June 22, 2016
The importance of general aviation to Michigan’s economy was the focus of a recent General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Jobs Rally at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek, MI. The June 17 rally was attended by employees from local companies, aviation students from Western Michigan University, as well as representatives from the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the Michigan Business Aviation Association.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and leaders from Avfuel, Duncan Aviation, L-3 Communications and Williams International addressed about 300 rally attendees, discussing the contributions general aviation makes to Michigan’s economy. A 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers study found that general aviation activity in Michigan supports more than 23,000 jobs and in excess of $4 billion in economic output annually.
Dick Doubrava, NBAA’s vice president of government affairs, who attended the rally, said, “NBAA was pleased to participate in this industry effort to showcase the positive impact of general aviation on the state’s economy. These events also provide a forum to highlight the value of business aviation and the contributions it makes across our nation.
“General aviation has an important impact on localities like Battle Creek,” continued Doubrava. “This industry provides numerous jobs and contributes to the economy through aircraft manufacturing and sales, along with goods and services purchased in those communities. It’s critical that the industry continues to tell the positive story of general aviation through events like this jobs rally.”
In September 2015, the Michigan Business Aviation Association and Oakland County International Airport (PTK) teamed up to convey this message at an Air Transportation Expo held at PTK. The one-day event highlighted how business aviation makes companies more competitive, showing the local business community the many benefits of business aviation.
The recent Battle Creek, MI, rally was GAMA’s 15th since the association began holding jobs rallies in 2009.