A Critical Sector Of Our Economy

During the past century, General Aviation (GA) has become an integral part of the U.S. economy, a key catalyst for economic growth, and a profound influence on the quality of life in the United States. GA today touches nearly every aspect of our daily lives, and its continued success will shape American society and the American economy over the next century.

GA, which includes all flying except for military and scheduled airline operations, makes up more than 1 percent of the U.S. GDP. As a result, GA supports almost 1.3 million high-skill, high-wage jobs in professional services and in manufacturing.

GA benefits the users of transportation services and the U.S. economy at large. It increases the efficiency and productivity of businesses by reducing the travel time that would be required to drive or to use more congested commercial airports; provides public health services, such as transporting patients and medical equipment; provides public safety services, such as monitoring floods or fires; eases congestion at commercial airports; provides an important transportation link to small communities that are not served by the airlines; and provides training for the majority of all new pilots.

Businesses Are More Profitable & Grow Faster When They Use GA

General Aviation’s (GA’s) greatest role in our economy is its ability to enhance the profitability and competitive strength of U.S. businesses and industries. Employers who take advantage of the speed and flexibility offered by GA have proven time and again that they will outperform businesses that rely solely upon the airlines for travel.

Standard & Poors 500 firms from every industry sector that routinely used GAfrom 1992 to 1999 to transport their employees, business partners, management teams, and customers earned 146 percent more in cumulative returns than those that did not use GA.

According to CFOs throughout the nation, GA helped to improve performance in all of the areas of greatest importance within today’s fast-paced, global economy, namely identifying and executing new strategic relationships and alliances, attending critical meetings, closing deals, expanding into new markets, and increasing contact with customers.

Local Airports Attract New Factories, Offices & Jobs

The high value of General Aviation (GA) is well known to the people who have to select locations for America’s new factories and offices.

Many manufacturing firms intentionally locate themselves within 10 miles of a public-use airport so that they can exploit the speed and access provided by GA.

Community airports allow local businesses to reach new markets, work with suppliers from neighboring states, or ship time-critical parts and materials to their customers. Local area businesses gain enduring competitive advantages when they use the nearby airport; at the same time, the surrounding community gains jobs.

Your local airport also provides your citizens with rapid access to the nation’s air transportation system.

World Leader & Export Powerhouse

General Aviation (GA) aids the U.S. balance of trade. That’s because ever since the Wright Brothers began flying, the United States has been one of the top world leaders in the design, manufacture, and use of airframes, engines, avionics, and supporting technologies.