June is General Aviation Appreciation Month in Galesburg and throughout the State of Illinois.
Galesburg Mayor John Pritchard joined Gov. Bruce Rauner and elected officials across the country earlier this month to bestow the honor.
In a proclamation, Pritchard says, “general aviation and the Galesburg Municipal Airport have an immense economic impact.”
According to a national study on the contribution of aviation to the U.S. economy, aviation supports more than 42,400 jobs in Illinois and contributes $9 billion to the state’s economic output.
The proclamation says 98 public airports in Illinois support more than 14,000 pilots, 5,600 aircraft, healthcare, emergency relief, the transportation of travellers and more.
Locally, Galesburg has touted it’s aviation heritage over the years. This September, one of the nation’s biggest celebrations of the bi-plane will fly into town as the Stearman Fly-in documents its 45th consecutive year.
The Alliance for Aviation Across America commended both Pritchard and Rauner for this month’s declaration.
