Gov. Rick Scott signed House Bill 59 officially declaring Cecil Spaceport a designated Space Territory. The bill was passed by Florida lawmakers during the 2012 legislative session as an initiative to develop Florida’s aerospace industries and will provide funding opportunities for Spaceport facilities and infrastructure.
“It is critical that we continue to focus on and invest in infrastructure projects that will directly benefit our state’s economy. Having Cecil Airport designated as a spaceport will play a major role in the continued development of Florida’s aerospace and aviation industries and will continue to keep our economy heading in the right direction.” said Scott.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) has been working for over six years in acquiring this designation which began with obtaining the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Spaceport license for horizontal operations. Cecil Spaceport now joins two other designated Space Territories in the state – Cape Canaveral Spaceport and Eglin Air Force Base.
The JAA is also the first Spaceport in the country to complete an official Spaceport Master Plan and continues to search for a qualified operator.
