The US business and general aviation industry contributed $219 billion to the US economy in 2013 and supported 1.1 million jobs, according to a study jointly commissioned by eight leading business and general aviation associations.
The research, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, updates a study commissioned nine years ago that at the time recorded US industry making an annual economic contribution of $150 billion, supporting 1.2 million jobs.
“This a great achievement,” says Pete Bunce, president and chief executive of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, one of the report's co-sponsors. “In 2006 the industry was approaching its peak; today it is emerging from a seven-year downturn. This latest study confirms our industry’s strength and resilience and clearly shows that general aviation positively affects economies and communities across the USA."
The data will be used by the associations to make a strong case for the industry “on all levels”, says Bunce – including on Capitol Hill as a FAA reauthorisation year approaches.
Source: Flight International
