General aviation airports crucial to North Carolina
February 4, 2013, 12:42 pm
General aviation is a critical driver of the U.S. economy and one recent study is proof of that. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the 10 publicly owned airports in the Charlotte area have contributed nearly a half-billion dollars in annual economic output and support more than 4,000 jobs, the Charlotte Observer reported. The news source said that the general aviation airports provide service for a number of sectors, including NASCAR and the aerospace industry, in addition to training and personal use of pilots in the general aviation community. While the airports directly contribute $491 million in economic output, they also account for $16.6 million in state and local taxes. The department showed that in all of North Carolina, general aviation airports contribute $2 billion in economic output. MIchael Zimmer, president of the aerospace company Cyril Bath, told the Observer that the airports are critical to running his business. He said the airport located in Monroe is directly behind their factory and that they are able to fly in and out on a regular basis. A separate study by the Institute for Transportation Research and Education showed the impact of aviation as a whole on North Carolina. The study, titled 2012 Economic Contribution of Airports in North Carolina, showed that the state's 72 publicly owned airports provide $26 billion to the state's economy and support 108,000 jobs. “Aviation and aerospace continue to be an integral part of North Carolina's economic engine,” said N.C. Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation Director Richard Walls. “As our state continues its investment in aviation, aerospace companies continue to invest in North Carolina, with new manufacturing plants and technology.” Public airports account for 6 percent of North Carolina GDP
In addition, the report showed that aviation accounts for 6 percent of North Carolina's gross domestic product and that the airports support more than $4 billion in personal income from aviation jobs. It also showed that $700 million is given to state and local governments from sales, property, corporate and personal taxes. Craig Spence, secretary general of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations, said at the China Low Altitude Economy Summit on August 23 that general aviation is critical to the United States. He said that the nation's 5,261 public use airports contribute $150 billion in annual contributions to the U.S. economy and support millions of jobs. Those in the general aviation community are encouraged to look into pilot life insurance to ensure their own financial future is in order.
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