Sent To Governor John Hickenlooper For Final Approval

The Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) is very proud to announce that the Support Colorado Aviation License Plate Bill, (HB17-1212) has been passed through the 2017 Colorado legislative session.

The Support Colorado Aviation license plate project has been a collaborative effort by numerous Colorado aviation organizations and spearheaded by CABA. In late fall 2016 the petition for the plate exceeded the required 3000 signatures and was approved to move forward in the legislative process. The bill was sponsored by Representative Rosenthal, Representative Sias, Senator Kagan and Senator Gardner. The Colorado Aviation License Plate Bill is also supported by the Colorado Aeronautics Board. 

In keeping with the theme of Colorado aviation, even the plate design was put out to aviation artists in the state. Ultimately it was Chris Glaser, a graphic designer with Jeppesen in Englewood who presented the winning design. Chris Swathwood, a member of the CABA Board of Directors who initiated and led the plate project explained, “We felt the design really encompassed aviation in the state… the runway for all aviation professionals in non-flying roles, then each aircraft helping to highlight a different aspect of aviation in the state and the pilots that fly them."

The goal of the plate bill is to raise awareness of the huge impact that aviation has in the State of Colorado, and how aviation affects a multitude of Colorado industries. Colorado general aviation supports 265,700 jobs and a payroll of almost $11.2 billion.  Additionally, Colorado boasts 74 public-use airports, serving 17,819 Colorado pilots and 5,483 general aviation aircraft.  An estimated 1.8 million visitors arrive in Colorado on general aviation aircraft. Colorado aviation has a total economic impact of $32.2 billion to the state economy. 

Swathwood also stated, “The Support Colorado Aviation License Plate will give Colorado aviation professionals, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts a way to showcase their love and passion for aviation, while promoting the important role that aviation plays in the state economy,” Southwood said. 

Now that the bill has passed through the legislative process and sent to the governor’s office, plates are expected to be available in September of 2018. Individuals who want to purchase the plate will only need to pay the $50 special group plate fee charged by the DMV ($25 to cover DMV Fee’s and $25 to cover the Highway User Tax Fund). No additional fees or requirements are needed. 

(Image provided with CABA news release)

FMI: www.supportcoloradoaviation.com