Last study completed in 2002
Here are some hard facts you can use when the airport discussion comes up again. Most California residents have no idea how big a part aviation plays in the state’s economy.
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. Which is over 14% of all U.S.
Air Cargo exports by value were flown from California Airports.
7 of the top 50 U.S. airports are in California.
Economic Contributions:
Here are some of the study highlights from the Economic Study Performed by the California Division of Aeronautics:
Aviation contributes nearly 9% of both the total state employment (1.7 million jobs) and total state output ($110.7 billion)
Aviation generates $250.2 million in annual tax revenue for California Note: $238 Million estimated in 2005 of which the state returns less then 5% to state aviation
Aviation saves lives via emergency response, medical and fire fighting
Nearly half of all domestic tourists visiting California arrive by air
Aviation delivered over $14.5 billion in tourist dollars to California in 2001
California air cargo was valued at $173 billion in 2000
SOURCE: California Division of Aeronautics. For more information please visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/planning/aeronaut/htmlfile/econstudy2003.php
