00                   HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 17                                                                   
01 Supporting the aviation industry; and urging the governor to make state-owned land                                      
02 available to the unmanned aircraft systems industry for the management and operation                                    
03 of unmanned aircraft systems and related research, manufacturing, testing, and                                          
04 training.                                                                                                               
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 aviation industry that would                                  
14 generate approximately $9,400,000 in employment-related earnings and an additional 175                                  
15 jobs indirectly created by the aviation industry that would bring $10,600,000 of employment-                            

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