Arkansas Governor has recognized August as “General Aviation Appreciation Month.”

But what is general aviation, you may be wondering.

The term “general aviation” refers to civilian, non-commercial flight. It could apply to sport and recreational aviation, business travel, flying in support of humanitarian aid, bush flying, and more.

It does not refer to scheduled airline flights, scheduled commercial air cargo flights, or military air operations.

General aviation in Arkansas airports accounts for $467 million dollars, according to the Alliance for Aviation Across America, a non-profit that advocates for general aviation and local airports.

“In Arkansas, general aviation and our network of airports support the livelihood of businesses, towns, cities, and farms across the state and country,” said Devin Osting, interim executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. “For example, aerial application is vital to the agricultural output of the state, especially to rice production in southeast Arkansas.”

Governor Sanders’s declaration says that “general aviation improves overall quality of life by supporting emergency medical and healthcare services, law enforcement, firefighting, and disaster relief as well as contributes to investments in sustainable fuels and emerging technologies.”

“General aviation airports are critical infrastructure that ensure future economic growth and support our next generation of aviation professionals and pilots,” the declaration continues.

The full declaration can be read below: