Mayor Roger Van Horn on the Importance of General Aviation in Texas

In a recent Op-Ed in the Waco Tribune, Alliance member Mayor Roger Van Horn of Nacogdoches,TX details the critical impact general aviation has on his state. In the Op-Ed, Mayor Van Horn states:

"Small aircraft, also referred to as general aviation, are a vital driver of Texas’ economy, providing jobs to nearly 62,000 Texans in sectors ranging from manufacturing to equipment maintenance and construction. General aviation accounts for $8.7 billion in economic output in our state alone and sustains an astonishing 29,700 jobs, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Statewide, more than 250 airports that utilize general aviation and 4.5 million general aviation flights originate in Texas each year."

But the impact of general aviation does not stop at Texas. The general aviation industry supports 1.2 million jobs and $150 billion in economic impact. As Mayor Van Horn states, "These aircraft and businesses serve as the lifeblood to small towns and local economies around the state, and we need to be doing everything possible to support this vital form of transportation."

Read Mayor Van Horn's column here.