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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing April 8-13, 2008, as "General

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Aviation Week" in Florida.

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     WHEREAS, the aviation industry is one of the cornerstones of

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Florida's economy, with 21 commercial service airports and 107

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general aviation airports that are open to the public and more

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than 600 private-use airports, and

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     WHEREAS, Florida's airports provide nearly $96 billion

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annually in economic activity, and the state's aviation industry

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supports more than one million jobs that generate $26 billion in

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annual payroll, and

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     WHEREAS, Florida has the largest flight-training industry in

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the United States, and

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     WHEREAS, more than 85 percent of all aircraft operations in

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Florida are flown by general aviation aircraft, and

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     WHEREAS, each year, Florida's general aviation aircraft

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bring 9 million business and leisure visitors to the state, and

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     WHEREAS, the state's general aviation airports house more

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than 14,000 aircraft, comprising 6 percent of the nation's

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general aviation fleet, and

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     WHEREAS, Florida's general aviation airports accommodate

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more than 7 million takeoffs and landings yearly, ranking Florida

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second in the nation in this area, and

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     WHEREAS, without general aviation airports, Florida's busy

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commercial service airports would be overwhelmed with air

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traffic, making air travel to and around the state nearly

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impossible, and

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     WHEREAS, Florida is the host of the nation's second-largest

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general aviation convention, the Sun'n Fun Fly-In Convention, in

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Lakeland for 1 week each year, attracting thousands of aircraft

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and hundreds of thousands of aviation enthusiasts to the state

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for the event, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That April 8-13, 2008, is recognized as "General Aviation

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Week" in Florida.