OKLAHOMA CITY — Oilton High School is among the 144 Oklahoma schools participating in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) “You Can Fly” program this school year. For the 2025-2026 school year, 144 schools across Oklahoma will teach the AOPA “You Can Fly” program, up from 117 schools the previous year. This expansion represents more than 20% of all Oklahoma school districts, maintaining Oklahoma’s position as the leading state in aerospace education.
The state has been leading the nation with the highest number of schools providing aerospace curriculum, according to ODAA Executive Director Grayson Ardies and Dan Justman, AOPA Foundation Vice President of the You Can Fly program, at the annual banquet held recently at Oklahoma City’s Innovation Hall — where they made the announcement.
“For four years, Oklahoma’s aerospace education program has dominated the industry, consistently growing year after year. We are committed to supporting that growth and will continue to support educators and schools that are working to build Oklahoma’s aerospace workforce pipeline,” said Ardies.
The program is part of the state’s continued leadership in aerospace and aviation education.
Backed by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA), the AOPA program gives students hands-on learning in aviation and prepares them for careers in one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing industries.
This year, locals were also invited to participate in STEM City at the Tinker Air Force Base Air Show, where they built rockets and planes, flew drones, and explored aviation technology alongside industry experts and educators.
“Aerospace education is a top priority for Oklahoma,” said Ardies. “Programs like ‘You Can Fly’ are helping students take off toward high-paying, in-demand careers.”
Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense sector employs nearly 120,000 professionals with average salaries over $73,000. Educational pathways include college degrees and CareerTech certifications, making careers in aviation more accessible than ever.
For more on aerospace education programs, visit oklahoma.gov/aerospace/ aero-education.