More States, Cities Affirm Value of Business Aviation

Oct. 26, 2015

Governors in Alabama and West Virginia, and political leaders of 20 cities and counties, are the latest to announce or restate their support for business aviation.

In Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley declared October 2015 as “General Aviation Appreciation Month, noting, “The general aviation industry in Alabama contributes $800 million in first round impacts to the state’s economy and is critical to industrial and economic recruitment efforts and to the retention and expansion of businesses in Alabama.” View the Alabama proclamation. (PDF)

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin also designated October as “General Aviation Appreciation Month,” taking note of the more than $616 million GA contributes to the state’s economy every year. “With the state’s geography, large numbers of businesses and communities depend on general aviation aircraft for access to medical treatment, economic opportunity and communication.” View the West Virginia proclamation. (PDF)

In addition to state proclamations, city and county leaders announcing their support for aviation included:

Alaska

• Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. Review the Anchorage proclamation. (PDF)

Connecticut

• Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. Review the Danbury proclamation. (PDF)

Maryland

• Annapolis Mayor Michael Pantelides. Review the Annapolis proclamation. (PDF)

Minnesota

• Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen, Jr. Review the Albert Lea proclamation. (PDF)
• Benson Mayor Paul Kittelson. Review the Benson proclamation. (PDF)
• Cloquet Mayor Dave Hallback. Cloquet
• Cook Mayor Harold Johnston. Review the Cook proclamation. (PDF)
• Ely Mayor Chuck Novak. Review the Ely proclamation. (PDF)
• Fairmont Mayor Randy J. Quiring. Review the Fairmont proclamation. (PDF)
• Grand Rapids Mayor Dale Adams. Review the Grand Rapids proclamation. (PDF)
• Litchfield Mayor Keith Johnson. Review the Litchfield proclamation. (PDF)
• Long Prairie Mayor Don Rasmussen. Review the Long Prairie proclamation. (PDF)
• New Ulm Mayor Robert Beussman. Review the New Ulm proclamation. (PDF)
• Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams. Review the Moorhead proclamation. (PDF)
• Redwood Falls Mayor Corey Theis. Redwood Falls
• Winona Mayor Mark Peterson. Review the Winona proclamation. (PDF)

West Virginia

• Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester. Review the Lewisburg proclamation. (PDF)
• Parkersburg Mayor James Colombo. Review the Parkersburg proclamation. (PDF)
• Huntington Mayor Steve Williams. Review the Huntington proclamation. (PDF)
• Kanawha County County Commission President W. Kent Carper. Review the Kanawha County proclamation. (PDF)

All proclamations contain several principles of the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign, an ongoing effort to communicate to policymakers and opinion leaders the value of business aviation. NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association launched the No Plan No Gain campaign in 2009, and since that time, all 50 states and more than 100 municipalities have officially recognized GA, including business aviation.