The private aviation industry is the focus of the June 11 open house being held at Centennial Airport. The open house is part of the Colorado Aviation Business Association’s celebration of General Aviation Appreciation Month.

The free open house will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Signature Aviation, which is located on the south side of the airport and signs will mark the route to the location. There will be displays staffed by representatives of companies engaged in various aspects of the general aviation industry inside the hanger as well as a lineup of aircraft outside the hanger, ranging from executive jets to a B-17 World War II bomber.

Visitors can walk around and take pictures of the aircraft. The Wings over the Rockies Museum arranged for the B-17 to visit Centennial and tickets can be purchased to ride on the historic aircraft.

Euardo Avalar brought his son to last year’s open house and said he plans to ask his brother to come along and bring his two boys.

“My son Juan and I really enjoyed last year’s event,” the Littleton man said. “We love airplanes and it was so cool to get out and walk around some of them and to be that close to the runway when a couple took off. My brother loves planes as much and we are all looking forward to this year’s event.”

Reggie Arsenault, Colorado Aviation Business Association chairman, said the open house is held in a effort to provide people information about the importance of general aviation.

“The aircraft are the most visible part of the industry that includes privately-owned small aircraft as well as aircraft used by corporations and medical transport services,” he said. “All these activities mean jobs. Additionally, a number of related businesses and companies have located in the same area so the Centennial had a big economic impact on the entire community.”

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper issued a proclamation declaring June as General Aviation Appreciation Month. The association open house has been titled, “Aviation Saves” The theme focuses on how aviation saves live, businesses, communities and the local economies.

Centennial is the busiest general aviation airport in the state and the fifth busiest in the nation. According to a report, there were more than 289,000 flight-related operations at Centennial last year.

A 2008 survey indicated there are more than 10,000 people employed as a result of the general aviation industry at Centennial Airport.

Many of those people are engaged in the aviation-related operations such as maintaining and servicing the aircraft or operating flight schools. However, the total includes related jobs such as the employees at a hotel adjacent to the airport as well as those staffing the rental car services on the field and the three nearby restaurants.

Actually, Centennial is one one of 75 general aviation airports in Colorado. Combined, these airports serve about 24,000 pilots and about 8,000 aircraft.

Arsenault chairs the CABA, which used to be the Centennial Aviation Business Association. He said statistics show Colorado’s general aviation airports contribute $2.1 billion to the state economy.