Louisiana Governor Proclaims December as General Aviation Month

Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, proclaimed December 2011 as General Aviation Appreciation Month in Louisiana. The proclamation, signed December 1st, stated that the state of Louisiana has a significant interest in the continued vitality of general aviation, (GA) aerospace, aircraft manufacturing, educational institutions and aviation organizations.

The proclamation stated that there are 74 airports serving 9,562 pilots and 4,891 general aviation aircraft in the state. GA contributes $2.05 billion to the state’s economy ranking it number 25 nationwide, but as a percentage of the state’s total GDP, Louisiana ranks 7th in the nation in terms of the importance of aviation to its economy.

GA employees 7,985 and plays a vital role in the State’s response to emergencies and natural disasters. Aerospace and aviation combined provide 11,000 jobs, resulting in a $416 million payroll.

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Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.