IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 508 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the general aviation 

industry should be recognized for its contributions to the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2009 

Mr. FORTENBERRY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the general aviation industry should be recognized for 

its contributions to the United States. 

Whereas general aviation includes all civilian flying except 

scheduled passenger airlines; 

Whereas there are nearly 600,000 licensed pilots in the 

United States and an estimated 500,000 of these pilots 

fly general aviation aircraft; 

Whereas the United States accounts for more than half of all 

general aviation activity worldwide; 

Whereas 170,000,000 passengers fly annually using personal 

aviation; 

Whereas there are more than 231,000 active general aviation 

aircraft in the United States; 


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•HRES 508 IH 

Whereas the general aviation industry contributes more than 

$150,000,000,000 to United States direct and indirect 

economic output; 

Whereas the United States general aviation industry employs 

nearly 1,300,000 people whose collective annual earnings 

exceed $53,000,000,000; 

Whereas general aviation contributes high-skill jobs in aircraft manufacturing, avionics and technology development, flight training, maintenance, modification, and 

technical support; 

Whereas an estimated 65 percent of general aviation flights 

are conducted for business and public services, many of 

which are located in or need access to smaller communities that do not have commercial aviation; 

Whereas general aviation helps save lives through the transport of blood supplies, vital transport organs, and other 

time-critical items; 

Whereas general aviation contributes to economic development by facilitating meetings and other activities for 

businesses of all sizes; 

Whereas general aviation is used to protect the environment 

by assisting with the surveying of wildlife, the mapping 

of wetlands, and the patrolling of parklands; 

Whereas general aviation is a vital tool for agricultural producers, who often rely on air service for crop planting 

and protection as well as livestock herd management; 

Whereas general aviation aids in law enforcement through patrolling highways, apprehending suspects, monitoring national borders, and locating lost children; 


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•HRES 508 IH 

Whereas there are 5,200 public use airports and more than 

13,000 privately owned landing facilities in the United 

States; and 

Whereas only about 500 of these airports have commercial 

airline service, making general aviation an integral part 

of the transportation system that supports communities 

across the United States and provides essential air travel 

options to businesses and the public: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the many contributions of the 

3 general aviation industry; and 

4 (2) encourages general aviation activities. 

Æ 


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