New Jersey Joins Host of States With GA Month Proclamation

May 12, 2011

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) has declared May 2011 as General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month in the state.

“Governor Christie’s proclamation focuses on the value of all general aviation, including business aviation, to New Jersey’s companies, communities and economy,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We appreciate his recognize of this vibrant industry in the Garden State.”

Review the proclamation (1.8 MB, PDF)

The proclamation reads, in part: “New Jersey’s general aviation industry provides employment to approximately 18,000 New Jersey residents and serves over 12,000 pilots,” and notes that many companies maintain flight departments at New Jersey airports. The proclamation also notes the value of the state’s 44 public-use airports for tourism and commerce, and points out that the state hosts several aviation education institutions and aircraft and parts manufacturers. Statistics show the industry generates more than $4 billion in economic activity in the state.

The GA Appreciation Month proclamation marks the second year that New Jersey has officially recognized the positive impact of GA in the state. In 2010, the state General Assembly declared the week of May 24 to 28 as “General Aviation Awareness Week,” and on September 29 last year Governor Christie announced “Aviation Awareness Day” in the state.

New Jersey’s latest proclamation joins those issued by a host of states across the country, including Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

All the proclamations echo the core themes of the “No Plane No Gain” campaign www.noplanenogain.org, which highlights business aviation’s role in providing highly-skilled jobs, business productivity gains, and emergency relief, as well as serving as a lifeline for America’s small and medium sized cities and towns. The advocacy campaign is jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.