Aviation

AVIATION’S IMPACT ON IOWA’S ECONOMY

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In 2009, a report released by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Aviation Bureau documented how aviation is used in Iowa and concluded that air transportation is a key contributor to the state’s economy.

The report, titled Uses and Benefits of Aviation in Iowa, was part of a study that analyzed: the economic impacts of on-airport operations; visitor spending; specialized services, such as helicopter emergency medical services and aerial spraying; and aviation-related manufacturing.

The report was designed to assist aviation stakeholders in making informed decisions related to operations and investments in Iowa’s air transportation system and as a tool in educating the public on the uses and benefits of aviation in Iowa.

Uses and Benefits of Aviation in Iowa (2009 Economic Impact report)

A healthy air transportation system is important to Iowa. It is estimated that 12% of Iowa’s economy is in one way or another linked to aviation.

Aviation is integrated into every facet of the economy and plays an important role in making Iowa a better place to live. Aviation supports more than 47,000 jobs across the state and has more than an $18 billion economic impact as the following table shows.

 
Commercial airports $1.3B
General aviation airports $187M
Ag aviation $214M
Helicopter EMS $22M
Aviation-related industry $3.9B
Benefits to business users $12.8B
$18.4B
 

Iowa’s largest employers rank factors in the following order when selecting locations for new or expanded business facilities.

  1. Work force availability
  2. Tax incentives
  3. Proximity to a commercial service airport
  4. Highway access
  5. Cost of hiring
  6. Proximity to a general aviation airport
  7. Suppliers
  8. Academic/Cultural centers
  9. University and research centers
  10. Raw materials

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