Aviation View July 2023

6 AVIATION VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 a critical role in the aviation sector, especially when it comes to airport infrastructure needs. Several state DOT studies – including ones from Iowa, Illinois, Georgia, Wyoming, and Alaska – show that airports function as significant “economic engines” as well as key mobility hubs for many states. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) outlined the importance of aviation and airports to state economic activity and residents alike at the recent opening of the $44 million Gallatin County Regional Airport – the 58th general aviation airport in the state and the first serve the I-71 corridor between Louisville and Cincinnati. “[The airport] will support our booming economy, promote tourism in this region, and provide a new site for emergency responders,” he noted in a statement. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials also recently published a new report analyzing the impact of general aviation on state and local economies across the country. That report – officially entitled “The Impact of General Aviation on State and Local Economies: State Reports 2023” – is a joint effort between AASHTO, the Alliance for Aviation Across America, and the National Association of State Aviation Officials. AASHTO said this report is envisioned as a communication resource to help illustrate the important role general aviation serves in state and local communities, as well as within the nation’s economy. Source - aashtojournal.transportation.org , First published June 30, 2023 The last OASP report, released in 2014, found that Ohio’s airport system supports more than 123,000 jobs and produces an economic impact that exceeds $13 billion annually.