SENATE RESOLUTION 11

(By Senators Romano, Caputo, and Baldwin)

[Introduced January 19, 2022]

Designating January 20, 2022, as a day to recognize the importance and contributions of Aviation and Aerospace in the great State of West Virginia. 

Whereas, The Aviation industry in West Virginia has existed for nearly a century; and 

 Whereas, Airports had played, and continue to play a critical role in promoting economic development opportunities, serving national defense purposes, and facilitating response to natural disasters, medical emergencies, and search and rescue operations; and 

 Whereas, Affordable, reliable, and safe air service is integral to our communities, citizens, businesses, and state; and 

 Whereas, Growth for air service in West Virginia equates to increased economic development and vital funding improvements to West Virginia’s airports and creates increased access to our state; and 

 Whereas, West Virginia airports, with strategic commercial air service, provide convenience to our state’s 1.8 million residents and the hundreds of thousands of visitors to our state annually; and 

 Whereas, General aviation airports provide access to all corners of our state’s rural and urban metropolitan. Such areas facilitating important business activities and constituting the majority of our state’s aviation activities including air charter, emergency medical transport, law enforcement, and flight training operations; and 

Whereas, The location of federal aerospace facilities in West Virginia has contributed to the continued growth of the aerospace industry; and 

 Whereas, The results of the 2020 West Virginia Aviation Economic Impact Study indicate airports in West Virginia contribute over $1.6 billion to the state’s economy, support over 10,700 jobs with a payroll of $550 million, and generates over $75 million in state and local tax revenues annually; and

 Whereas, The West Virginia Aeronautics Commission, charged with promoting and exp-anding aviation in our state, is an agency of the West Virginia Department of Transportation; and 

Whereas, The West Virginia Airport Managers Association represents commercial and general aviation airports and industry partners throughout the Mountain State; and 

Whereas, West Virginia has 24 airports in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems—seven of which are served by commercial airlines, one is a large reliever airport within the Washington, DC metropolitan region, and 16 serve general aviation purposes; and 

Whereas, West Virginia has been a host to aircraft industries for more than 90 years. From the opening of a Fokker Aircraft plant in Marshall County in 1928, it intends to be on the forefront of emerging technologies serving aviation and aerospace activities; and 

Whereas, The State of West Virginia recognizes the critical role that aviation and aerospace activities had played in our past and will play in our future; and 

Whereas, Our state is committed to continue through both private and public means to expand commercial service, aerospace industries, and general aviation; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates January 20, 2022, as a day to recognize the       importance and contributions of Aviation and Aerospace in the great State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Aeronautics Commission and the West Virginia Airport Managers Association.