Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute (PAI)
PAI Receives Continued Legislative Support Toward a Projected September 2008 Opening
As a result of the legislative leadership of NYS Senator Betty Little, US Congressman John McHugh, former US Congressman John Sweeney, US Senator Charles Schumer, US Senator Hillary Clinton, and former NYS Governor, George Pataki, the Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute has received member item funding, appropriations funding, and development funding that will enable CV-TEC and CCC to begin the PAI program implementation process.
On October 9, 2005 Senator Little announced that she would provide $200,000 toward PAI's proposed hangar facility. On November 10, 2005, Congressman McHugh and Congressman Sweeney, in conference with Senators Schumer and Clinton announced $1 million in federal NASA appropriations monies for PAI's aeronautical institute. Soon after these announcements, and subsequent to the October 5th Quebec-New York Economic Summit, Governor George Pataki's January 17, 2006 budget featured $1.2 million for the development of our Aeronautical Institute.
In January, 2007, and on numerous subsequent occasions, CV-TEC and CCC asked our State and Federal legislators to continue their financial support of our Part 147 Program- a program that will provide such partners as Laurentian Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney with the well-trained employees they will need to maintain high industry standards.
As a result of these funds, and the funds PAI partners hope to receive this year, PAI will be able to build its programs, develop its curriculum, and acquire the training equipment necessary to provide secondary students and adults with world class aeronautical instruction.
PAI invites all interested parties to contact our legislators and to thank them for the support they have given us to date and to request their continued support and assistance. As we forge ahead in the development of our program, PAI has received-and welcomes- donations of such items as aeronautical tools, instructional equipment (e.g., aircraft, aircraft engines, instructional boards), professional services, and funding.
PAI supporters are encouraged to contact our legislators at the following e-mail addresses:
It is the intention of PIA partners to utilize all available programming and resources to maximize the financial support provided by County, State and National legislators (see "Framework for PAI Development).