Economic Impact of General Aviation in

Pennsylvania


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 According to the 2022 Pennsylvania Aviation Economic Impact Study, general aviation airports in Pennsylvania support over $1.5 billion in economic output each year.

Aviation by the Numbers

According to the FAA, the state is home to 122 public-use airports. Also, according to the FAA, these airports serve 17,739 pilots and 6,116 registered aircraft.

Number of Jobs

According to the 2022 Pennsylvania Aviation Economic Impact Study, general aviation airports in Pennsylvania support over 8,100 jobs and sustain a payroll of over $581 million.

Economic Impact

According to the same study, general aviation airports in Pennsylvania support over $1.5 billion in economic output each year.

According to FAA data, Pennsylvania is home to 89 repair stations, 34 FAA-approved pilot schools, 6,232 student pilots and 3,053 flight instructors.

In addition, there are 75 fixed-base operators in the state, according to the AC-U-KWIK directory. According to PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation, there are 283 heliports in Pennsylvania.

According to the University Aviation Association and the National Center for Education Statistics, flight departments in Pennsylvania include Community College of Beaver County in Beaver Falls, Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Eastern Mennonite University in Lancaster, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, and Marywood University in Scranton.

Anthony J. McCloskey, P.E., PennDOT Bureau of Aviation Director

"Our state is very proud of its long history of aviation. From the first airport built in Philadelphia in 1925, to the construction of the largest pilot training school in the country at the ATP Flight School in West Mifflin just this year, Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of supporting investments in aviation, technology and sustainability. Pittsburgh International Airport has been called a ‘model’ for efforts to ease emissions and there are over 110 general aviation airports across the state which serve as a lifeline for thousands of communities, many without commercial service. We plan to continue our growth as an industry leader in stewarding a safe, compliant and reliable aviation transportation system."

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    Across the United States, governors and mayors from all 50 states have signed proclamations recognizing the importance of aviation industry. See what has passed in Pennsylvania, choose from the list below.

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