According to the 2020 South Dakota State Aviation System Plan & Aviation Economic Impact Study, general aviation airports in South Dakota support an estimated $75 million in economic activity annually.
According to the FAA, South Dakota is home to 70 public-use airports, which serve 2,689 pilots and 2,025 aircraft across the state.
According to the 2020 South Dakota State Aviation System Plan & Aviation Economic Impact Study, general aviation airports in South Dakota support 660 jobs with an annual income of $35 million
According to the same study, South Dakota general aviation airports support over $75 million in total economic activity.
According to the FAA, the state is home to 12 repair stations, 2 pilot schools and one maintenance school. According to the FAA, there are 875 student pilots and 475 flight instructors in South Dakota.
In addition, there are 45 fixed-base operators in the state, according to the AC-U-KWIK directory. According to Helicopter Association International, there are 52 heliports in South Dakota.
According to the University Aviation Association and the National Center for Education Statistics, flight departments in South Dakota include Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension in Ellsworth, National American University-Rapid City in Rapid City, and South Dakota State University in Brookings.