Association To Honor Perdue With American Spirit Award

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue (R-GA) will be featured as a keynote speaker for the Opening General Session at NBAA's 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2010) in Atlanta, GA, and will be recognized with the 2010 American Spirit Award.

"Governor Perdue has two great passions - aviation and the state of Georgia - and has spent many years tirelessly supporting and nurturing the development of both," NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said Monday. "NBAA is proud to include him among the speakers at our Convention's Opening General Session, and also to honor him with the American Spirit Award for his dedication to all aviation, including business aviation."

The NBAA American Spirit Award is presented in recognition of an individual who exemplifies the service, courage and pursuit of excellence in support of business aviation that characterizes the men and women who created and advanced the American aviation community. The Convention's Opening General Session, during which Gov. Perdue will be presented with this year's award, takes place on October 19, at the start of NBAA2010, which will be held from October 19-21 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

In 2007, Gov. Perdue enthusiastically addressed attendees at the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, also in Atlanta, welcoming the crowd to "the real state of aviation," and proudly detailed Georgia's long list of aviation superlatives, including the state's role as home to the eighth-largest general aviation industry in the nation, with many thousands of people employed at more than 500 aerospace and aviation companies. That year, Governor Perdue also joined NBAA in celebrating the anniversary of an American aviation milestone - the 100th anniversary of the state's historic first flight by E. Patrick Epps, in 1907.

Governor Perdue (Right) With Unidentified Flight Instructor After A Checkride

In 2009, Governor Perdue issued a proclamation recognizing the essential role general aviation plays for the state and its businesses. The proclamation noted that in Georgia, "a great many businesses and communities depend upon general aviation aircraft and small aircraft of all types for access to medical treatment, mobility, economic opportunity, disaster relief and a wide range of critical resources."

Bolen praised Governor Perdue's proclamation, saying: "We thank him for sending this welcome message about the importance of jobs, business productivity, and access to small airports and humanitarian initiatives that our industry supports."

Past honorees of the NBAA American Spirit Award have included such aviation notables and pioneers as John and Martha King, founders of the King Schools, Inc., and Rep. John Mica (R-7-FL).

FMI: www.nbaa.org/2010