Airplanes took center stage at the State Capitol Wednesday in honor of Hawaii Aviation Day.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the General Aviation Council of Hawaii were on hand to raise awareness of the importance of aviation in Hawaii.
The organizations say it’s not just about flying. General aviation supports 4,100 jobs in the state, and contributes $423 million to the state’s economy.
“We have flight schools. We have repair stations, avionic shops. We have tourism. We have air tours going between islands. We have air tours around Oahu here,” said Rob Moore, president, General Aviation Council of Hawaii. “We also have medical assistance. We have specialized small aviation aircraft that take patients inter-island to the hospitals here, so it’s a little of everything.”
Members say it also supports tourism in Hawaii, and encourages children to be future pilots and mechanics.
