Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) and the Florida Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (FAOPA) recently began pre-sales of a new license plate that will be available for residents. The license plates honor the state’s rich history of general aviation.
On July 2, 2024, Governor Ron Desantis signed into law House Bill 403, authorizing the FLHSMV to create a series of specialty license plates that would go into effect on Oct. 1, 2024. The Support General Aviation specialty license plate was one of the approved license plates.
The Support General Aviation Specialty License Plate provides recognition for the general aviation community that contributes vastly to Florida’s economy. It also assists with the education of Floridians who seek careers in aviation. Proceeds from the sales of this specialty license plate will provide career opportunities for positions related to aviation through a scholarship through ACE, which is located in Lakeland, Fla.
According to its website, Florida currently has 129 public-use airports and many more privately owned airports. It ranks second in the nation with over 20,000 registered aircraft and over 79,000 pilots. In addition, the state has numerous aviation-related schools, universities, and colleges that provide education in many aviation sectors.
Over the next two years, pre-sale vouchers will be available to claim at their local tax collector’s office. When the 3,000 minimum vouchers have been met, residents' local tax collectors will provide information on when the plates will become available.
To learn more about the General Aviation Plate, visit www.floridageneralaviation.com.