70 Mayors Ask Obama to Protect General Aviation

Seventy mayors and county executives from across the country released a letter to President Barack Obama communicating the importance that small general aviation aircraft provide to small towns and local economies across the country.

Wichita, Kan., Mayor Carl Brewer also renewed his call to invite the President to his city to witness first-hand the toll that the recent economic downturn has taken locally in terms of massive layoffs, as well as the ripple effect that the downturn has had on Wichita and more than 5000 communities around the country that depend on general aviation, many of which have little or no commercial air service. General aviation contributes $150 billion to the U.S. economy annually and supports 1.2 million jobs.

"We have lost over 8000 jobs in Wichita alone because of the economic downturn and the string of negative press about general aviation," Brewer said. "General aviation is a crucial segment of our national economy and for thousands of local economies around the country, and that's why I am urging the President to visit our city and pledge his support to these hard-working Americans whose lives depend on this important industry."

Mayor Steve Van Oort of Ankeny, Iowa, said: "In Iowa alone, general aviation contributes approximately $176 million annually to our state, and aviation in our state supports at least 10,000 jobs. We must support this crucial infrastructure, both here in Iowa and nationally, because it affects not only manufacturers, but thousands of airports, industries, businesses and services that depend on this crucial form of transportation."

At least 13,000 jobs have been lost nationally, sales of general aviation aircraft have fallen 7 percent, and Eclipse Aircraft announced Chapter 11 bankruptcy and subsequent Chapter 7 liquidation on February 24 this year. Hawker Beechcraft has announced two rounds of layoffs since November 2007, Piper Aircraft has had to lay off 300 employees, roughly one-third of its workforce, and Gulfstream, the largest employer in Savannah, Ga., announced layoffs of 2700 workers.

"Small and mid-size communities like ours need the manufacturing and service jobs that general aviation makes possible, as well as to connect with larger, urban areas in Arizona and around the country," Mayor Rick Fernau of Show Low, Ariz., said. "That is why I join with these Mayors from across the country in urging the President to recognize this important industry."

"General aviation is a literal lifeline to thousands of communities around the U.S that do not have commercial airline service," Devils Lake, N.D., Mayor Fred Bott said. "In the wake of the recent disaster here in North Dakota, general aviation planes and airports were crucial in helping the Civil Air Patrol and National Guard monitor the flood waters to make evacuation plans and watch hazardous effects of the flood such as downed power lines. We have to ensure that this vital lifeline is preserved."