The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) estimates general aviation to be a $17 billion industry nationwide, generating more than $51 billion in economic activity annually. General aviation is an integral part of our nation’s air transportation system and a vital resource for bringing commerce to all parts of our state.
General aviation includes all aircraft not flown by the airlines or the military. Business aviation, one of the most important segments of general aviation, consists of companies and individuals using aircraft as tools in the conduct of their business.
The National Business Aviation Association represents the interests of 5200 member companies that employ 19 million people worldwide and earn annual revenues in excess of $4 trillion - a figure that is more than half of the U.S. gross domestic product.
Ohio ranks fourth in the nation in NBAA member companies with 238. Ohio also ranks fourth in the nation in the number of turbine business aircraft with 543.
The total number of registered aircraft in Ohio in 1998 was over 6800. Ohio must maintain an airport system that can accommodate the aviation economic engine that is so vital to our economy into the 21st century.
Ohio ranks third in the nation with 124 paved, lighted general aviation airports. The core of Ohio’s aviation system is composed of about 170 public use airports, ranging from commercial passenger airports to general aviation airports used for business, law enforcement, emergency medical response, state and local government services, instructional, and recreational purposes.
Of Ohio’s 88 counties, 84 are served by at least one publicly owned airport.
Ohio’s airport system consists of 170 public use airports. Of these, 106 are publicly-owned, of which 97 are eligible for state grant assistance. Eligible airports are owned by counties, municipalities, and port or airport authorities created by counties and/or municipalities.
In 1999, the General Assembly asked the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to work with the Department of Taxation and any other agency deemed necessary to complete a comprehensive Aviation Study. The purpose of the study is to identify the amount of aviation fuel sold in Ohio and all taxes paid on that fuel, to assess the current state of those airports and any information deemed necessary.
The Aviation Study clearly portrays an airport system infrastructure in a state of decline. Like many bridges and highways, much of Ohio’s airport system was constructed in the 1960s. The system is under the strain of documented declining pavement conditions, obstructions on and near airports and declining lighting systems, all of which represent a safety hazard.
Most of Ohio’s airport pavements were constructed over 30 years ago and built for light traffic only. Much of this pavement is in need of either resurfacing or partial or complete reconstruction.