MARTINSBURG — Aviation officials in the Eastern Panhandle and Washington D.C. commended the City of Martinsburg and Mayor George Karos for declaring February “General Aviation Appreciation” month.
In West Virginia, general aviation contributes over $1 billion to the state’s economy annually.
“Mayor Karos’ proclamation helps highlight the economic benefits and valuable service that general aviation provides to the City of Martinsburg and the State of West Virginia,” said Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America, in a press release. “We sincerely thank the Mayor and the City of Martinsburg for recognizing this vital industry.”
According to the release, the proclamation approved by the city not only cites the economic impact of the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, but also the importance of investing in this infrastructure to encourage enthusiasm in flying and grow the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals, as well as to encourage future growth through investments in sustainability, the release said.
“We commend the mayor and the members of city council for their recognition of our airport’s contributions to the growth and prosperity of our city, local area and larger state economy,” Nic Diehl, EWVRA executive director, said. “The proclamation highlights the important role that general aviation activity and host airports like ours play in contributing numerous public benefits. One such benefit mentioned was an ‘immense economic impact on the City of Martinsburg.’ We could not agree more with another statement that ‘leaders should invest in this critical infrastructure to ensure future economic growth.”’
According to Diehl, the airport authority commissioned an Economic Impact Study in 2017, which concluded that 167th Airlift Wing, general aviation and business park tenant-related effects added up to more than $224,600,000 annually in total economic activity.
Despite receiving only a fraction of the financial support other competing airports routinely receive, Diehl said the EWVRA produces the second-largest economic impact among West Virginia airports and far exceeds the output of well-known airports with airline service in Charleston, Huntington and Hagerstown.
Beyond the job creation, labor income and airport-driven local and visitor spending, there are other significant but somewhat intangible economic impacts created. The Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport is important to many area businesses, giving them the flexibility of a local access point to the national air transportation system, either via chartered or general aviation aircraft. The presence of a large, modern and well-equipped airport also greatly enhances the Eastern Panhandle’s ability to attract and retain corporate investment.
The airport authority structure was created in 1972, Diehl said, at which time most of the financial responsibilities to operate and maintain the facility passed from the City of Martinsburg to the newly created Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority.
According to the release, the proclamation approved by the city not only cites the economic impact of the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, but also the importance of investing in this infrastructure to encourage enthusiasm in flying and grow the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals, as well as to encourage future growth through investments in sustainability, the release said.
“We commend the mayor and the members of city council for their recognition of our airport’s contributions to the growth and prosperity of our city, local area and larger state economy,” Nic Diehl, EWVRA executive director, said. “The proclamation highlights the important role that general aviation activity and host airports like ours play in contributing numerous public benefits. One such benefit mentioned was an ‘immense economic impact on the City of Martinsburg.’ We could not agree more with another statement that ‘leaders should invest in this critical infrastructure to ensure future economic growth.”’
According to Diehl, the airport authority commissioned an Economic Impact Study in 2017, which concluded that 167th Airlift Wing, general aviation and business park tenant-related effects added up to more than $224,600,000 annually in total economic activity.
Despite receiving only a fraction of the financial support other competing airports routinely receive, Diehl said the EWVRA produces the second-largest economic impact among West Virginia airports and far exceeds the output of well-known airports with airline service in Charleston, Huntington and Hagerstown.
Beyond the job creation, labor income and airport-driven local and visitor spending, there are other significant but somewhat intangible economic impacts created. The Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport is important to many area businesses, giving them the flexibility of a local access point to the national air transportation system, either via chartered or general aviation aircraft. The presence of a large, modern and well-equipped airport also greatly enhances the Eastern Panhandle’s ability to attract and retain corporate investment.
The airport authority structure was created in 1972, Diehl said, at which time most of the financial responsibilities to operate and maintain the facility passed from the City of Martinsburg to the newly created Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority.