May Is General Aviation Appreciation Month
Tuesday, May 7th, 2024
May is General Aviation Appreciation Month in Georgia and in Dalton. Mayor Annalee Sams issued a proclamation declaring as much during Monday night's meeting of the Dalton Mayor and Council. She was joined by Dalton Municipal Airport Manager Andrew Wiersma as she read the proclamation.
"I'm always impressed with Dalton's airport on a very regular basis," Mayor Sams said before reading the proclamation. "To have the airport that we have and what that means to our community and the access to it and the economic growth is tremendous. So this is very exciting to participate in General Aviation Appreciation Month."
Caption: Mayor Annalee Sams shakes hands with Airport Manager Andrew Wiersma
May's designation as General Aviation Appreciation Month coincides with a planned flyover parade in Washington, DC of more than 60 general aviation aircraft on May 11th. The event, organized by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), coincides with organization's 85th anniversary.
Dalton's Municipal Airport began as a grass airstrip that opened in 1944. In 1963, an effort led by Rollins Jolly who was chairman of the Dalton Chamber of Commerce led to the runway being paved and the construction of the first permanent airport terminal building. The airfield is still known as Jolly Field today in his honor. The airport went through a number of renovations and expansions in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, culminating with a 2002 project to extend the runway to its present length of just more than a mile long. The airport makes an estimated $7.8 million annual impact on the local and state economy.
Also at Monday morning's meeting, the Mayor and Council approved the tentative allocation of GDOT grant funding to a project to repave the runway at the airport. That project is currently out for bids.
Mayor Sams' proclamation reads:
WHEREAS, Dalton, Georgia has a significant interest in the continued vitality of general aviation, aircraft manufacturing, aviation educational institutions, aviation organizations, and community airports; and
WHEREAS, general aviation and the Dalton Municipal Airport have a $7.8 million annual economic impact on the City of Dalton; and
WHEREAS, general aviation not only supports Georgia’s economy, it improves overall quality of life by supporting emergency medical and healthcare services, law enforcement, firefighting, disaster relief, investments in sustainable fuels and technologies, and by transporting business travelers to their destinations quickly and safely; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has 95 public-use airports that serve almost 22,700 pilots and more than 8,000 registered aircraft and is home to 132 repair stations, 15 FAA-approved pilot schools, more than 7,200 student pilots, and more than 4,100 flight instructors; and
WHEREAS, the National Celebration of GA Flyover in Washington, D.C. commemorates the 85th anniversary of the founding of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I, Annalee Sams, Mayor of the City of Dalton, Georgia hereby proclaim general aviation a vital, strategic asset and declare May 2024 as “General Aviation Appreciation Month” to promote future economic growth and our next generation of aviation professionals and pilots.
