Florida is ranked the top state for U.S. aviation manufacturing attractiveness, according to a new report.
The study ranked Florida’s talent first, its industry ninth, and its cost sixth for an overall ranking of first in the nation. The PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP study — titled “Aviation’s Second Gold Age: Can the U.S. aircraft industry maintain leadership?” — used a weighted average of the following variables: costs, workforce and number of aerospace companies. Texas was ranked second and Washington ranked third.
According to the study, the U.S. aircraft sector is the country’s largest net exporter, with a trade surplus of $71.1 billion in 2012. Currently about half of all general aviation (GA) aircraft manufactured in the U.S. are exported, and the worldwide market is forecast to grow rapidly, especially in Asia, contributing even more to the U.S. balance of trade.
“We fought … to build up Florida manufacturing by removing the tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment, so more Florida families would have access to great jobs – and it’s working,” said Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement. “This ranking is great news for our state and helps us to recruit more manufacturing businesses to move to or expand in Florida. Thanks to our success, aviation manufacturing companies like Embrarer, the Aviation Partners Group (APG) and OMA SUD partnership, Aveo Engineering, and BRS Aerospace are relocating and expanding in Florida.”