Jan. 28, 2016
Mayors in three West Virginia communities – Fairmont, Martinsburg and Wheeling – recognized the value of general aviation, including business aviation, in January by proclaiming it General Aviation Appreciation Month.
“General aviation and local airports play a critical role in the lives of our citizens, businesses communities and the state of West Virginia,” the proclamations state. “With the state’s geography, large numbers of businesses and communities depend on general aviation aircrafts for access to medical treatment, economic opportunity and communication.”
The proclamations also noted that West Virginia has “a significant interest” in the continued vitality of general aviation, the aerospace industry, aircraft manufacturing and repair stations and aviation education.
“The use of general aviation by businesses and farms in West Virginia is directly tied to the future growth and prosperity of the state,” the mayors said.
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin last issued a stateside proclamation about the value of general aviation in October 2015. In it, he cited the industry’s more than $616 million impact to the state’s economy, and touted West Virginia’s 32 public airports serving more than 2,300 pilots and 1,370 general aviation aircraft. View Tomblin’s proclamation.
View a proclamation from Fairmont Mayor Ronald Straight, Sr. (PDF)
View a proclamation from Martinsburg Mayor George Karos. (PDF)
View a proclamation from Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie. (PDF)