June 20, 2018

Global trade in aviation maintenance creates jobs and business opportunities in every corner of the United States, a new analysis by ARSA shows. Florida, California and Texas top the list of states with the most maintenance companies serving European customers, ARSA found. Arizona, Connecticut, Kansas, New York, Washington, Georgia and Oklahoma round out the top ten.

ARSA analyzed the list of FAA-certificated repair stations in the United States by EASA to work on European-registered aircraft and components. The association then correlated the data with industry employment figures developed by Oliver Wyman’s CAVOK Division. ARSA conducted a similar analysis of EASA approval holders in 2017.

The association determined there are 1,437 repair stations with EASA approval across 47 of the 50 states. Overall, roughly one out of every three U.S. repair stations holds European certification. There are five states – including Connecticut, Florida, Kansas and Delaware – in which 50 percent or more of maintenance facilities can perform work on European-registered aircraft or components. West Virginia, the fifth state, has a smaller aircraft maintenance industry but the highest percentage (73 percent) of EASA approval holders.

Nationwide, repair stations employ more than 184,000 workers. When those numbers are added to the roughly 27,000 mechanics working for airlines and the 66,000 employed in aviation parts manufacturing and distribution, the maintenance industry’s total workforce is approximately 279,000. More than 110,000 Americans are employed at maintenance companies in the top 10 states for EASA approvals.

“Just as the aviation industry connects the world, the maintenance sector connects companies and workers throughout the United States to the global economy,” ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein said. “This analysis demonstrates the interconnectedness between American aviation business and European air operations. It shows us one of the many ways U.S. industry is well positioned to benefit from the expected growth in demand for maintenance. At the same time, the impact of any trade disruptions – for example, due to retaliation by foreign governments because of new U.S. laws or regulations targeting foreign repair stations – would be felt in all corners of the country.”

To review the ARSA-generated data, click here. The table below contains the top 25 states for EASA certificate holders:

February 14, 2017

Workers and companies in almost every state benefit from international trade in aviation maintenance services, according to a new analysis by ARSA.  The findings underscore the broad economic impact of the aviation maintenance industry in communities throughout the United States, as well as the benefits of bilateral aviation safety agreements (BASA) that make government oversight more efficient.

The long-standing U.S.-EU BASA allows U.S. repair stations certificated by the FAA to more easily receive and maintain approval to work on European-registered aircraft and related components.  The BASA also makes oversight more efficient for government and industry by allowing the FAA and European regulators to share responsibilities. In addition to the EU, the United States has bilateral agreements with several other countries covering maintenance, flight operations and aircraft and environmental certification.

The ARSA analysis of the EASA’s list of U.S. approval holders found there are 1,460 repair stations spread across 47 of the 50 states authorized to work on European aircraft and components.  ARSA correlated the EASA data with industry employment figures developed by Oliver Wyman for the association and found that, collectively, there are more than 162,000 Americans employed by repair stations in the 25 states with the most EASA approvals (see table below).

“The positive impact of international trade on small businesses and workers in the aviation maintenance sector is one of the U.S. economy’s best kept secrets,” ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein said.  “When considering tax, trade, aviation or regulatory policy, it’s important for the White House and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to understand and consider that back-home impact.  Anything that undermines economic activity in this area is going to have negative repercussions in communities around the country.”

According to Oliver Wyman’s industry analysis, the vast majority of US. repair stations are small-medium-sized businesses and repair stations employ more than 186,000 workers nationwide.  When aircraft parts manufacturing and distribution and air carrier maintenance personnel are taken into account, the aviation maintenance industry has more than 277,000 workers and accounts for more than $44 billion in economic activity.

To learn more about the maintenance community and its place in the international marketplace, visit ARSA’s economic data center.