NEW CASTLE, Delaware — Delaware Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney joined officials with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and hundreds of general aviation enthusiasts in celebrating general aviation’s significant jobs and economic record in Delaware at a jobs rally Nov. 20.
Leaders from Dassault Falcon Jet, FlightSafety International, Summit Aviation, and Aloft AeroArchitects (formerly PATS Aircraft Systems) also made remarks. The event, held at Dassault Falcon Jet in New Castle, is GAMA’s 14th jobs rally in the United States.
U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) with some local students after the event.
“We live in a global economy and it is critical that government continue to foster an environment where industries can grow and thrive,” Markell said. “This aviation jobs rally is indicative of GAMA’s commitment to contributing to the revitalization of our manufacturing industry by promoting high-skill, good-paying jobs in an industry with tremendous growth potential in our state. I am proud to support an organization that believes in investing in our workforce and remaining competitive globally.”
Carper noted, “From Delaware’s Coastal Airport in Georgetown in the south to the New Castle County Airport in the north and all of our smaller airports in between, aviation has a strong impact to Delaware’s economy. Aviation supports thousands of jobs and adds millions of dollars to our economy — that’s a big impact on a small state. I am happy to support our aviation industry here in the First State and across the country.”
“The aviation sector is critical to our state’s economy and provides good-paying middle class jobs for 2,600 Delawareans,” said Coons. “Delaware and the rest of America have the potential to significantly expand our aviation manufacturing base, but it is going to require that we both invest in students and job training programs to strengthen our aviation workforce, and dedicate ourselves to remaining globally competitive by modernizing the FAA, investing in our airports, and offering Export-Import Bank financing to American businesses.”
A PricewaterhouseCoopers study published earlier this year found that general aviation supports 2,600 jobs and $588 million in economic output annually in Delaware.
“Throughout Delaware, general aviation manufacturers are creating high-quality jobs, building strong futures for their employees and communities, and impacting economies globally with their products,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce concluded. “It has been an honor to join with Delaware’s top political leaders to celebrate this impressive industry and the men and women who work so hard every day to make aviation safe and successful.”