Economic Impact of General Aviation in

South Dakota


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According to the PwC study, Contribution of General Aviation to the US Economy in 2023, general aviation in South Dakota supports more than $1 billion in economic output annually.

Aviation By the Numbers

According to FAA data, South Dakota is home to 64 public-use general aviation airports, 3,373 pilots, and 2,277 registered aircraft.

Number of Jobs

According to the PwC study, Contribution of General Aviation to the US Economy in 2023, general aviation in South Dakota supports 5,000 jobs, resulting in $321 million in labor income.

Economic Impact

According to the same study, general aviation in South Dakota supports more than $1 billion in total economic output.

According to FAA data, South Dakota is home to 14 repair stations, 2 FAA-approved pilot schools, 1,292 student pilots, 592 flight instructors, and one FAA-approved maintenance school.

There are 45 fixed-base operators in the state according to the AC-U-KWIK directory.

According to the University Aviation Association, flight departments in South Dakota include Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown and South Dakota State University in Brookings.

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    Proclamations & Resolutions

    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 South Dakota, choose from the list below.

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