AASHTO Journal - PennDOT and FAA Launch Airport Impact Calculator

On the heels of a recent state investment in 10 state airports, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation – with the help of the Federal Aviation Administration – unveiled a new “Aviation Economic Impact Calculator” that will allow airports to view the economic impact of potential facility updates and activities.

[Above photo by PennDOT]

PennDOT created the new tool to allow Pennsylvania’s 120 public-use airports to calculate updated impacts for their facility based on changes in airport activity, business tenants, and visitor spending. The calculator produces estimates of economic impact, including employment, payroll, and output, the agency said.

“Pennsylvania’s aviation industry provides significant economic benefits and we’re pleased to help make it easier for them to plan for and increase their regional impact,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll in a statement.

The agency noted that Pennsylvania’s aviation industry employs over 226,000 people, provides nearly $12.5 billion in payroll and employment benefits, and has a $34 billion annual economic impact.

In addition to providing travel options, PennDOT said the state airports under its purview also facilitate services such as air cargo and freight, police and law enforcement, emergency medical services, firefighting, plus disaster and emergency response.

State departments of transportation across the country provide key support to airports and the aviation sector in their respective regions.

For example, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D) recently signed House Bill 2498 into law; legislation that increases annual funding for the Kansas Airport Improvement Program or KAIP from $5 million to $15 million.

This increased funding will provide fiscal support to 109 public airports statewide; allowing them to modernize and address infrastructure needs, the governor said.

[Editor’s note: In April 2023, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials published a new report analyzing the impact of general aviation on state and local economies across the country. That new report – officially entitled “The Impact of General Aviation on State and Local Economies—State Reports 2023” – is a joint effort between AASHTO, the Alliance for Aviation Across America, and the National Association of State Aviation Officials.]

“These airports generate over $9 billion in annual economic output,” noted Calvin Reed, secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation. “The KAIP program helps this important industry remain a vital part of the Kansas economy. That translates into jobs and quality of life for the residents of Kansas.”

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Transportation recently created an Advanced Air Mobility Advisory Committee comprised of key industry partners and public and private sector stakeholders to enhance the integration of Advanced Air Mobility or AAM into the state’s transportation network.

The agency explained that AAM is an air-based transportation mode that makes use of electric vertical take-off and landing or eVTOL aircraft to carry passengers and cargo and provides essential services in urban and rural settings.

Concurrently, Florida spearheaded a series of meetings and a tabletop exercise with the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority at Tampa International Airport to further identify needs, discuss challenges, streamline processes, and develop necessary AAM infrastructure across the state.

“Florida is an ideal target market for this technology and for related business opportunities,” noted Jared Perdue, Florida DOT secretary, in a statement. “The efforts we are making now lay the groundwork for this upcoming option and will ensure success in the future.”