Dubai Airshow: Georgia's show of force

  “The Dubai Air Show is the largest aviation event in the world’s fastest-growing region, and a prime opportunity for Georgia to showcase the top-notch advantages that have helped global aerospace companies flourish here,” said Governor Perdue. “Our logistics and workforce supply chains for this sector are among the best in the world, and part of the reason we’ve targeted aerospace as a strategic growth industry for the state.”

The UAE has traditionally been one of the key export markets for aerospace companies based in Georgia. The State of Georgia has registered an exponential increase in its exports to the UAE, from 4.3 million USD in 2007 to $82 million USD in 2008.  Nine small- and medium-sized aviation-related organizations are participating in the mission to seek export or other business growth opportunities. They include Aventure Aviation , Ecolink, Inc., Jetaire Aerospace & Technology , L&G Technology Services , National Museum of Commercial Aviation, Magnolia Plastics Inc., P.A.R.T.S. Inc. and PolyStone Creations Inc .

The Houston County Development Authority will represent Houston County, the home of Robins Air Force Base and numerous aircraft suppliers based there and in the surrounding region. Dignitaries accompanying the Governor include Major General William T. Nesbitt, adjutant general of Georgia, and Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“This is a great opportunity for Georgia’s smaller exporters to participate in a major international venue, leveraging the state’s presence to boost their own exposure,” said Commissioner Stewart, whose agency includes the state’s international trade division. “It’s a very rewarding part of our mission to introduce small- and medium-sized companies to markets at the Dubai  Air Show and other international industry events so they can grow not just export sales, but also the jobs to support those sales.”

The State of Georgia has a more than 100-year-old history in aviation and ranks eighth among U.S. states for aviation industry employment, with over 80,000 employees in more than 500 operations. Georgia is home to more than 500 firms that perform all facets of aerospace: original equipment manufacturers (OEM); maintenance, repair and overhaul companies (MRO); and global aircraft fleet operations. Industry giants like Boeing, Cessna, Gulfstream, Lockheed Martin, Maule, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon, Tiger, Thrush and Vought are just a few of the OEMs with major manufacturing operations in Georgia. TIMCO Aviation Services, StandardAero, and the USAF have major MRO operations in the state.

Georgia is the most productive aerospace state in the U.S., according to economy.com. Costs for infrastructure like land, utilities and wages are low but yield highly valuable aerospace products.  For each aerospace worker employed in the state, an average of $135,437 in wealth is created.

Georgia also has a close technology and industrial base development partnership with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, one of just three United States Air Force (USAF) Air Logistics Centers in the United States. Georgia companies and researchers support the missions of Robins Air Force Base, which employs over 25,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel and is a global magnet for aerospace and defense logistics companies.

The educational system in Georgia has helped ensure a steady pipeline of trained workers for the state’s aerospace firms. The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering is ranked the 2^nd -best program in the U.S. Sponsors of funded research at the school include NASA; the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army; the FAA; the NSF; and some of the world’s top aerospace companies.

In 2008, Middle Georgia College joined Georgia Tech as the state’s second four-year college offering degrees in aerospace and aviation. Additionally, the Governor’s Office of Work Force Development has invested over a million dollars to build the aerospace sector workforce “supply chain.”  The Technical College System of Georgia has expanded the number of schools throughout the state that offer FAA-certified aerospace degrees, as well as increased enrollment for these specialized certificate programs. 

Aerospace was designated a strategic industry by the Governor’s Commission for a New Georgia. Its growth in the state is facilitated by the Georgia Center of Innovation (COI) for Aerospace, which connects entrepreneurs and small companies with university-supported research, development and commercialization opportunities. The COI-Aerospace is housed in the Georgia Department of Economic Development.