DAISY, OK (OBV) — Exciting and amazing were two words leaders from The State Chamber of Oklahoma used to describe a recent tour of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) most recent initiative. CNO marked a major milestone in aviation innovation back in June with the grand opening of its Emerging Aviation Technology Center, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the future of crewed and uncrewed aerial systems. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday, June 17, at the center’s location in remote Daisy, Oklahoma.
Built on tribal land spanning more than 44,000 acres, the three-story, 8,324-square-foot facility provides a secure and low-risk environment for the research, development, testing, and evaluation of advanced aviation technologies. The center is equipped with office space, telemetry rooms, drone maintenance and repair areas, a conference lounge, and an observation deck.
“Oklahoma has a lot of hidden technology advancement efforts going on in our state.” Said Stephanie Snyder, Vice President of Membership Development for the State Chamber. “ It was exciting to see that the Choctaw Nation is embracing emerging aviation technology internationally in southeast Oklahoma.”
“This is another step forward for tribal innovation and the future of aviation technology,” said CNO Chief Gary Batton. “We are proud to lead the way in developing safe and advanced drone operations that will benefit our communities across Oklahoma and beyond.”
The Choctaw Nation has long been a national leader in emerging aviation. It is the first tribal nation to:
- Lead a major national aviation technology initiative
- Be recognized as a public aircraft operator
- Develop beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone capabilities
These achievements put the Nation at the forefront of revolutionizing sectors like healthcare, emergency response, and rural connectivity through drone technology.
“The Emerging Aviation Technology Center stands at the forefront of advancing critical innovations, such as drone medical deliveries, which have the potential to dramatically improve healthcare access and enhance emergency response across the rural communities of the Choctaw Nation,” said James Grimsley, CNO Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives.
The new center is expected to generate job opportunities, attract partnerships with aviation and tech industry leaders, and cement southeastern Oklahoma’s place as a growing hub for aerospace innovation.
