Regional Aviation Proclamations

Many state and local governments have issued proclamations heralding the value of business and general aviation. Business aviation plays a critical role in driving economic growth, jobs and investment across the U.S, and serves as an economic lifeline for thousands of communities.

Review recent proclamations below, or review the list of proclamations by state.

Recent Regional Aviation Proclamations

Nebraska Governor Proclaims May as GA Appreciation Month

May 21, 203
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman recently designated May 2013 as "General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month" in the Cornhusker State. Heineman noted that many Nebraska communities depend on GA and community airports for the flow of commerce and tourists to the state, adding that the industry employs 5,250 Nebraskans. The annual economic impact of GA in Nebraska is $721 million, according to a Merge Global study. Learn more about GA in Nebraska.

GA Appreciation Month Declared in New Jersey

May 10, 203
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared May 2013 "General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month," reminding state residents of the "substantial economic benefit to New Jersey from the operation of the public-use airport system and from the tourism and commerce it supports." The state hosts about 4,700 aircraft and has 43 public-use airports, plus 400 restricted-use landing facilities, mostly heliports. There are more than 12,000 pilots in the state, and 18,000 residents who are employed in GA-related businesses. Read more about general aviation in New Jersey.

New York Declares May Aviation Appreciation Month

May 10, 203
Citing more than $50 billion in annual economic benefit and jobs for almost 400,000 New Yorkers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared May 2013 "Aviation Appreciation Month" in the Empire State. "Business aviation is a critical tool for companies in New York to improve efficiency, save money and open up opportunities for rural areas not served by commercial aviation, thereby bringing new business, investment and jobs to all areas of the state," Cuomo said in his proclamation, which was similar to one he also made in 2012. Read more about general aviation in New York.

Florida Declares April General Aviation Appreciation Month

April 17, 2013
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has once again recognized the importance of general aviation (GA), proclaiming April 2013 as General Aviation Appreciation Month. He issued a similar statement in June 2011. In Florida, GA airports alone account for 54,000 jobs with an annual payroll of $1.8 billion. In his proclamation, Scott acknowledged that many Florida communities are dependent on GA and local airports, and pointed out the value of GA for the flow of commerce and tourism in the state, as well as in Florida's response to emergencies and natural disasters. Read more about GA in Florida.

Missouri Governor Proclaims April GA Appreciation Month

April 9, 2013
For the third consecutive year, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has designated April 'General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month' in the Show Me State. The governor's proclamation preceded this year's gathering of pilots, airport operators, flight department operators and business aircraft operators in the state's capital, Jefferson City, to educate legislators about the industry's value on April 9, State Aviation Day. Nixon noted the role GA plays in the operation of businesses and farms in the state, saying, "Many communities in Missouri depend heavily on general aviation and community airports for the continued flow of commerce, tourists and visitors to our state." Read more about GA in Missouri.

Yuba City, CA Declares GA Appreciation Month

March 26, 2013
Mayor John Buckland proclaimed March 2013 as “General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month” in Yuba City, CA. His proclamation marks at least the third time a California public official has spoken up for the value of GA, including business aviation. The mayor noted that GA is vital for access to economic opportunity, disaster relief and a wide range of critical resources and services. Read more about the importance of GA to Yuba City.

New Hampshire Governor Declares March 2013 GA Appreciation Month

March 26, 2013
Gov. Margaret Wood Hassan proclaimed March 2013 as General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month in the state of New Hampshire. Hassan's proclamation acknowledges that GA and community airports have a "critical" role in the lives of citizens, as well as in the operation of businesses and farms in the Granite State. The proclamation acknowledges the state's "significant interest" in the continued vitality of GA, aerospace, aircraft manufacturing, educational institutions, aviation organizations and community airports and airport operators. Read more about GA in New Hampshire.

Hawaii Declares 2013 The Year of General Aviation

March 20, 2013
Gov. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii has declared 2013 "The Year of General Aviation" (GA), making the Aloha State the 48th state to officially recognize the importance of all general aviation, including business aviation. Abercrombie noted the $412 million annual contribution the industry makes annually to the state's economy. Despite its small land area, the state has 15 airports that serve 3,103 pilots and 1,005 GA aircraft. Hawaii is composed of eight main islands, and more than 100 smaller ones, making GA essential for quick travel within the state. Read more about aviation in Hawaii.

Arizona Governor Designates Jan. 15 as Aviation Day

January 18, 2013
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer declared Jan. 15 as Aviation Day. Her proclamation was issued the same day industry supporters gathered at the state capitol to educate legislators on the importance of aviation. The official designation makes Arizona the 47th state to recognize the importance of aviation since the launch of the No Plane No Gain campaign in 2009. Arizona is the nation's sixth largest state by land area, and businesses rely on the 58 publicly owned airports, 14 Native America airports and 11 privately owned airports in the state. Read more about aviation in Arizona.

December Proclaimed 'GA Appreciation Month' In Ohio

December 7, 2012
Declaring that general aviation (GA) contributes nearly $5.56 billion annually to the state's economy, Ohio Gov. John Kasich has proclaimed December 2012 as General Aviation Appreciation Month. "Many communities in Ohio depend heavily on GA and community airports for the continued flow of commerce, tourists and visitors to the state," the governor wrote in his proclamation. "[And] the total employment impact of all airports in Ohio is 142,800 jobs with an annual payroll of nearly $3.2 billion." The governor’s proclamation noted that payroll of the 98 GA public-use airports in the state's airport system plan alone totaled some $287 million. Buckeye State officials made similar proclamations in 2011 and 2010. Read more about GA in Ohio.

Texas Again Declares November 'Aviation Appreciation Month'

November 13, 2012
For the third year in a row, Gov. Rick Perry proclaimed November "Aviation Appreciation Month" in Texas. "Thousands of Texans rely on the aviation industry for employment," Perry wrote in his proclamation. "General aviation (GA) and related activities generated $14.6 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic activity in the state of Texas." A recent study counted 61,000 Texas aviation jobs with a payroll of $2.5 billion. Read more about GA in Texas.

Alabama Governor Proclaims GA Appreciation Month

October 24, 2012
Gov. Robert Bentley recently proclaimed October 2012 as General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month, making Alabama the 46th state to recognize the value of general aviation since the beginning of the No Plane No Gain campaign. Bentley cited a "first round" economic impact of $800 million annually from GA. In addition, the 300-plus aviation and aerospace companies in the state directly and indirectly employ more than 150,000 workers, for a total annual payroll of more than $6 billion. Alabama has 76 GA public-use airports and 61 rotorcraft launching pads, which serve more than 5,500 based aircraft, 7,700 certified pilots and 7,000 aviation maintenance technicians. Read more about general aviation in Alabama.

West Virginia's Governor Declares Business Aviation 'Critical' to State

October 2, 2012
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed a proclamation declaring October 2012 as "General Aviation Appreciation Month," and asked all residents of the Mountain State to recognize its "critical role in the lives of our citizens, businesses, communities and the state of West Virginia." Tomblin noted in his proclamation that general aviation, including business aviation activity, contributes a total of $616 million, or $333 per capita, to the state's economy. Despite its relatively small size, West Virginia has 32 public airports, more than 2,200 active pilots and is home base for 1,370 GA aircraft. About $46 million in wages and benefits alone flow from jobs attributed to GA in the state. Learn more about GA in West Virginia.

New Mexico Once Again Recognizes the Value of GA

September 26, 2012
Gov. Susana Martinez has declared September 2012 "New Mexico General Aviation Appreciation Month," noting aviation in the state supports 48,975 jobs and generates $1.3 billion in payroll annually. Tourists to New Mexico arriving by general aviation (GA) are responsible for more than $61 million of economic benefit annually to the state, Martinez said, adding that "GA and community airports play a critical role in the lives and safety of our citizens, as well as in the operation of our businesses, ranches and farms." The proclamation was the second such official recognition of the value of all general aviation, including business aviation, in the Land of Enchantment. A similar proclamation was issued in 2010 by then-Gov. Bill Richardson. Read more about GA in New Mexico.

Alaska Celebrates General Aviation Month

September 21, 2012
In a state where general aviation (GA) aircraft are seemingly as common as pickup trucks in the Lower 48, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell recently acknowledged September as General Aviation Appreciation Month. In his proclamation, the governor cited a total economic impact of $3.5 billion by GA in Alaska, noting that 10 percent of the state's jobs are related to business flying in the state. In the proclamation, he said, "[That's]... an overall economic impact of $400 million, or $571 per capita, ranking Alaska's aviation industry among those of the top 10 states most impacted economically by aviation." The governor also issued a proclamation highlighting the industry's value in 2010. Read more about GA in Alaska.

Utah Governor Declares Business Aviation an Important Tool for Companies

September 21, 2012
Citing a “vibrant and supportive aviation community” in Utah, Gov. Gary R. Herbert has proclaimed September as “Aviation Appreciation Month” in the state. “Business aviation is an important tool for companies in Utah to improve efficiency, save money and open opportunities in rural areas not served by commercial aviation,” the governor said in his proclamation. With the September Aviation Appreciation Month proclamation, Utah becomes the 45th state to recognize the value of all GA, including business aviation, since the 2009 launch of the No Plane No Gain campaign. Read more about GA in Utah.

Michigan, Connecticut Governors Recognize Value of Aviation

September 14, 2012
Despite deep divides between Democrats and Republicans, governors in both parties recently reaffirmed the value of aviation. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, and Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, both recently recognized the value of aviation to their states by proclaiming September as aviation month – becoming the 43rd and 44th states respectively to recognize the importance of all general aviation (GA), including business aviation. Michigan ranks ninth among U.S. states in the number of airports per land area, with one public-use airport for every 249 square miles. Only 19 of those airports are classified by the FAA as eligible to receive any scheduled airline service. The industry is particularly important in Connecticut because of the state’s 21 airports, only two are classified as commercial service (airline) airports. Read more about GA in Michigan and Connecticut.

Tennessee Governor Cites $2.5 Billion in GA Benefit

September 11, 2012
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam declared September as Aviation Month in the Volunteer State, encouraging all Tennesseans to join him in recognizing the importance of aviation. “General aviation (GA) overall contributes $2.57 billion or $431 per capita to Tennessee’s economy, and many communities…depend heavily on GA and community airports for the continued flow of commerce, tourists and visitors to our state,” Haslam said in his proclamation. The Volunteer State has 79 public-use airports, or about one public-use airport for every 81,000 citizens. Read more about GA in Tennessee.

Rhode Island’s Governor Chafee Declares GA Appreciation Month

August 31, 2012
Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee of Rhode Island acknowledged August 2012 as Rhode Island General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month. “GA is vital to many non-aviation businesses in Rhode Island, which use the system to move personnel, equipment and products,” the governor said in his proclamation. Chafee noted that Rhode Island’s seven airports support 14,167 local jobs, 457 aircraft and serve as home to five air charter companies, nine aviation repair stations, four flight schools, six fixed-base operators, a helicopter tour operator and a skydiving operation. GA generates about $465 million a year for the state’s economy. Read more about GA in Rhode Island.

Oklahoma Governor Honors Business Aviation

August 29, 2012
On Aug. 21, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin declared Aviation and Aerospace Appreciation Month in the Sooner State. With that proclamation, Oklahoma became the 42nd state to officially recognize the vital role of all general aviation, including business aviation, in creating jobs, boosting business productivity and acting as a lifeline for small and medium-size cities. “General aviation (GA) has an estimated $1.2 billion economic impact in Oklahoma, boasting nearly 8,000 pilots and 11,000 aircraft,” the governor said in her proclamation. “Oklahoma also has 139 public-use GA airports.” Read more about GA in Oklahoma.

South Carolina Governor Asserts Value of Business Aviation

August 16, 2012
For the second consecutive year, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has declared her state's appreciation of all general aviation (GA), including business aviation and community airports. "Aviation plays a vital role in the economy of South Carolina, providing many thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity," Haley wrote in her Aug. 2 proclamation designating Aug. 13 to 18 "Aviation Week" in the state. She had previously issued an Aviation Month proclamation in June 2011. Both proclamations mentioned the need for communities throughout the state to have aviation access to support business, tourism, air cargo, law enforcement and medical rescue operations. Read more about GA in South Carolina.