This year, Aviation Maintenance’s Repair Center Directory includes some changes to better serve its users.

Last year, AM asked maintenance companies that are not official FAA repair stations to submit information to be listed in the directory. Previously, we listed only certificated repair station, but many excellent maintenance shops are not certificated. These include one-person operations, aircraft-restoration companies, kit airplane builder-assistance outfits, and general maintenance facilities run by properly licensed technicians. These outfits deserve recognition and directory users need to be able to find them.

Undoubtedly, some maintenance companies are not listed this year. This may be because the company did not respond to our surveys. (AM mailed two surveys to every FAA repair station and company listed last year.) We have tried to include outfits that didn’t respond but are clearly still in business.

We accept updates at any time. Any company providing aviation maintenance services qualifies for a free listing. Please submit updates to: Aviation Maintenance, Repair Center Directory, 1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 300, Potomac, MD 20854. Fax: 301-340-8741. E-mail: AM@pbimedia.com.

Civil Aviation’s Economic Impact

A recent report on the economic impact of civil aviation in the U.S. offers an interesting perspective about the aviation industry. The report was done by research firm DRI-WEFA in collaboration with The Campbell-Hill Aviation Group and released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

According to the report, civil aviation accounted for $900 billion worth of economic impact during 2000, equal to 9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Commercial aviation represented 88 percent of the $900 billion and general aviation 12 percent.

Clearly, and even today despite all the security issues and economic problems, all segments of civil aviation are a huge part of not just the U.S., but the world economy. During the past 100 years, aviation has grown into an excellent means of enhancing communication between people. No matter how good teleconferencing gets or how ubiquitous electronic communications becomes, people are still going to want to meet face-to-face, for business and personal reasons. As the numbers above show, countries that recognize this and fully support the growth of their own commercial aviation industries will realize great economic and social benefits.

Countries serious about aviation need to do more than just allow a few airlines to fly. They need to commit to building a strong and vital aviation infrastructure–lots of large and small airports, a strong manufacturing base, flight training, and a robust general aviation community.

Ironically, the countries that could best benefit from a strong commercial aviation infrastructure–those with large land masses and few good intra-country highway systems–are those that restrict commercial aviation most severely. Many don’t have a legal nor airspace structure that permits ownership and operation of small aircraft. This is why these countries don’t have a strong aviation infrastructure.

During my recent trip to the air show at Zhuhai in southern China, this point was brought home. A company had its newly purchased Tiger Aircraft airplane on display. It planned to open a small flight operation about 1,000 miles from Zhuhai, a one-stop trip for the Tiger–but not in China. There are two problems with such a trip. One, there is no place en route to buy fuel. Two, China’s military–which controls the airspace–would not permit such a flight. So the Tiger has to be taken apart and shipped to its destination.

China is one of many countries that could benefit greatly from a healthy, homegrown aviation industry, but this can happen only if general aviation is allowed to flourish. U.S. aviation, after all, in 100 years grew quickly from the roots of Orville and Wilbur Wright to an industry of immense manufacturing concerns, great airlines, and a stupendous and extremely valuable network of airports and service companies.

Allow aviation to grow from the ground up and the benefits will accrue. Constrain it and allow it to grow only from the top down and countries end up with lopsided aviation industries with little ability to grow their own aircraft and personnel.

The benefits of commercial aviation–and especially general aviation–are clear from the DRI-WEFA report. For the full report, see www.generalaviation.org/EconomicImpact.