General Aviation Appreciation Month

WHEREAS, Orville and Wilbur Wright established the state’s first civilian flying field on the grounds of a former cotton field near Montgomery, Alabama, in March 1910; and

WHEREAS, the general aviation industry has made significant contributions to economic development within the state of Alabama for more than 100 years; and

WHEREAS, the general aviation industry, including aircraft manufacturing firms, educational institutions, aviation organizations, aviation service providers and general aviation airports continue to contribute to economic growth within the state of Alabama; and

WHEREAS, general aviation within the state of Alabama is represented by 76 general aviation public-use airports and 61 rotorcraft landing pads that serve more than 5,500 based aircraft,  7,700 certificated pilots and 7,000 aviation maintenance technicians; and

WHEREAS, the general aviation industry in Alabama contributes $800 million in first round impacts to the state’s economy and is critical to industrial and economic recruitment efforts, and to the retention and expansion of businesses in Alabama; and

WHEREAS, one in three people employed in the state of Alabama work for a company or industry that directly utilizes general aviation in the performance of its business; and

WHEREAS, general aviation serves a vital role in emergency response to man-made and natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, the general aviation industry provides critical services to the residents of Alabama to include medical evacuation, critical care patient transport, fire-fighting, law enforcement, aerial survey and mapping, aerial application and forestry services; and

WHEREAS, many communities in Alabama depend on the general aviation industry and general aviation airports for the continued flow of commerce, tourism and essential services; and

WHEREAS, Alabama’s aviation and aerospace industry consists of more than 300 companies that directly and indirectly employ more than 150,000 workers and have an annual payroll of $6.16 billion and contribute to the economic development of the state and the advancement of aviation and aerospace in the United States and abroad:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2014 as

General Aviation Appreciation Month

in the state of Alabama.