At Half-Year Mark, Support for Business Aviation Among State, Local Officials Proves Strong

July 13, 2015

At this year’s halfway point, dozens of state and local officials across the United States continue to formally acknowledge the value of general aviation, including business aviation, to their communities. In fact, in an editorial submitted for a forthcoming edition of General Aviation News, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen noted that more than 60 such proclamations have already been issued this year.

NBAA’s six regional representatives meet often with state and local leaders to underscore the importance of business aviation to local communities. These efforts help government officials understand how the industry provides direct benefits to their fellow citizens in terms of jobs and economic activity.

Often, these local leaders produce proclamations declaring the value of all general aviation, including business aviation, and the critical role it plays for citizens, companies and communities. In June alone, governors in seven states – including Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming – and top officials in nine communities around the country, such as Grand Junction, CO, and Watertown, SD, noted the importance of general aviation.

For example, a proclamation recognizing June 2015 as “General Aviation Appreciation Month” in Colorado noted that the state is home to 61 airports, 5,412 general aviation aircraft and 17,435 pilots. These GA airports contribute a total of $2.4 billion to the state’s economy each year, while supporting 265,700 jobs and a payroll of nearly $12.6 billion.

“[G]eneral aviation and community airports play an important role in the lives of Coloradans, as well as in the operation of our businesses and farms,” read the proclamation signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper. “Colorado has significant interest in the continued vitality of general aviation, aerospace, aircraft manufacturing, educational institutions, aviation organizations, community airports, and airport operators.”

A similar June 2015 declaration from Wenatchee, WA Mayor Frank Kuntz noted that Washington is home to 45 charter flight companies, 110 aircraft repair facilities, 31 flight schools, and 62 fixed-base operations. The mayor went on to recognize the role of NBAA and 12 other national and regional aviation advocacy groups in promoting “the importance of aviation in our state and throughout the world.”

Read more about these proclamations and others issued so far in 2015.

Those statements are just the latest of the hundreds of similar affirmations issued since the 2009 launch of the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign, which is co-sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

“Over the past six years, officials in all 50 states and more than 100 cities and counties across the country have formally recognized the value of our industry,” Bolen noted in General Aviation News. “Each of these acknowledgments demonstrates understanding by local officials of how our industry supports the transportation, economic, humanitarian and other needs of thousands of communities across the United States.”