July 19, 2010

Georgia Center of Innovation for Aerospace at the World’s Largest Aviation Event

Georgia will be center stage at the world’s largest aviation gathering, EAA AirVenture, as the Center of Innovation for Aerospace and Middle Georgia College jointly exhibit at the event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin from July 26 to August 1. EAA AirVenture draws an annual attendance in excess of 500,000 and features more than 10,000 aircraft from around the world. It is also a major venue for the unveiling of new innovative aerospace technologies and products from all sizes and types of aviation companies. EAA AirVenture attracts key decision makers and policy creators from government, including exhibits and presentations by NASA and the FAA, as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Center of Innovation for Aerospace exhibit will showcase Georgia’s efforts to accelerate aerospace companies’ growth by helping them commercialize new products, services and business models by connecting aerospace companies with university research, industry expertise and other Georgia resources. Georgia is ranked #8 among U.S. states in aerospace employment with over 84,500 Georgians employed in 2009 and an annual aerospace payroll of $5.2 billion – up 4.5% since 2006. Georgia’s diverse aerospace industry features more than 500 organizations that specialize in all facets of aerospace: research & development; original equipment manufacturers (OEM); maintenance, repair and overhaul companies (MRO); and global aircraft fleet operations. 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, which accounted for aerospace exports of $3.4 billion in 2009, up 55% since 2006. The high productivity of Georgia aerospace workers resulted in over $160,000 in exports per employee in 2009.

Georgia continues to focus on economic development, research, and workforce development support to the aerospace industry; including new initiatives such technologically-rich sub-sectors such as aviation biofuels, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle development and testing, and highly efficient MRO processes. From blue-chip defense contractors and aviation start-ups to local machine tooling businesses, aerospace companies accelerate their growth and improve their bottom lines in Georgia.

Visit the Center of Innovation for Aerospace and Middle Georgia College exhibit near AeroShell Square at EAA AirVenture from July 26 to August 1. For more information on EAA AirVenture, visit www.airventure.org. For more information on COI-Aerospace, visit aerospace.georgiainnovation.org.