NATA’s General Aviation Advancing America Initiative Highlights Regional Airports in Elko and Bakersfield

Last week, the National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) Chairman Curt Castagna joined President and CEO Tim Obitts and Senior Vice President Ryan Waguespack in visiting regional airports in Bakersfield, California and Elko, Nevada as part of the Association’s “General Aviation Advancing America” initiative.
 
On August 19, NATA’s leadership was welcomed to Loyd’s Aviation at Meadows Field Airport (BFL) in Bakersfield, California. BFL serves more than 1.4 million people in or near the Southern San Joaquin Valley. A NATA-supported PricewaterhouseCoopers study, Contribution of General Aviation to the US Economy in 2018, notes that general aviation across California supports an economic impact of more than $32.7 billion, more than 148,000 jobs, and over $11.3 billion in labor income.
 
On August 20, the leaders visited aviation and community stakeholders at Elko Regional airport (KEKO). KEKO supports $1.83 million in economic impact, according to a Elko Regional Airport Master Plan from 2016. The same PricewaterhouseCoopers study referenced earlier found that general aviation contributes more than $1.4 billion to the total economic output of Nevada annually, and supports 8,700 jobs and $486 million in labor income.
 
Elko, Nevada was a benefactor of early Federal Aviation development serving as a location for the early lighted air beacons that served as navigational aids for night flying on Air Route #1.  Elko was a recipient of the 1925 Air Mail Act. On April 6, 1926, pilot Leon Cuddleback, flying a newly established airline called Varney Airlines, flew from Pasco, WA to Elko, NV delivering mail by air. Elko remained a stop on the mail trunk route from Pasco, Boise, Elko, and Salt Lake City into the late 1930s. Varney Airlines would later become United Airlines. Today, Elko Regional Airport is a Part 139 airport with significant general aviation use to destinations around North America.

NATA’s General Aviation Advancing America may be landing at an airport near you, please check bit.ly/2020GAAA for upcoming events. If you are interested in hosting at your airport, please contact Ryan Waguespack at ryanw@nata.aero.