National Aerospace Week Draws Attention to One of Georgia’s Strongest Industries
Author: News Bureau
Posted: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 3:58 PM
Category:
School of Aviation
Macon, GA
Established by Congress in 2010 as the third week of September, National Aerospace Week recognizes the enormous contribution that the industry makes to America’s economy, competitiveness and national security. America’s aerospace and defense industry employs more than 1 million workers in all 50 states with exports nearly touching $100 billion.
"Aerospace in Georgia contributes over $50 billion in total annual impact to the state's economy," said R. Steven Justice, director of the Center of Innovation for Aerospace, a program of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Aerospace accounted for 10-percent of the state’s tax revenue, 5-percent of the state’s employment, and 6-percent of the state’s GDP.
Aerospace in Georgia has gained jobs and expanded its output of goods and services despite the economic downturn that began in 2008. We want to spread the good news about aerospace in Georgia and help the business community leverage our considerable strengths in this area."
Since 2006, aerospace jobs have increased approximately 6-percent with over 86,000 Georgians directly employed at over 500 companies and a total annual payroll of $8.4 billion. Georgia ranked fifth in total civilian employment in the maintenance, repair and overhaul sector. Aerospace manufacturing exported $6.75 billion in aerospace products to the rest of the world ranking Georgia 5th among U.S. States and all but five countries in the world, routinely exceeding the exports of major aerospace companies such as Russia, China, Japan, and India.
With the world’s busiest and most-efficient passenger airport in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia continues to lead the world in aerospace operations.
Further capitalizing on Georgia’s tremendous aerospace assets, Middle Georgia State College and the Georgia Center of Innovation for Aerospace are teaming up to host the Georgia Aerospace Opportunity Exchange (GA OpX). The event will take place in February 2014 at the Professional Sciences Center on Middle Georgia State's Macon Campus. Through breakout sessions, exhibits and other chances for interaction, representatives of Georgia's aerospace interests will showcase, from a product- and service-based perspective, how business and industry can leverage aerospace-related opportunities.
The conference is designed to showcase local aerospace industry capabilities; highlight regional, national and global aerospace opportunities; provide access to resources that support growth of companies; and identify potential partnerships.
Breakout sessions will focus on small business innovative research; unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); international trade; aircraft engine and propulsion; maintenance, repair and overhaul; workforce and education; and other topics.
The conference is open to any organization or individual interested in aerospace from a business perspective. More details to come.
Prospective participants of the conference may contact Amy Hudnall, deputy director of the Center of Innovation for Aerospace at 478-230-4300 or ahudnall@georgia.org if they have questions.
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The Georgia Center of Innovation for Aerospace (Aerospace.GeorgiaInnovation.org) acts as a catalyst for improvement and growth, creating opportunities for aerospace companies and their suppliers by connecting them to sources of new technologies, university research, potential business collaborators, qualified workforce and current industry information. The center promotes Georgia’s strength in the global aerospace industry, and contributes to the entrepreneurial and educational ecosystems required for its continued growth.
Middle Georgia State (mga.edu) plays a key role in the state's aerospace interests because its Eastman Campus is the only comprehensive public aviation campus in Georgia. The Eastman Campus offers a wide range of aviation programs including flight and aviation management; flight training; aircraft repair; and air traffic management. The Eastman Campus is a critical part of the Georgia Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Working Group, a statewide committee dedicated to growing existing UAS companies in Georgia and attracting more.