology Center Groundbreaking Ceremony

Photo By Christian Toews/Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

City, state, and federal officials, Choctaw Nation Leadership and tribal members break ground where a new Emerging Aviation Technology Center will be located.

Advanced Technology Initiatives News

Published October 25, 2023

Durant, OK – The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Emerging Aviation Technology Center (EATC) on Tuesday, October 24. The state-of-the-art facility, located near Redden, Okla. will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research, development, testing, and evaluation for crewed and uncrewed aerial system technologies.

Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton recognized the significance of the groundbreaking ceremony stating, “I truly believe this is going to be the gateway to the future for us, from manufacturing to all the opportunities that we desperately need here in southeastern Oklahoma, we believe this is the spark that’s going to grow our area.”

City, state and federal officials, including Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, OAC State Director of Aeronautics Grayson Ardies, and members of the Federal Aviation Administration as well as industry and regional university partners joined in celebrating the accomplishment.

“The number two industry in the state of Oklahoma today is our aerospace and aviation industry,” said Lt. Gov. Pinnell. “It’s these type of investments from our sovereigns and the state of Oklahoma that is positioning Oklahoma to truly be a top 10 state in the country when it comes to aviation and defense industry jobs.”

With a design spanning three stories and covering 6,387 square feet, the EATC will house various essential components. These include office space, telemetry rooms, workrooms for training and development, drone maintenance and mechanical repairs, conference lounge, an observation deck and more.

Fueled by Economic Development Administration (EDA) and U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants, the EATC is situated on 44,000 acres of remote reservation land owned by CNO.

The EATC’s strategic location provides an ideal setting for the exploration of innovative aerial systems, supporting research and development efforts. This unique facility will enable industry experts to safely collaborate and push the boundaries of aviation technology in a controlled and secure environment.

“This groundbreaking reaffirms the Choctaw Nation’s commitment to being a leader in the development and adoption of emerging aviation technologies,” said CNO executive director of Advanced Technology Initiatives, James Grimsley. “We are excited about the opportunities this effort will foster for our region and nation, and for the many societal benefits that these new technologies will bring.”

About the UAS IPP Program

The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP) is an opportunity for state, local, and tribal governments to partner with private sector entities, such as UAS operators or manufacturers, to accelerate safe UAS integration. The program will help the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) craft new enabling rules that allow more complex low-altitude UAS operations by:

  • Identifying ways to balance local and national interests related to UAS integration
  • Improving communications with local, state and tribal jurisdictions
  • Addressing security and privacy risks
  • Accelerating the approval of operations that currently require special authorizations

The program is expected to foster a meaningful dialogue on the balance between local and national interests related to UAS integration, and provide actionable information to the USDOT on expanded and universal integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.

About the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with more than 225,000 tribal members and 12,000-plus associates. This ancient people has an oral tradition dating back over 13,000 years. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, its historic reservation boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, covering 10,923 square miles. The Choctaw Nation's vision, "Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture," is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage, and traditions, please visit choctawnation.com.

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