In Washington, aviation reaches its greatest heights with Boeing, but there’s more to our state’s aerospace impact than even that 100-year-old company.
In 2012, public airports statewide generated more than $50 billion in total economic activity, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division.
A special license plate recognizing aviation will soon be an option for Washington state vehicle owners. A preliminary design of the plate features a Stearman Kaydet superimposed on an image of Mount Rainier with the words “Celebrate Aviation.” (We wrote about that aircraft choice in the Dec. 13 print Herald.)
The plate is expected to be available in late July.
Seventy percent of the one-time $40 fee will support aviation-related efforts. That could include directing money toward the “Fly Washington” Passport Program. The program aims to motivate pilots to visit the state’s various public-use airports, offering awards for participation, including a leather flying jacket.
Washington has 137 public-use airports. Snohomish County is home to six of them: Arlington Municipal, Darrington Municipal, First Air Field in Monroe, Harvey Field in Snohomish, Sky Harbor in Sultan, and Paine Field in Everett.
Aviation will join more than 50 other special-design plates that display alumni pride or support causes.
Find out more about specialty plates at www.dol.wa.gov.
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