Oklahoma's Gov. Mary Fallin has issued an executive order transferring the aircraft assets of state law enforcement agencies to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to reduce operating costs. The transfer must be completed within 30 days of her Oct. 23 order.

These include air assets from DPS, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, and the State Bureau of Investigation.

“The inherently high cost of acquiring, maintaining, and operating aircraft means the State of Oklahoma has a responsibility to oversee their acquisition and use an eye towards coordinating utilization and eliminating inefficiencies,” according to the executive order.

In addition, any time a state agency wishes to purchase, lease, charter, or rent aircraft, the agency must provide advance written notice to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).

The order further directs OMES and DPS to develop a comprehensive plan for state aircraft that includes consolidation of storage and maintenance operations, shared use, remarketing, and evaluating cost-effectiveness of temporary use alternative such as rentals and charters. This plan is due within 120 days.