Agency Overview

The Oregon Department of Aviation (ODAV) is a state agency with a small team of about 15 full-time employees. We also have a 7 member board that's appointed by the Governor.

We're the oldest aviation department in the United States, established in 1921 – even before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) existed!

We work closely with many different groups: cities, counties, businesses, the state government, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), public airports, and the FAA. We're also leading the way in Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) technology.

We take care of 28 state-owned airports and help support 96 public-use airports in Oregon. We're the state's experts on all things aviation. Here's what we do:

Manage and run the state airports.
Connect communities and the state through aviation leadership.
Support airports, pilots, and aviation businesses.
Help secure state and federal funding for aviation projects.
Oversee aviation rules and resources, especially for emergencies.

In 2017, the aviation industry was a huge part of Oregon's economy, contributing $24 billion and supporting over 76,000 jobs, according to the Oregon Aviation System Plan.