CALIFORNIA AVIATION FACTS- 2002
California is home to 255 public use airports; 29 commercial use airports; 147 medical heliports; 25 military/NASA airports.
There are 71,053 active pilots; 8,984 active flight instructors; 42,360 active aircraft mechanics; 32,454 active general aviation aircraft. General aviation aircraft flew 3.2 million hours.
In each category this is approximately 11% of the U.S. total.
Over eighty-seven (87) million passengers boarded aircraft in California during 2002. Over 14% of all U.S. Air Cargo exports by value were flown from California Airports. Seven of the top 50 airports are in California.
Source: California Division of Aeronautics.