Wiley Post Airport (PWA) — OKC Metro's Busiest General Aviation Airport
Wiley Post Airport (PWA) is the Oklahoma City metro area's primary general aviation reliever, handling over 150,000 annual operations from its location in Bethany — just 8 miles northwest of Will Rogers World Airport (OKC). PWA's two runways (17L/35R at 7,200 feet and 17R/35L at 4,000 feet) accommodate everything from student pilots in Cessna 152s to corporate jets serving Oklahoma's energy industry executives. Multiple FBOs operate at PWA, offering full-service fueling, hangaring, charter, and maintenance for the OKC metro's substantial private aircraft fleet.
The airport is named for Wiley Post — the Oklahoma City–based aviator and parachute rigger from Maysville, Oklahoma, who became the first pilot to fly solo around the world in 1933 and the first to fly in the stratosphere using a pressurized suit of his own design. Post's innovations in high-altitude flight directly influenced modern aviation suit and pressurization technology. PWA honors that legacy as the most active GA airport in the state, serving corporate operators like Devon Energy, OGE Energy, and Chesapeake Energy's legacy Oklahoma fleet, plus the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and National Guard aviation support units that use the field.
Frequently Asked Questions — Wiley Post Airport (PWA)
What FBO services are available at Wiley Post Airport?
PWA hosts multiple FBO operators offering 100LL avgas, Jet-A fuel, aircraft hangaring, GPU services, pilot lounges, and rental cars. Corporate operators benefit from the airport's 24-hour fuel availability and customs facilities. The FBOs accommodate light piston aircraft through large-cabin jets with equal professionalism given the OKC metro's strong corporate aviation tradition.
Is there flight training available at Wiley Post Airport?
Yes — PWA hosts several flight schools offering private pilot certificates, instrument ratings, and commercial pilot training. The airport's high operation volume provides student pilots excellent radio communication experience. Proximity to Will Rogers World Airport's Class C airspace gives instrument students realistic IFR approach practice using PWA's ILS and GPS approaches.
Who was Wiley Post and why is the airport named for him?
Wiley Post (1898–1935) was an Oklahoma-born aviator who flew the Lockheed Vega "Winnie Mae" on the first solo round-the-world flight in 1933, completing the 15,596-mile journey in under 8 days. He died alongside Will Rogers in a 1935 crash near Point Barrow, Alaska. His contributions to pressurized flight suits and high-altitude aviation earned him a permanent place in aviation history.
How close is Wiley Post Airport to downtown Oklahoma City?
PWA is approximately 8 miles northwest of downtown OKC, a 15–20 minute drive via NW Expressway. This location puts corporate aircraft within 20 minutes of OKC's Midtown business district, the Devon Energy Tower, and the state capitol complex — making PWA the preferred arrival point for business travelers who want to avoid commercial terminal processing times.
Wiley Post Airport - PWA Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Bethany, Oklahoma.
| Name | Wiley Post Airport - PWA |
| Address | 5915 Philip J Rhoads Avenue, Bethany OK 73008 Map |
| Phone | (405) 789-4061 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Wiley Post Airport - PWA
Flying to Bethany: Oklahoma County Aviation and Regional Connections
Wiley Post Airport (PWA) anchors the local aviation infrastructure for Bethany and the surrounding Oklahoma County region of central Oklahoma. The facility plays an essential role in maintaining air access for a community whose economy depends on Wiley Post — the legendary Oklahoma aviator who completed the first solo circumnavigation of the globe — and PWA's role as OKC metro's busiest GA airport with over 150,000 annual operations. Charter operators linking Bethany to Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) — Oklahoma's busiest commercial airport with service to over 30 nonstop destinations — or Tulsa International (TUL) typically operate Cessna Caravans, Piper Senecas, or similar twin-engine aircraft, with flight times averaging 30–90 minutes depending on routing and wind conditions across Oklahoma's expansive geography.
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission's infrastructure investment programs help airports like Wiley Post Airport (PWA) maintain competitive facilities despite the funding challenges facing rural general aviation. These investments support local emergency medical transport, law enforcement aviation, agricultural inspection flights, and the energy sector's time-sensitive charter needs. Visitors arriving by private aircraft to Bethany will find the airport conveniently accessible, with ground transportation options available to Oklahoma County's key attractions, government offices, and business districts. The central Oklahoma region's aviation community benefits significantly from the state's strong aeronautics tradition — Oklahoma is home to more pilots per capita than most states, a legacy of the oil boom era's embrace of aviation as the fastest path between far-flung energy assets.