What you're seeing over Oklahoma City
Over Oklahoma City, the big jets you see are often military. Tinker Air Force Base, on the southeast side, is one of the largest Air Force installations in the country, home to a huge maintenance depot and to fleets of E-3 Sentry AWACS, Navy E-6B Mercury and KC-135 tanker aircraft. For airliners, the main airport is Will Rogers International, southwest of downtown, served by Southwest, American, Delta, United and others.
Oklahoma City is also the home of the FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, next to Will Rogers, where air traffic controllers train and where the FAA bases its own flight inspection aircraft. Wiley Post Airport, on the northwest side, handles business jets, and the University of Oklahoma's Max Westheimer Airport in Norman adds flight training. Spring storms sweep across the plains, and severe weather can scramble flight paths quickly. Big military jets sometimes fly long racetrack patterns over central Oklahoma, and our guide to why planes circle explains what they may be doing.
Airports near Oklahoma City
- commercialOKCWill Rogers International Airport
KOKC · 7 miles southwest of downtown
Oklahoma City's main passenger airport, next to the FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Live traffic at OKC ↗ - militaryTIKTinker Air Force Base
KTIK · 8 miles southeast of downtown
A major Air Force base and maintenance depot with E-3 AWACS, Navy E-6B and KC-135 aircraft. Live traffic at TIK ↗ - relieverPWAWiley Post Airport
KPWA · 9 miles northwest of downtown
A business-aviation and general aviation airport on the northwest side. Live traffic at PWA ↗ - general aviationOUNUniversity of Oklahoma Max Westheimer Airport
KOUN · 16 miles south of downtown
A university-owned airport in Norman with flight training. Live traffic at OUN ↗
Common traffic over Oklahoma City
Southwest is Will Rogers' largest airline, flying 737s, while American, Delta, United, Alaska, Allegiant and others add service with A320-family jets and regional jets. FedEx and UPS freighters serve OKC.
OKC's main runways run north-south:
- South flow, very common with prevailing south winds across the plains: arrivals descend from the north over the west side and Bethany, and departures climb out to the south over Moore and Mustang.
- North flow, usually after a cold front: arrivals come in from the south and departures climb north over the west side.
Military flying is the big story:
- Tinker AFB hosts the Air Force's remaining E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, with their distinctive rotating radar domes, Navy E-6B Mercury jets that provide communications with submarines, and KC-135 tankers flown by the Air Force Reserve's 507th Air Refueling Wing. The base's depot also maintains B-52s, KC-135s and other aircraft, which fly test flights over the region.
- Vance AFB in Enid and Altus AFB in southwest Oklahoma train pilots and aircrews, and their T-38s, T-6s, C-17s and KC-135s sometimes pass through.
The FAA's Aeronautical Center bases its flight inspection fleet at Will Rogers, so you may see FAA-registered jets and King Airs. Helicopters include OU Health and other medevac services, Oklahoma City Police and storm-chasing news crews in severe weather season.
Aircraft you'll often see here
Boeing 737-800
narrowbody airliner
Boeing 737 MAX 8
narrowbody airliner
Airbus A320
narrowbody airliner
Embraer E175
regional jet
Bombardier CRJ900
regional jet
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
military aerial refueling tanker
Beechcraft King Air 200 / 250
twin-engine business turboprop
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
military strategic airlifter
Plane-spotting tips for Oklahoma City
The roads around Will Rogers' perimeter, especially south and east of the field toward the runway ends, give views of arrivals and departures. For Tinker, the public roads near the base perimeter along Air Depot Boulevard, and the Charles B. Hall Airpark, which displays historic aircraft near the base, give glimpses of E-3s and tankers. Lake Hefner, on the northwest side near Wiley Post, is a scenic place to watch business jets and small planes. From downtown, look southwest toward Will Rogers and southeast toward Tinker. Spring storms bring dramatic skies but can be dangerous, while fall offers clear, calm days.
Oklahoma City sky questions
What are the planes with the big disc on top over Oklahoma City?
They are E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft from Tinker Air Force Base, which carry a rotating radar dome above the fuselage.
Why does the FAA have aircraft at Will Rogers?
The FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, next to Will Rogers International, trains air traffic controllers and bases the FAA's flight inspection aircraft, which check navigation aids nationwide.
Which way is Will Rogers landing today?
Will Rogers usually operates in south flow with prevailing south winds, with arrivals coming in from the north. After a cold front, it often switches to north flow.
Nearby cities
Planes over Dallas–Fort Worth (187 mi) · Planes over Kansas City (298 mi) · Planes over Austin (360 mi) · Planes over Houston (414 mi)