Photo: American Airlines American Airlines is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its Tech Ops – Tulsa facility, a maintenance center that has grown from a former military aircraft plant into the world's largest commercial aircraft maintenance base.
Located at Tulsa International Airport in Oklahoma, the facility has served as the backbone of the airline's technical operations since opening in 1946 and today plays a critical role in maintaining the carrier's fleet.
Photo: American Airlines"American is proud to celebrate Tech Ops – Tulsa, a cornerstone of our aircraft maintenance operation," said Kevin Brickner, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations at American Airlines. "Our team of skilled aviation maintenance professionals, in Tulsa and across our system, is the best in the business, and they set the standard for safety, quality and ingenuity."
The origins of the facility date back to 1945, when American Airlines acquired the lease for a former military aircraft plant that had been declared surplus by the U.S. government following World War II. The site included four large hangars spread across more than 260 acres and became the airline's new maintenance and engineering hub after operations were relocated from New York's LaGuardia Airport.
Photo: American AirlinesThe base officially opened in June 1946, initially focusing on overhauling Douglas DC-3 aircraft. At the time, then-CEO and aviation pioneer C.R. Smith described Tulsa as a key part of the airline's future growth plans.
Over the decades, the facility has worked on nearly every aircraft type operated by American Airlines. From propeller-driven Douglas DC-3s and Convair 240s to Boeing 707s, 727s, 747s, McDonnell Douglas DC-10s and the iconic MD-80 fleet, generations of aircraft have passed through Tulsa's hangars.
Today, the maintenance center supports modern aircraft including the Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 families.
The facility is currently undergoing a $400 million modernization program and has expanded to approximately 3.3 million square feet of hangar and shop space across 330 acres. Together with nearby component repair, wheel and brake, and composite maintenance facilities, Tech Ops – Tulsa supports more than 400 aircraft annually.
Nearly 5,000 employees work at the site, including more than 2,300 licensed aviation maintenance technicians. Teams oversee aircraft overhauls, engine maintenance, engineering, supply chain operations, facilities management, and information technology around the clock.
American Airlines also highlighted its efforts to develop the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals. In 2024, the carrier formalized a partnership with Tulsa Tech, a local technical school that has trained many of the facility's employees over the years.
The collaboration provides interview opportunities for top students and increased engagement with American Airlines maintenance teams. Earlier this year, the airline also supported Tulsa Tech's adult student team at the 2026 Aerospace Maintenance Council Competition, where the team secured first place among 47 participating schools.
As Tech Ops – Tulsa enters its ninth decade, American Airlines says the facility will continue to play a central role in maintaining fleet reliability, operational safety, and workforce development across the airline's network.