FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2010
Contact:
Selena Shilad: (202) 550-2547
Matthew Hager: (218) 330-7447
Chris Dancy (AOPA): (301) 695-2159
Dan Hubbard (NBAA): (202) 783-9360
Aviation Groups Commend North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue for Declaring “Aviation Appreciation Week”
Washington, DC – Today, the Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) commended Governor Beverly Perdue for proclaiming December 3-10, 2010 “Aviation Appreciation Week.”
“Governor Perdue’s proclamation rightly highlights the vast benefit that general aviation provides to residents across North Carolina,” said Selena Shilad, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. “General aviation is a literal lifeline to small towns and rural communities across North Carolina and the nation, and we commend the Governor for taking action to recognize this important form of transportation.”
“Governor Perdue’s proclaiming Aviation Appreciation Week is a clear indication of the high value North Carolina places on its 14,000 pilots and aviation in the state,” said AOPA President and CEO Craig L. Fuller. “The proclamation recognizes North Carolina’s proud tradition of aviation – a tradition that the Wright Brothers began with their flight at Kitty Hawk 107 years ago this week. We look forward to working with Governor Perdue to continue to promote general aviation and the aviation community in the state.”
“We commend Governor Perdue for her support of business aviation in North Carolina,” stated NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “North Carolina’s small airports, and the business aircraft that use them, have an enormous economic impact and help generate thousands of jobs for companies and communities across the state. In these tough economic times, it is even more important to support this crucial part of our economy, which is the engine of many local towns around the nation.”
Henry Ogrodzinski, President of the National Association of State Aviation Officials said, “I would like to applaud both Governor Perdue as well as North Carolina Aviation Director Richard Walls for their hard work in recognizing this valuable industry. Our massive network of community airports is critical to sustaining the 1.2 million jobs and $150 billion in economic impact nationally as well as providing access to a host of important services and resources. I applaud Governor Perdue for her hard work and look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.”
To read the full proclamation,please click here.
Formed in 2007, the Alliance for Aviation Across America is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of over 5,500 individuals representing businesses, agricultural groups, FBO’s, small airports, elected officials, charitable organizations, and leading business and aviation groups that support the interest of the general aviation community across various public policy issues.
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