Illinois
According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers study, Contribution of General Aviation to the US Economy in 2018 , general aviation in Illinois contributes over $9 billion to the state’s total economic output.
Aviation by the Numbers
According to the Illinois Division of Aeronautics, there are 105 public-use airports in Illinois. FAA data reports that Illinois is home to 17,721 pilots and 7,467 registered aircraft.
Number of Jobs
According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers study, Contribution of General Aviation to the US Economy in 2018, general aviation supports 41,800 jobs in Illinois and over $2.9 billion in labor income.
Economic Impact
According to the same study, general aviation in Illinois contributes over $9 billion to the state’s total economic output.
FAA data shows that Illinois is home to 100 repair stations, 13 FAA-approved pilot schools, 3,591 flight instructors and 5,048 student pilots.
There are 85 fixed-base operators in the state according to the AC-U-KWIK directory. According to Helicopter Association International, there are 302 heliports in the state.
According to the University Aviation Association, flight departments in Illinois include Lewis University in Romeoville, The Institute of Aviation at Parkland College in Savoy, Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Murphysboro, Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, and Quincy University in Quincy.
Todd Maisch, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce
"General aviation and local airports are crucial to the economy of our state. These aircraft and airports help to attract and retain businesses throughout the state, help companies to increase productivity and efficiency, and allow our companies to compete in an increasingly global economy."