March 20, 2014
Missouri Gov. Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon and Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently demonstrated their ongoing support for general aviation (GA), including business aviation, through separate proclamations highlighting the industry’s significant social, economic, and job-creation roles in their states.
In his proclamation recognizing April as “General Aviation Appreciation Month” in the Show Me State, Nixon called attention to a recent study conducted by the Missouri Department of Transportation that found GA contributed $857 million in annual economic activity, and supports nearly 7,500 jobs statewide. Review the study about the impact in of general aviation in Missouri in its entirety.
“General aviation and community airports play a critical role in the lives of our citizens, and in the operation of our businesses and farms,” read the proclamation, which also noted that Missouri is home to 99 public-use general aviation airports, 3,847 GA aircraft and more than 9,200 pilots.
Read Nixon’s proclamation. (PDF)
In Florida, Scott noted that more than 8.5 percent of his state’s gross state product comes from businesses that rely on aviation, and that the industry as a whole contributes more than $97 billion annually to the state economy.
“The state of Florida has a significant interest in the continued vitality of aviation, aircraft and aerospace manufacturing, commercial service and community airports, and aviation education,” added the governor’s proclamation designating April 2014 as “Aviation Appreciation Month” in the state.
Read Scott’s proclamation. (PDF)
This is the fourth year in a row that Missouri has formally recognized the value of general aviation, and the third since 2011 in Florida. Both proclamations also recognized the importance of state and national aviation associations, including NBAA, in highlighting the importance of business aviation to each state, and throughout the world.
“We are grateful for these proclamations recognizing the value of all general aviation, including business aviation,” noted NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Business aviation helps business professionals get to meetings, reach clients, bring in supplies and send out goods – it is vital to business growth.”
To date, 49 states have officially recognized the value of GA, including business aviation, through proclamations incorporating themes established through the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign.
Launched in 2009 and jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), No Plane No Gain educates the public on the importance of business aviation to our country and its communities, companies and citizens.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.