The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission recently released the results of a study regarding the economic impact of aviation in the state of North Dakota, which determined that aviation-related activity creates nearly 15,500 jobs and produces $1.6 billion in economic activity across the state.
In the executive summary, Governor Jack Dalrymple states, “We have been working hard to grow and diversify North Dakota’s economy, and the state’s aviation sector continues to play an important role in those efforts.”
Commercial airlines in North Dakota boarded 798,965 passengers in 2010, an 11% increase over 2009, and general aviation aircraft conducted an estimated 673,000 operations in 2010.
The 89 airports in North Dakota created 9,792 jobs that apply to the aviation industry. Aviation employees receive $366 million in payroll, and on-airport activity generates $1.1 billion in economic output.
The study also determined the economic benefits from off-airport activity. Off-airport aerospace manufacturing supports 4,434 jobs and produces $487 million in economic output. This segment also included the economic activity generated by the growing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry, which has an estimated impact of $27.1 million. Currently, the growing UAS industry supports 231 jobs in the state.
In addition to economic benefits, aviation in North Dakota provides a number of health, welfare and safety benefits which defy conventional measurement, state officials noted. Such services include medical transport and evacuation, flight training, law enforcement flights, wildlife management, military exercises and search and rescue operations.
“Whether you fly or not, aviation makes your life better in North Dakota,” said Larry Taborsky, Director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, “Thanks to aviation your packages are delivered quicker, your food grown better and delivered fresher, and your medical help is more readily available.”
For more information: ND.gov/ndaero
