FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2011
Contact:
Devin Osting (AAAA): (202) 223-9523
Chris Dancy (AOPA): (301) 695-2159
Kristen Moore (NATA): (703)845-9000
Dan Hubbard (NBAA): (202) 783-9360
Aviation Groups Commend Ohio Governor John Kasich for Declaring “General Aviation Appreciation Month”
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 John Kasich for declaring October “General Aviation Appreciation Month.” General aviation contributes $5.56 billion annually to the state’s economy, supporting over 17,000 jobs.
“General aviation is crucially important to communities across the country in terms of public safety, business growth and job creation,” said Selena Shilad, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. “The Alliance would like to thank the Ohio Aviation Association for their hard work in getting this proclamation signed and we look forward to continuing work with Governor Kasich to highlight the important role of general aviation in Ohio and across the country.”
“Governor Kasich’s declaration of ‘General Aviation Appreciation Month’ honors Ohio’s proud legacy and ties to aviation, beginning with the Wright Brothers first flight in 1903,” said AOPA President and CEO Craig L. Fuller. “With more than100 publicly-owned airports and 24,988 pilots, general aviation continues to be a vital link between communities, providing essential services, supporting businesses and helping to provide access to important resources. We thank the Governor for recognizing of the importance of general aviation and the economic benefits it provides their communities, and look forward to working with state and local officials to continue to raise awareness of general aviation.”
“In Ohio and across the country, business aviation is a catalyst to business growth and we thank Governor Kasich for recognizing the impact of this industry.” stated NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Business aviation has an enormous economic impact, supporting 1.2 million American jobs and $150 billion annually across the United States. As a valuable economic tool, this proclamation emphasizes the immense role of this industry and other issues important to business aviation.”
James K. Coyne, President and CEO of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), stated “This proclamation recognizes an industry and form of transportation that is so important to our country and that is often taken for granted. Across the United States, general aviation supports local economies, and supports law enforcement, medical services, and a host of various other important services and resources. We thank Governor Kasich for recognizing the importance of general aviation to the communities of Ohio.”
“The unique capabilities of general aviation aircraft, and specifically helicopters, provide our communities with vital lifesaving services, such as medical transportation, law enforcement, wildfire response and search and rescue.” said Matthew Zuccaro, President of Helicopter Association International (HAI). “We welcome Governor Kasich’s proclamtion and thank him for highlighting the numerous benefits of helicopters and general aviation across communities in Ohio.”
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 5,700 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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