Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I – Corning) has joined the legislature’s New York State General Aviation Caucus. The caucus is comprised of a collection of over 100 state legislators who work together to protect and enhance the aviation industry in New York.

Palmesano noted that the aviation industry is critical to economic development and job creation in New York, and that working to enhance and create a strong and vibrant aviation infrastructure is vital for that development. As such, the caucus’ focus is creating jobs and developing and maintaining the infrastructure of airports. They hope to do so by eliminating the burdensome New York sales and use tax on business aircraft and are working to attract more aviation business and jobs to the state.

New York is home to over 600 commercial, public and private airports and heliports. The New York State Department of Transportation has demonstrated that the state’s aviation industry accounts for a significant amount of annual economic activity, as well as 500,000 jobs.

New York State’s commercial service airports accommodate a wide variety of local, domestic and international flights connecting all of New York State to the nation and the world, and are responsible for over 40 million enplanements per year.

“New York’s aviation industry creates and maintains jobs and is interwoven into many local economies. Our airports fly people all over the state, the country and even across the globe,” said Palmesano. “We must ensure that our airports’ infrastructure is maintained and improved and that the industry remains viable for the future.”