March 11, 2019
With North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum declaring March “Aviation Month,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen spent time in that state this week to highlight the industry’s value to communities and companies across the Roughrider State.
Bolen began his time in North Dakota by addressing the 2019 Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium, a three-day event hosted by the North Dakota Aviation Council. After thanking the audience for its support in the fight against so-called ATC privatization last year, he issued another call to action, asking for the industry’s support with recruiting young people to the business aviation workforce.
Bolen also took part in the state’s “Aviation Day at the Capitol” where he said, “North Dakota is a real microcosm of aviation in the United States. Here we see a strong network of public use airports, a tremendous aerospace education program at the University of North Dakota, a strong manufacturing sector, along with numerous businesses that are using airplanes to make their business model work.
“Together it is making a profound difference for the people who live in this state,” he added. “NBAA thanks the state legislature for its vision and leadership in working closely with the aviation industry in North Dakota to make the state stronger, healthier and more economically viable.”
It was at that event Burgum presented the Aviation Month proclamation, in which he wrote that the aviation industry is responsible for creating 32,000 jobs statewide, and contributing $3.6 billion annually to the state’s economy.
“Aviation Day at the Capitol was an opportunity for legislators to meet face to face with association groups and aviation businesses from across the state to learn about the needs of our industry,” said Darren Hall, a vice president for Fargo Jet Center, and chair of the North Dakota Aviation Council Board of Directors.
“One of our most important messages delivered to legislators was to tell them that supporting HB1066 will help to fund airport infrastructure needs and future development at North Dakota’s airports, and how their continued support will positively impact the communities served by those airports,” he added.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.