Twenty-three jets from across the U.S. flew into the Max Westheimer university-owned airport for OU’s game with UCLA.
The airport has been known to see over 50 jets during university home football games.
“The turnout was smaller than usual,” said Ken Carson, the OU aviation’s director. “Most likely because of the low stratus ceilings, many who fly Visual flight rules could not come in.”
According to Flightaware, a global aviation software tracking planes across the United States, planes came from California, Texas, Colorado and Pennsylvania.
On many game days, “we’ve seen up to 55 jets out here. It’s all people wanting to contribute to the city of Norman through football,” said Austin Morgansten, an employee of Cruise Aviation, a fixed base operator at the airport.
The OU Aviation Program said the airport contributes over $34.7 million to the Norman economy. Businesses such as Wes-Tex Drilling and Premier Consulting regularly attend home games to invest in companies outside of their state.
Over twenty private jets flew onto the single runway Friday night into Saturday morning before the OU and UCLA game last weekend. Seven Cruise aviation employees took to the tarmac and guided the planes to their parking spots.
“It’s all hands on deck when it comes to home games,” said Morgansten.
