FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 28, 2012
Contact:
Devin Osting (AAAA): (202) 223-9523
National Aviation Organizations Applaud New Mexico Governor for Declaring September ‘New Mexico General Aviation Appreciation Month’
Washington, DC – Today, national aviation organizations applauded New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez for declaring September “New Mexico General Aviation Appreciation Month.” The proclamation highlights the vital role of aviation, and general aviation in particular, in supporting businesses, farms, medical care and fire fighting throughout the state. The release of the proclamation coincided with the New Mexico Centennial Celebration Air Tour, which celebrating 100 years of New Mexico aviation at locations across the state. The New Mexico airport system supports thousands of jobs and contributes $1.3 billion to the state’s economy annually.
“We thank Governor Martinez for recognizing the importance and economic impact of general aviation in the state of New Mexico,” said Selena Shilad, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. General aviation and local airports support businesses and job growth, acting as a lifeline for small communities throughout the state. We would also like to thank Cathy Myers of the New Mexico Pilots Association for her help in raising awareness about this vital industry.”
The text of the proclamation can be seen here:
WHEREAS, GENERAL AVIATION AND COMMUNITY AIRPORTS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS, AS WELL AS IN THE OPERATION OF OUR BUSINESSES, RANCHES, AND FARMS; AND
WHEREAS, THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HAS A VESTED AND SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN THE CONTINUED VITALITY OF GENERAL AVIATION, THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, AIRCRAFT AND SYSTEMS MANUFACTURING, AVIATION EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, CHARTER FLIGHT BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY AIRPORTS, AND AIRPORT OPERATORS WHICH PROVIDE STATEWIDE JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH; AND
WHEREAS, THERE ARE 59 PUBLIC-USE AIRPORTS AND 4 PUBLIC-USE HELIPORTS IN NEW MEXICO, SERVING OUR CITIZENS WHICH INCLUDE 5,035 PILOTS; AND
WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE 2009 NEW MEXICO AIRPORT SYSTEM PLAN UPDATE, AVIATION IN NEW MEXICO SUPPORTS, 48,975 JOBS AND GENERATES 41.3 BILLION IN PAYROLL ANNUALLY AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR $3.1 BILLION INTO THE ECONOMY; AND
WHEREAS, GIVEN OUR STATE’S SIZE AND GEOGRAPHY, MANY BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES DEPEND UPON GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT AND SMALL AIRCRAFT OF ALL TYPES FOR MOBILITY, ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENT, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, DISASTER RELIEF, SEARCH AND RESCUE, AND A WIDE RANGE OF CRITICAL RESOURCES; AND
WHEREAS, GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS ARE HOME TO THREE AIR TANKER BASES PROVIDING CRUCIAL FIREFIGHTING RESPONSE IN NEW MEXICO AND OUR NEIGHBORING STATES; AND
WHEREAS, GENERAL AVIATION VISITORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER $61 MILLION IN ANNUAL EXPENDITURES, AND MANY COMMUNITIES IN NEW MEXICO DEPEND HEAVILY ON GENERAL AVIATION ANC COMMUNITY AIRPORTS FOR THE CONTINUED FLOW OF COMMERCE, TOURISTS, AND VISITORS WHO COME TO ENJOY THE RESOURCES AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT; AND
WHEREAS, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NEW MEXICO AIRPORT MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, NEW MEXICO PILOTS ASSOCIATION, THE ALLIANCE FOR AVIATION ACROSS AMERICA, NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE AVIATION OFFICIALS, AND THE NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZE AND PROMOTE THE INTERESTS AND IMPORTANCE OF AVIATION IN NEW MEXICO AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD; AND
WHEREAS, IN THIS CENTENNIAL YEAR, COMMUNITIES ARE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF NEW MEXICO’S RICH AVIATION HERITAGE, INCLUDING: THE FIRST USE OF AIRCRAFT IN A US MILITARY MISSION IN PURSUIT OF PANCHO VILLA; CHARLES LINDBERGH’S DEVELOPMENT OF AERIAL ARCHAEOLOGY; NEW MEXICO’S KEY ROLE IN THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL AIR TRANSPORT ROUTE; VITAL MILITARY TRAINING; AND LEGACIES OF AVIATORS SUCH AS WILLIAM CUTTER WHO FLEW THE STATE’S FIRST AIR AMBULANCE IN 1928.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, SUSAN MARTINEZ, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2012 AS
“NEW MEXICO GENERAL AVIATION APPRECIATION MONTH”
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.
SIGNED AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE THIS 30TH DAY OF AUGUST 2012.
WITNESS MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.
SUSAN MARTINEZ
GOVERNOR
ATTEST: DIANNA J. DURAN
SECRETARY OF STATE
Formed in 2007, the Alliance for Aviation Across America is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of over 5,900 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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