Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has declared the month of November “General Aviation Appreciation Month.”
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts becomes the 34th state to recognize the importance of general aviation. General aviation activities at Massachusetts’ 39 airports generate $3.8 billion annually in economic activity and support roughly 28,000 jobs.
“With 39 publicly-owned airports and more than 8,300 pilots, general aviation helps to keep the communities of Massachusetts connected, providing essential services and supporting local businesses,” stated Craig Fuller, president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association (AOPA). “We look forward to working with Governor Deval Patrick to raise awareness about the tremendous value that general aviation airports and aircraft provide to local communities.”
Henry Ogrodzinski, president of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) said, “Local airports serve as an integral part of our communities across the United States. These airports support millions of jobs to hard-working individuals and allow businesses to expand and access essential services while remaining a part of the local community. We welcome this proclamation and, in the future, look forward to continuing to work with Governor Patrick and Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission Executive Director Christopher Willenborg.”
