00Enrolled HCR 17                                                                                                         
01 Supporting the aviation industry; and urging the governor to make state-owned land available                            
02 to the unmanned aircraft systems industry for the management and operation of unmanned                                  
03 aircraft systems and related research, manufacturing, testing, and training.                                            
04                                        _______________                                                                  
05 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
06      WHEREAS the overall health of the economy of the United States is highly                                         
07 dependent on the aviation industry; and                                                                                 
08      WHEREAS the civil aviation industry annually creates approximately 5.4 percent of                                
09 the gross domestic product in the United States and contributes approximately                                           
10 $1,500,000,000,000 to the economy nationwide; and                                                                       
11      WHEREAS the aviation industry generates more than 11,800,000 jobs, with                                          
12 estimated total employment-related earnings of $459,000,000,000; and                                                    
13      WHEREAS the state anticipates 173 new jobs in the unmanned aircraft systems                                      
14 industry that would generate approximately $9,400,000 in employment-related earnings and                                
15 an additional 175 jobs indirectly created by the unmanned aircraft systems industry that would                          

01 bring $10,600,000 of employment-related earnings into the state's economy, as identified in                             
02 the McDowell Group's May 2013 report for the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft                                        
03 Systems Integration at University of Alaska Fairbanks; and                                                              
04      WHEREAS the aviation industry enables the economic benefits of tourism, shipping,                                
05 and travel for business or recreational purposes; and                                                                   
06      WHEREAS ongoing development and implementation of unmanned aircraft systems                                      
07 technologies, policies, and procedures will support continuing economic growth in the                                   
08 aviation industry; and                                                                                                  
09      WHEREAS the aviation industry affects the economies of large and small                                           
10 communities across the United States; and                                                                               
11      WHEREAS the use and regulation of unmanned aircraft systems must be integrated                                   
12 with the use and regulation of manned aircraft systems to ensure that all aircraft can safely                           
13 navigate national airspace; and                                                                                         
14      WHEREAS the state owns approximately 27 percent of the state's landmass, and the                                 
15 landmass of the state makes up approximately 20 percent of the landmass of the United                                   
16 States; therefore, the state owns approximately five percent of the landmass of the United                              
17 States; and                                                                                                             
18      WHEREAS the state can support the growth of the unmanned aircraft systems                                        
19 industry and the advancement of unmanned aircraft systems technology by facilitating the use                            
20 or purchase of land by the unmanned aircraft systems industry for the purpose of research,                              
21 manufacturing, testing, training, management, and operation;                                                            
22      BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the economic growth                                    
23 of the unmanned aircraft systems industry in the state and encourages the establishment of                              
24 safe and responsible unmanned aircraft systems businesses in the state; and be it                                       
25      FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the governor to                                         
26 make state-owned land available to responsible designers, owners, developers, and operators                             
27 of commercial unmanned aircraft systems to use for research, manufacturing, testing, training,                          
28 management, and operation of those systems.