FloridaGeneralAviation.com

COMING SOON, STARTING OCTOBER 1st 2024
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR
AVIATION SPECIALTY FLORIDA LICENSE PLATE

Specialty License Plate to Support General Aviation

Click on the license plate number to enter your desired license plate

Specialty License Plate Proposal

The State of Florida has numerous Specialty License Plates that recognize and support various organizations and ideals; however, it is missing one that broadly supports the future of General Aviation. This proposed plate will provide recognition for the General Aviation community that contributes vastly to Florida’s economy, but it will also assist with the education of Floridians who seek careers in aviation. Proceeds of this specialty plate will provide scholarships for future pilots, air traffic controllers, mechanics, airport operations personnel, and other related aviation fields.

Why This is Important in Florida:

Florida currently has 129 public use airports (and many more private airports), over 20,000 registered aircraft, and over 79,000 pilots. In addition, Florida has numerous aviation-related schools, universities, and colleges that provide education in many sectors of aviation. We believe that Florida’s distinct position warrants the creation of a Specialty License Plate that recognizes and supports Florida’s General Aviation community.

Steps to Make this a Success:

As you see in Picture 1, above, we have developed a unique, full-color Specialty License Plate that we believe will meet all the FLHSMV specifications required. We have partnered with the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) in Lakeland Florida (https://aceedu.org/) to manage the scholarships that would be created by the proceeds of the sale. ACE is a 501c3 organization with deep experience and knowledge of scholarship programs for those seeking aviation-related careers.

Beyond our scholarship management partner, we have established partnerships to help support the required the 3,000 pre-sale vouchers. These partners include the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (www.aopa.org) and local chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association (www.eaa.org). Each has agreed to help support the effort through membership outreach and communication.

Finally, once this plate has passed the Florida Legislation process, to maximize the pre-sales over the two-year period, our team will host a website with information to acquire the pre-sale vouchers and our local pilot supporters will travel to fly-ins and airshow events (including Sun & Fun) to share the news of pre-sale voucher availability.

This idea is courtesy of great pilots in Southern Florida! Left to right: Joe Hurtuk, Dr. Ian Goldbaum, Rick Golightly and Nicola Zordan.

QA

Support General Aviation License Plate

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why was the Support General Aviation Specialty License Plate created?
A. Three Florida pilots were looking for a way to assist Floridians who were interested in pursuing a career in General Aviation. The sales from the license plate will create a scholarship program. Eligible educational pursuits include pilot credentials, aviation technician/mechanic certifications, and aviation related degree programs.

Q2. Where do the proceeds of the sales go?
A. Once the state recoups the cost of producing the plate, funds will go to the Aerospace Center For Excellence (ACE), a 501 3 C nonprofit organization in Lakeland, FL. The ACE will manage the scholarship process. To learn more about ACE, go here: https://aceedu.org/

Q3. What will the funds be used for?
A. The funds will be used to develop scholarships for Florida residents who are interested in General Aviation education.

Q4. Can anyone purchase a pre-sale voucher for the Support General Aviation Specialty License Plate?
A. Pre-sale vouchers can be purchased for yourself or any other Florida resident, but they cannot be transferred once purchased.

Q5. Does the voucher cover the cost of my registration (a plate’s yellow decal) renewal?
A. No, the voucher only covers the cost of the new specialty plate.

Q6. Can I purchase a pre-sale voucher before my current plate is due for renewal?
A. Yes, you can purchase a voucher before your current plate is due for renewal.

Q7. Will there be additional fees after the Support General Aviation license plate is manufactured?
A. In most cases, yes. The specialty plate voucher fee allows the sponsoring organization to begin manufacturing and delivering the plate to local tax collector’s office once the pre-sale threshold has been reached.
If your license plate is not due for a mandatory replacement (every 10 years), you will likely need to pay a fee between $28.00 -$36.90 to replace your current license plate with the specialty plate. These fees do not cover the annual registration renewal fees.

Q8. What happens after I purchase my pre-sale voucher?
A. Your pre-sale voucher, your contact and payment information is sent to the County Tax Collector for processing. You will receive a pre-sale voucher within a few weeks. Your link to your County Tax Collector is https://Floridataxcollectors.com/your-tax-collector.

Q9. Can I personalize the Support General Aviation specialty plate?
A. Yes, you can personalize the specialty plate. There may be an extra fee for this personalization which does not go to the scholarship program. Personalization may be limited to only 5 characters.

Q10. How do I know when the 3000 pre-sale requirement has been reached?
A. An email will be sent to you notifying that the goal has been reached. A follow up email will be sent to you as to when you can pick up your plate at your County Tax Collectors Office or determine if it can be mailed to you.

Q11. How long will it take from when I purchased my pre-salevoucher until I get my plate?
A. Once the 3000 pre-sale requirement is met, it will take approximately 12 weeks for a non-personalized plates to be available at your County Tax Collectors office. If you ordered a personalized plate, it may take up to an additional three months to receive your plate.

Q12. What if I have any additional questions regarding the Support General Aviation Specialty Plate?
A. Contact your County Tax Collector at the following link, which will also provide you with the telephone contact numbers for each county. https://Floridataxcollectors.com/your-tax-collector