RECOGNIZING PARA-AVIATION AS A VALUED INDUSTRY AND SPORT IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, New Mexico is known for its blue skies, year-round great weather and gorgeous landscapes; and

WHEREAS, the desire to fly has burned in the bosom of man since mythological times; and

WHEREAS, para-aviation is a means by which to fulfill that desire and has captured the imagination of thousands of people around the world; and

WHEREAS, para-aviation, which includes forms of personal flight such as skydiving, parachuting, paragliding, powered parachuting and powered paragliding, is a class of sport engaged in internationally and in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, para-aviation technology is rapidly evolving and is continuously undergoing research and development and New Mexico is a desirable place to conduct those activities, including manufacturing; and

WHEREAS, what the para-aviation industry is doing for personal flight is much like what the computer industry is doing for personal computing; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico encourages diverse and clean industries such as para-aviation; and

WHEREAS, individual New Mexicans have been internationally recognized for their contributions to para-aviation; and

WHEREAS, like ballooning in its early days, para-aviation has taken off and launched New Mexico into a new era; and

WHEREAS, para-aviators from around the world have come to fly the skies of New Mexico and enjoy the breathtaking views of its mesas and mountains from aloft; and

WHEREAS, powered paragliders and powered parachutes can fly low and slow and have helped with search and rescue operations in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, men, women, boys and girls, young and old alike, enjoy participating in and observing the wonders of personal flight;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it recognize the contributions being made by the sport of para-aviation to the quality of life in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that para-aviators be encouraged to spread their colorful wings and grace the skies of New Mexico.