Oklahoma City: The pride of the National Airspace System

The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) is a pivotal hub for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), supporting various activities for pilots, air traffic controllers, flight inspectors, aeromedical specialists, and others in the civil aviation system. With the rise of commercial space travel, drones, and eVTOLs, MMAC's role is increasingly crucial. 

Founded in 1946 with just a few hundred employees, MMAC now employs 6,300 federal employees, with about 5,000 working onsite in a sprawling 133-building complex over 1,000 acres next to Will Rogers World Airport. As one of the largest Department of Transportation facilities outside of Washington, D.C., and one of the 10 largest employers in Oklahoma, MMAC is named after Mike Monroney, a prominent Oklahoman congressman and senator who was instrumental in creating the FAA. 

Supporting Aviation Excellence 

MMAC handles critical functions such as aircraft registration, pilot, and aerospace medical certification. It also provides educational materials on hypoxia and spatial disorientation. The centre's FAA Academy is where all FAA lines of business intersect, training everyone from air traffic control (ATC) equipment maintenance technicians to aviation inspectors and Customs and Border Patrol agents. This academy plays a key role in ramping up air traffic controller hiring and providing basic training to new hires. 

Keith DeBerry, former director of the academy and now COO of the National Air Transportation Association, calls the academy “a national aerospace treasure.” He emphasises that the academy not only trains the FAA workforce but also the broader industry, including airport officials and Part 135 operators. 

Advanced Training and Research 

MMAC is home to the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), focusing on the human element in civil aviation for pilots, flight attendants, passengers, and air traffic controllers. CAMI handles pilot medical reviews and appeals conducts water survival and hypoxia training and operates an altitude chamber for training and research. It features a narrowbody cabin evacuation simulator, a 747 with four sections for research, a 175,000-gallon indoor water egress pool, and a sledge track for crash impact testing. 

The FAA is adding a new 43,000-sq-ft Wind and Wave Evacuation and Survival facility (WiWaves) for CAMI to replace its ageing Water Survival Research Facility. This new tank will be 17 feet deep, 100 feet long, and 80 feet wide, capable of producing waves 10 feet high and replicating 27-knot winds. It will be used for training and research by the FAA and other agencies, including the U.S. military and NASA. 

Infrastructure and Future Growth 

MMAC's vast capabilities include a 725,000 sq ft logistics warehouse for ATC systems spare parts, supporting the National Airspace System (NAS) with 63,000 stock numbers. The FAA's fleet of flight inspection aircraft operates from MMAC, with new aircraft being retrofitted for efficient operations. 

Brookfield Aviation International recognises the critical role of MMAC in supporting the aviation industry's infrastructure and workforce. The advanced training and research conducted at MMAC are essential for maintaining the highest safety and operational standards. As the industry evolves, facilities like MMAC ensure that innovations in air traffic management and safety protocols keep pace with growing demand. 

A Legacy of Aviation Pioneers 

Located next to Will Rogers World Airport, named after the famed aviation enthusiast, MMAC honours the legacy of Oklahoma's aviation pioneers. Will Rogers, a leading aviation advocate in the 1930s, and Wiley Post, the first pilot to circumnavigate the globe, both contributed significantly to aviation history. Their legacy is commemorated annually at the Will Rogers-Wiley Post Fly-In, drawing vintage aircraft to Rogers' birthplace. 

National and Global Recognition 

MMAC frequently hosts visits from U.S. senators, members of Congress, subcommittee staff, and FAA and DOT executives. During a visit with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the national importance of MMAC’s role in maintaining the air traffic controller training pipeline post-COVID. 

We are proud to support initiatives that enhance the aviation industry's infrastructure and workforce development. The advancements and training at MMAC are vital to ensuring the aviation sector's continued growth and safety, aligning with our commitment to excellence in the aviation sector.