Jan. 23, 2018

General aviation, including business aviation, is a vital U.S. industry, and local officials around the country continue to recognize its importance to their communities. In January, four mayors issued proclamations extoling the benefits of general aviation.

Batesville, MS Mayor Jerry Autrey noted that the local airport – Panola County Airport – has an immense economic impact on the city. Mississippi, he said, is home to 66 public-use airports, which serve 4,014 pilots and 2,063 active general aviation aircraft.

“General aviation in Mississippi contributes over $488 million to the state’s annual economy each year,” Autrey wrote.

View the Batesville proclamation. (PDF)

“The city of Centennial in the state of Colorado has a significant interest in the continued vitality of general aviation, aircraft manufacturing, aviation educational institutions, aviation organizations and community airports,” Mayor Stephanie Piko wrote in her proclamation.

General aviation in Colorado contributes $2.4 billion to the state’s economy, she noted, adding that Centennial Airport has a significant impact on the city.

View the Centennial proclamation. (PDF)

In West Virginia, “general aviation and local airports play a critical role in the lives of our citizens, businesses, communities and the state of West Virginia,” Martinsburg Mayor George Karos said in his proclamation.

“General aviation benefits West Virginia through corporate, private, charter and air tax travel; shipping and express air freight services; firefighting, public safety and law enforcement; weather and traffic reporting and recreation and tourism,” the proclamation reads. “West Virginia airports provide access for businesses and tourists to isolated areas.”

View the Martinsburg proclamation. (PDF)

Scott Phillips, Jr., mayor of Olive Branch, MS, said his city and the state of Mississippi benefit greatly from general aviation. “[It] not only supports Mississippi’s economy, it improves overall quality of life by supporting emergency medical and healthcare services, law enforcement, firefighting and disaster relief, and by transporting business travelers to their destinations quickly and safely.”

View the Olive Branch proclamation. (PDF)