Governor, Oklahoma Officials To Attend Paris Air Show

Governor Mary Fallin is leading an Oklahoma delegation on a week-long trip to the Paris Air Show.

Fallin will be joined by her cabinet secretary for science and technology as well as aerospace companies and economic development agency officials at the Paris Air Show next week.

More than 55 companies with some Oklahoma presence are expected to have exhibits at the show and Fallin has said it's critical to emphasize the state's reputation as a key player in the aerospace industry.

The governor's office says the list includes SpectrumFX of Tulsa, Janeway Machine of Sapulpa, Choctaw Defense in McAlester, Bristow's Vertical Aerospace and OSU's Multi-spectral Laboratories in Ponca City and Stillwater.

"My number one priority as governor is to bring good, high-paying and sustainable jobs to Oklahoma," said Governor Mary Fallin. "The aerospace industry is an invaluable partner in that effort. There are more than 143,000 Oklahomans working in aerospace-related jobs, most of which pay significantly more than the average salary."

The private Oklahoma Business Roundtable is expected to offset some of the costs for Fallin and state officials to attend. The governor's office says some funding for small Oklahoma companies to attend the trade show is also provided by the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program, a federal 3-year pilot trade and export initiative authorized by the U.S. Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.

A review of receipts by The Associated Press shows a trip by four state officials to the Paris Air Show in 2011 cost taxpayers about $84,000.

10/13/2011 Related Story: Paris Trip Pays Off Big For Tulsa Company

The Associated Press contributed to this report.