Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute (PAI)
PAI Receives Continued Legislative Support Toward a Projected September 2009 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 implement 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.
Since January 2007, and despite tightening budgets, PAI partners have asked State and Federal legislators to continue their financial support of our Part 147 Program- a program that will provide the aviation industry with the well-trained technicians they will need to maintain high aviation standards.
During the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic years, CV-TEC received an additional $200,000 in grant monies from State and Local sources, further expanding PAI’s Aviation Technology curriculum. By September 2009, with the continued support of various County and State legislative bodies, CV-TEC hopes to complete the renovation of its new campus at 518 Rugar Street, 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 and equipment (e.g., aircraft, aircraft engines, instructional boards), professional services, and funding.
PAI supporters are encouraged to contact our legislators at the following addresses:
NYS Governor David Paterson
US Senator Schumer
US Congressman John McHugh
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
NYS Senator Elizabeth O'C. Little
NYS Assemblywoman Janet Duprey
NYS Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward