As members of the aviation community, we all understand the importance of the general and business aviation industry, and the societal and economic benefits that it delivers across the world. On occasion, our industry is unnecessarily attacked with disparaging comments or reckless policy proposals that are being made without full recognition of the global significance of the industry. As such, it is important that we all are equipped with the facts to champion the industry which we are all proud to be a part of.
General aviation is much more than recreational or leisurely flying, it is used for agriculture, rural and urban connectivity, humanitarian and emergency response, pilot training and much more. Additionally, the breadth and depth of the general aviation industry goes far beyond the cockpit and cabin. It includes the manufacturers that built the aircraft and their components, the crews that repair and maintain them, and the internal and external support that is needed to maintain operations.
In the United States, general aviation supports nearly 1.2 million jobs and a total of $246.8 billion in economic output. In Europe, general aviation supports nearly 400,000 jobs and a total of $87 million in economic output. These are significant figures that should not be overlooked. Reckless rhetoric recently voiced by a few government officials in Europe regarding the limiting or banning general aviation aircraft has a significant effect on jobs and economic output, even indirectly.
Our dedicated workforce is a large part of the reason that our industry has been able to strategically navigate the pandemic. We are seeing robust interest in general aviation aircraft and flight activity has been thriving. As we welcome this growth, we will also need to grow our workforce, which includes new maintenance technicians to meet operator and MRO demand to maintain the growing fleet.
For years, our industry has been prioritizing several initiatives to improve efficiency and mitigate our industry’s impact on the environment, which includes reducing CO2 emissions. We have been at the
forefront of developing technological improvements to aircraft configuration, aerodynamics, systems, materials, and engine technologies which result in more efficient wing, rotor, fuselage, engine design and operations.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 2019 Environmental Report, global business aviation operations represent 0.04% of CO2 emissions caused by human activity. Although this represents a minuscule fraction of overall emissions, our industry has kept a keen focus on reducing this footprint. A great example of this is our strengthened commitment to environmental sustainability with an aggressive goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and continued technology improvements.
General aviation has a storied history of charting new paths for the entire aerospace ecosystem. We are furthering revolutionary innovations like hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft. These technological advancements are bolstering our industry’s sustainability commitments to improve the fuel efficiency of aircraft and reduce emissions. Not only do these advancements serve as the testbed for what could likely be scaled up for commercial aviation, but they also create more opportunities for our workforce to expand.
With a better understanding of our industry’s societal and economic importance, our sustainability goals and the technological advances that are on the horizon, one can fully understand the global importance of general and business aviation. While criticisms of the industry are shortsighted, it is important that we do not veer off course and continue to showcase the importance of our hardworking industry.
Pete Bunce is the president and CEO of GAMA, an international trade association representing more than 100 of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services. GAMA’s members also operate repair stations, fixed based operations, pilot and maintenance training facilities and they manage fleets of aircraft. You can read more about GAMA’s activities at www.gama.aero and on the General Aviation Manufacturers Association Facebook page.
