Apa style research paper effect of us national economy on us flight school economy
1. Effect of US National Economy
EFFECT OF US NATIONAL ECONOMY ON US FLIGHT SCHOOL ECONOMY
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(11, March, 2011)
2. Effect of US National Economy 2
Effect of US national economy on US flight school economy
Abstract
The U.S based flight school s are part of the world’s most advanced aviation training
institutions due to the better training facilities and schedules that they posses, The part 141 flight
school is amongst these institutions. Therefore, the economy of part 141 flight school needs a
high level of stability to maintain the world standards.
This study adopts a survey to explore the effects of US national economy on the aviation
training with the US based part 141 training school economies as the main case. Content analysis
of various US economy related literature has been explored to establish the effects. The results
of the paper shows that the economy of the aviation training schools is cyclical with the US
national economy since the Aviation school economy is a subset of the National economy. The
effects are due to the role of government in the US economy which is crucial when it comes to
decision-making in regard to the monetary and the fiscal policies. The government takes the
necessary initiatives which ensure the growth and stability of the United State’s economy and
hence the economy of the aviation schools. (Soekkha, 1997, Wood, 1947, Sheehan, 2003, Rima,
2000, Wald, Fay, 2011, Forsyth, 2005 & Gleich, 2011).
In the analysis, the US national economy affects the aviation training economy through
the use of the economic tools such as the money supply, the tax rates, and the credit control,
amongst other strategies; it adjusts the rate of economic growth. For the most part, the national
economy also balances the private business concerns in order to enhance its general growth and
prevents monopolies.
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The US government renders a number of direct financial assistance services in the form
of providing support for the aviation training, aid for research and the development programs,
and funds for the students’ study loans as well as the general aviation infrastructure in general.
Therefore the aviation training school economy is cyclical with the national economy. However,
the aviation industry in general is countercyclical with the US national economy. (Aud, Et al,
2010)
Introduction
Statement of Null Hypothesis: The National Economy has no effect on the aviation
education industry.
Overview of how the National Economy is defined.
The national economic Performance Measures are the tools that are used to define the
national economy. The performance of national economy can be analyzed by considering the
three areas of production, employment, and national purchasing power, this can be achieved
through the examining the selected time series with data covering a period of time which is
pertinent to each of these areas. The time series forms the principal indicators of the economy’s
performance.
Production
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the measure of economic performance, in
reference to the overall production.
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDPN): The measure of production with respect to
the current prices.
Real Gross Domestic Product (GDPR): A measure of production in respect to the prices
of a base year. Real GDP is used in the determination of the performance of the economy on the
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production front, because GDPN is not a reliable indicator of production. For instance, While
GDPN is measured in current currency thus it is indicating what is happening to the production
and the prices over that particular time, GDPR is measured in dollars of a base year thus
indicating the variation in production alone because the output is measured in the currency of a
given year, or constant currency.
The Percent Change in the Real Gross Domestic Product (GDPC): it is the measure of
the rate of growth in terms real production for a given year. GDPC the provides the rate of
growth in real production from year to year.
Unemployment
The rate of unemployment is used to measure the economic performance with respect to
the overall employment. The information on Unemployment is used to measure the economic
stability. Unemployment Civilian Labor Force (CVLF) is the pool of labor, which is comprised
of civilians who are either working or seeking work, in the nation’s labor markets.
Unemployment (UNEM) is the subset of the Civilian Labor Force, and it represents people who
are unemployed and still search of work. (Colbert, 2004).
Purchasing Power
The economy is defined in terms of its performance by the rate of change in the Consumer
Price Index with respect to the purchasing power.
The Percent Change in the Consumer Price Index: it is the measure of price stability and
the stability of the purchasing power of a given economy. The Purchasing power is inversely
related to the prices. As overall prices tend to increase, the purchasing power of income tends to
decreases. The CPIC is the year-to year percentage change in the Consumer Price Index.
5. Effect of US National Economy 5
The qualification used to qualify a school for use in this report.
According to Kudimi, (2008). Choosing a flight training school for use in this report
involves careful research under the consideration of several factors;
a) Level of the aviation school.
The level of the aviation school varies from the state-to-state or country depending on the
economic strength. Therefore it was practical to obtain the levels of multiple schools. There are
two training levels, the Federal Aviation Administrators (FAA) and the CAA. (Bowles, 2000)
The school requirements.
School requirements were Compared, the coursework and training, the entrance
requirement and the certification with various regulations.
b) The school’s reputation
The period that the school has been in business, the rate of enrollment and the
completion. Does the school offer financing, on-campus housing, and so forth? In connection to
financing there is a wide range of financing options, there is a loan scheme which is designed for
the each student in most aviation training schools. Generally, Meeting the expense in the flight
training can be through the bank loans, the student’s loans, the government grants and the
scholarships. Therefore, the students may have to arrange the financing from the multiple
sources. This ensures a student’s ability to complete the training. (Price & Forrest, 2008)
c)The Staff
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The training schools to be considered must have enough and qualified staffs, some
aviation training schools have a high instructor to the student ratio and therefore did not qualify.
Qualifying schools had Experienced Heads of Sections, who were backed by teams of competent
lecturers with vast experience in their respective fields. This was necessary in order to keep in
tandem with the global aviation standards as set out by the International Civil Aviation
Organization, the staff must continually evaluate and upgrade the courses’ content material and
the training facilities for the benefits of the aviation industry in general and the students in
particular. (Wensveen, 2007).
d) Training equipment
The training equipment must include ATC Simulators for both radar and the procedural
courses in Aerodrome, the approach and area Control. The Communications Operations Section
must be well equipped with the AMS and the AFS laboratories.
Engineering courses in the aviation training school must be conducted using the most
modern equipment available from the digital techniques and microprocessors to new ILS, VOR,
DME, the Primary/ Secondary Radar and the Computer equipment. (Mark, 2007)
National Economy Review 6.
National Unemployment rates
GDP
Table 1
Table 1
Table 1
Production, Unemployment, in the United States Economy, 1990-2010
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Outside factors
Student loan/grant availability
During the period most of the years in the 1980s and the 1990s, the United States
Government was faced with a large deficit. The issue of how to reduce this deficit was a
centerpiece of the discussions amongst the economists and the policymakers for more almost 20
years. In the nominal terms, this deficit grew from approximately $53.7 billion in 1980 to $173.0
billion by 1990 it peaked at $297.5 billion by the year 1992. For the period 1993-1997, the
deficit grew steadily smaller. After almost 28 years of deficit, in 1998, for the first time, the
United States budget recorded a substantial surplus of approximately $43.8 billions. For the
consecutive 2 years that succeeded this surplus, the United States budget surplus increased
further, to a high of approximately $119.2 in1999 and consequently to $218.6 in 2000. This rise
in the surplus accounted for the 1.3 percent of nominal GDP in 1999 and the 2.2 percent in 2000,
its largest share of GDP.
These dramatic changes are attributable to an increase in tax receipts from the U.S
expanding economy, however a decline in the expenditures which might be partly due to the
Balanced Budget Act of 1996.The U.S Government budget surplus remained throughout the
projection period, which accounted for 1.4 percent of GDP by the end of the Year 2011. There
are numerous shifts in the composition of the economy over the 2000–10 periods. Transfer
payments are rose to a 51.4-percent share of U.S expenditures up to 2010, this continuing
historical trend also accounted for the 37.1 percent of U.S Government expenditures in 1990 and
42.6% witnessed in 2000. The primary contributor underlying the growth of transfers is the
combined effect of the sectors such as the aviation industry.
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Outside Factors
Student loan/grant availability
The figure below shows the distribution of the resources in the U.S and the variation of
the grants (in terms of students tuition and fees) given to the colleges in relation to the Federal
government and the states’ share.
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office (2010)
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The public community college system including the flight schools in the country receives
some level of state support. The survey results as reported by the Education Commission of the
States in showed that majority of the states used funding formulas in the determination of the
amount to be appropriated for the community colleges as a whole, the amount that should be
distributed to the colleges, or both. The states uses the primary elements used in its formulas,
these include; enrollment, space utilization, and the comparison with the peer institutions. The
Community colleges receive less funding for the noncredit academic and occupational training
programs than for the credit programs due to two main reasons. First, is that less than half of all
the states, according to the national surveys conducted under the Education Commission of the
States and National Council for the Continuing Education and Training, have their funding for
the non-credit programs at the community colleges. Secondly, most of the states which provide
the funding for the non-credit programs are based on the numbers of the full-time equivalent
students that provide the funding at the lower rates. Which is generally 50 -75 percent of the rate
that is provided for the credit programs. The survey responses showed that the states can often
provide the lower levels of funding for the courses offered without the college credit in three
areas; the basic skills; noncredit occupational, the professional, and the technical training; and
contract training.
States contribute the largest share of funding for public colleges and student loans
compared with other public and the private funding sources. The State funding policies generally
differ according to the programs. However, the states provide less funding to support the colleges
offering non-credit education and training programs. The overall share of the federal funding to
the aviation training schools has been stable, but comparatively small. The level of the federal
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funding that each aviation training school receives depends on its participation in a number of
the grant programs and it may flow directly to schools or indirectly through grants to the states or
through other entities. The State funding is a major source of revenue for the flight colleges for
years. Data collected from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that the share of
revenue from the state governments tended to remain relatively stable for a range between 40
and 45 percent of all revenue from the period 1992-93 through 2000-01. The states provide about
double the amounts received from the student tuition and fees and the local governments, which
forms the other largest revenue sources for the public colleges.
All the public college system in the country receives some level of states’ support.
Survey results reported from the Education Commission of the States in 2000 shows that nearly
29 states make use of the funding formulas in determining the amount that should be
appropriated for colleges involved in training and the amount to be distributed to each college.
The primary elements that are used in the states’ calculation formulas were; enrollment, the
space utilization, and the comparison within the peer institutions. The training colleges receive
less funding for the noncredit academic and the occupational training programs when compared
with those offering the credit programs because of the following reasons; First, less than half of
all states and the major funding sources for the noncredit programs at the community colleges,
this according to the data from the National Council for Continuing Education and Training,
Secondly, the states that provide funding for noncredit programs bases on the numbers of full-
time equivalent students, these states provide funding at a very lower rate–generally ranging
from 50 to 75 percent of the rates that are provided for the credit programs.
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The states often provided the lower levels of funding for those courses that are offered without
the college credit in three areas; the basic skills, the noncredit occupational, professional, and the
technical training; and contract training.
The federal share of public college funding was fairly stable over the time, but relatively
small as compared with other funding sources. Excluding the federal student financial aid, the
federal funding provided nearly 5% of the total public college revenue for the period between
1992-93 and 2000-01. The revenue is provided through a number of the federal programs which
are operated by various agencies, including the Departments of Education and Labor. However,
the information pertaining to the extent to which the public colleges receive the federal funding
for each of the programs offered is limited at the federal level. Other sources of funds are
provided directly from the federal agencies to training schools. States determine whether the
training colleges or other entities can receive funding. In such like cases, there are no clear
federal requirements to enable monitoring and reporting of the information back to the federal
agency. The Department of Labor is sometimes charged with distribution of the state-based
grants.
The Government regulations
Part 141 Flight Schools
The government has a lot of regulations governing the Part 141 flight schools, these
include; the requirements which are given a great deal of direction from the FAA. It involves a
rigid structure and a clear outline of what the trainees do in each session. These training colleges
have very structured lessons and several checks rides that a trainee has to go through before
completing the flight training.
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The general government regulations for an aviation training school include the
following;
(a) A pilot training school must meet the following prerequisites, for it to receive initial approval
for examining authority:
• The school should complete the application to the examining authority on a form and in a
manner as prescribed by the Administrator.
• The school must be a holder of the pilot school certificate and conform to the rating
issued under this part.
• The school must have conformed to the rating in which the examining authority is sought
for at least 24 consecutive months on the calendar that proceeds the month of application
for the examining authority.
• The training course for which the examining authority is requested may not be a course
that is approved if it does not meet the minimum ground and the flight training time
requirements.
• Within the 24 months before the date of application to the examining authority, the
school must meet the following requirements;
(i) The school must have completed the training for at least 10 students in the training course in
which the examining authority is sought and the trainees must have been recommended at a pilot,
the flight instructor, or ground instructor certificate or rating.
(ii) The greater percentage of the students must have passed the required practical or knowledge
test, or any combination thereof as pertains to; the pilot, flight instructor, or ground instructor
certificate or rating, with the test given by; An FAA inspector, An examiner who is not an
employee of the school.
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(b) The pilot school must conform to the following to retain the approval of its examining
authority;
• It must complete the application for the renewal of its examining authority on a form and
in a manner as prescribed by the Administrator.
• It must maintain the pilot school certificate and ratings issued.
• The school must hold the rating for the period over which the continued examining
authority for at least 24 months period in precedence to the month of application for
renewal of the examining authority.
• The training course for which the continued examining authority is requested for must
meet the minimum ground and the flight training time requirements.
Definitions of the cycles that have occurred in this time frame
Overview of how the data was collected, analyzed and compiled
In conducting my work, I administered the Web-based survey to several, regionally
accredited aviation, training institutions including both part 141 and 61flight training institutions
throughout the country; conducted the telephone interviews to college experts and relevant
aviation associations. I also obtained data from the Departments of Education and aviation
Services, and Labor, and reviewed existing data and literature in order to gather information on
aviation training economy, the aviation colleges and flight training schools particularly the US
aviation training academy, their policies and the funding sources that support both the students’
academic preparation through students loans and the workforce development at these institutions.
I relied a lot on the findings of studies which are regarded to be the most authoritative by the
researchers and the experts in the field of aviation. The knowledge from the social science
18. Effect of US National Economy 18
analysis was applied in examining each of the studies to assess the validity and the reliability of
the selected results which have been used as evidence in this research paper. I examined the
examined the descriptive information obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics;
the letters of permission for the survey were issued by the American Association of Community
Colleges and the Association for Career and Technical Education according to the generally
accepted government auditing standards.
In order to document the academic preparations and workforce training programs offered
by the aviation training colleges and the part 141 flight training schools, the students they serve,
the effects of the aviation training economy on the U.S National economy, as well as to obtain
information on the state policies and federal funds the institutions involved in the aviation
training, I conducted a Web-based survey of several accredited aviation training institutions in
the country, this survey received a 71 percent response rate. I sent the survey questions to the
key holders of the Aviation training schools’ Data System, and requested for their coordination
of the responses the training officials who are most knowledgeable on the particular issues that
as raised in the survey. I did not independently verify the accuracy in the self-reported
information that was provided by these responses, I therefore took a series of steps, from the
survey design, through the data analysis and the interpretation process, to minimize some of the
potential errors. Analyzed the survey data in the descriptive statistics of the Aviation training
schools and the part 141 Flight school.
To identify the potential questions, I chose to conduct numerous researchers and also the
officials at organizations relevant to the aviation training colleges and the flight schools,
including; the Association for Career and Aviation training, the Community College Research
Center, the National Association of Manufacturers, and lastly the US Chamber of Commerce. In
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the discussions that ensured, I focused on (1) the general categories of the programs offered by
the Aviation training colleges and the flight schools (2) various measurements of the effects of
the Aviation training economy on the national economy; and (3) limitations of government
agencies on the aviation training programs .
I took several steps in maximizing the response rates by sending the follow -up email
messages to the respondents I various aviation training colleges. The email messages contained
the basic instructions for completing the survey and the contact information to which the
questions were to be submitted. To establish the funding schemes in aviation training I surveyed
the colleges to determine the level of the federal support through each of the institutions
categories. My results, however, are not comprehensive because only 71 percent of colleges
responded to my survey, and of those colleges, between 22 and 41 percent of respondents were
not able to provide the data for the individual students’ loans/ funding sources.
I supplemented my survey data with the information from state officials and aviation
colleges and flight training schools in various US states. I chose the states basing on the
recommendations that considered several factors such as funding sources, outcome tracking,
contribution to the national economy, and the geographic location. I interviewed a variety of the
officials from state on the aviation industry the government agencies in order to understand the
unique interplay between the aviation training school economy and the US national economy, the
National development programs and policies at the state and local levels geared towards
economical growth.
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Effect of US national economy on US flight school economy
The national economy affects the enrolment of the students in the flight schools programs.
The figure below shows the enrolment in different programs in different flight schools across the
country.
Source: ERAU DATA Fact Book. (2010)
Effects of national economy on aviation education industry
It has been seen that, this industry has been experiencing a trend under which weaker
economies, security fears as well as other matters. The industry’s profitability is closely tied to
trade as well as economic growth. In 1990s, the industry suffered much [not only due to world
21. Effect of US National Economy 21
recession, but the intake was further depressed by the Gulf war. In addition, the number of
travelers dropped. This problem was accelerated by airlines over ordering aircrafts in the boom
years of late 1980s. This rendered most of aviation education graduates jobless. Since then, the
aviation education industry had reorganized the need for gradual change to ensure their survival
as well as prosperity. It has tried to cut costs aggressively, for the reduction of capacity growth as
well as increasing load factors.
For the industry to meet its increasingly discerning customers, it has invested more in the
service quality, both on the ground as well as in the air. This is based on a number of factors that
have led the industry to become more efficient. Some of such forces are based on the ruling that
was made that; governments need not to subsidize their loss making industries.
On the other hand, it has been noticed that, civilian aviation is the main part of
transportation system of the United States, and contributes much to the national economic
prosperity. The American public has vested much interest in the aviation strength. Aviation
education industry differs much from other industries; however, it has been extensively over seen
and regulated by public agencies. Even though the times of tight federal economic controls
ended with the implementation of the implementation of airline deregulation act, federal
agencies have continued to have oversight responsibilities for aviation safety, in addition, the
public still expects the government to pay special attention to faring on of the aviation education
industry.
It has been shown that, the education as well as training of civilian aviation careers has
been seen as one activity in recent years that carries the government legacy. The developments in
the transportation regulations in 1930s were due to economic scenes that were far much
catastrophic. In addition, the great depression influenced the American philosophy that the very
22. Effect of US National Economy 22
basis of the U.S, economic systems, which lead to the attack of the concept of competition. On
the other hand, it is true that, the economic fortune reversal resulted to airlines tumultuous
periods of recession.
National Economy VS Aviation Flight Training Economy
Analysis of How the National Economy Affects the Aviation Flight Training Economy
National economy has much effects on the on the aviation straining economy. The
growth in national economy has lead to the great deal for pilots all over the world in the current
times. This is among the reason that is making students from foreign countries to come to the
U.S, for their training completion. There has been a very big surprise to see established flight
schools that have been training large number of students, may it be foreign or domestic or even
both.
The flight training market has slowed down; this does not require a genius to observe
that. Individuals are not yet ready to travel, this is based on the fact that, individuals are held up
with economic responsibilities to their homes as well as their families. This in one way or the
other has slowed down the market for air transport companies. On the other hand, the pilots of
regional airlines are struggling much with low paid jobs, as they continue to struggle to stay with
the company through lay-offs along with furloughs. The need for new pilots across the United
States of America has dwindled to something that does not exist. Nevertheless, there has been a
light of hope to the training economy. Foreign airlines have started hiring pilots from the United
States, and put them to work in their mother countries. It is true that, the aviation market is much
global, as an effect, American individuals working abroad get a lot of benefits, that even working
domestically are not available, for instance, taxes. They do not have to pay taxes anymore. This
is a very great incentive by itself, however, that is not all at all at all. It has been proved that,
23. Effect of US National Economy 23
foreign airlines pay much better as compared to their American counterparts. It has been shown
that, some of them either gives house allowance or provide pilots with places they can live. This
is not the bad idea as longer as their families does not need them at home as per that time.
On the other hand, the baby boomer generation are all preparing to go home for
retirement in the next ten years or so, this will pose an environment that posses the great need
for pilots, air traffic controllers, F.A.A personnel, as well as the NTSB investigators and business
managers, all across the United States.
It has been proved that, many foreign pilots are coming to the United States due to the
presence of recruiters in their home countries. They are just shipped to the United States in a
hurry so that they might spend their money on flight training, and in that case, that are really
assisting the economy of the United States currently. They are brining money to the shores of the
United States, and spend it in Americas business. Just as by looking at the hotels in which they
are staying in, restaurants in which they are eating from. On top of all these, the flight schools in
which they are trained in are all doing decently well. This in one way or the other has helped in
the creation of jobs for the Americans, as well as maintaining Americans in jobs. Though to this,
there exist draw backs. At the moment the foreign pilots’ ends up completing their trai9ning,
they are free to go back to their countries as well as families. After returning to their countries,
they will be put on entry-level positions in the airlines in their home countries, and as an effect,
they usually start building the valuable experience, that one fine day, they will make them
valuable assets to any company that will be ready. (McDavid& Echaore-McDavid, 2009).
At this point, is the juncture at which the American airlines come back into play? As
stated earlier most of their airline workforce is ready to retire, and once they have to retire, they
will be then looking for pilots who are much experienced to fill their ranks, as an effect, they will
24. Effect of US National Economy 24
be looking overseas for the pilots having higher levels of experience as well as skills required.
This is based on the fact that, t6he local flight training has all but stopped. The United State then
in one way or the other will need pilots, and the American will be having such well paying jobs.
This is based on the fact that, there will be now other cultures sharing the country. So for
America to stay competitive, they need to start encouraging training their own pilots for the
future generation.
Cycles of the Aviation Flight Training Economy
In most fighting’s having started raising their prices or charging additional fees for these
services from each individual student. This will then make them loose credibility from the
market. This tends leads to fewer students. This in one way or the other needs fewer students,
and as an effect, continue with cycle till the time that the businesses will close again. The trend
has been showing that, North America heads the league concerning the number of pilots that will
be needed in the next two decades. As a matter of fact, though the economy might not be good at
the moment, aviation employment is always cyclic and tomorrow’s prospects are still
outstanding. Just as it takes time to be trained as a pilot and gain adequate experience, now is the
best to be trained as a pilot during low times. This ensures that by the time economy recovers,
and airlines start employing individuals, one will be ready to take advantage of the next boom. It
will not be only that one is entering the new carrier with all benefits of prestige as well as great
job satisfaction, but also have the opportunity of earning great money. At the same time, there
will be more than enough jobs to choose from.
It has been shown that, aviation industry is highly cyclical, as it much sensitive to the
economic cycle. During economic hardships, very few individuals engage in travelling as
compared to good economic times. NewMyer (2010) acknowledges that this has been proved to
25. Effect of US National Economy 25
be true in both leisure as well as business sections. Such like characteristic is exempted by the
fortunes of the fortunes of the industry in 2007, 2008 as well as 2009. 2007 is described as the
best year by those in the aviation business. Both the civil and military sectors benefited from
budging order books. This year was the first year that at the same time, upturn in both military
and civil sectors occurred. This booming business was attributed to the booming global growth,
which ended up supporting demand for both passengers as well as cargo services. At the same
time, there was a buoyant corporate profit which leads to higher demands for business jets and
business travel in general. There was also a higher demand of military equipments due to
conflicts in countries like Afghanistan along with Iraq. Concerning the buoyant of the 2007,
Boeing enjoyed a record year for new orders, which surpassed the records in previous years. At
the same time, Airbus range of airliners also had a bumper year in terms of new orders. It has
been described that that the soaring fuel prices as an opportunity which would speed up the
orders of aircrafts that consumes lesser fuel.
On the other hand, analysts describe the situation as being the worst in the past decades.
Analysts believe that, by after 2010, there will be a sharp drop that will be seen in deliveries.
This is based on the fact that, after every regular recession.
Cycles of National Economy
It is somehow surprising that the housing component of GDP tends to be a very solid
contributor to GDP growth during recovery process. From time immemorial, residential
investments has been controlling only about 5% of GDP, which is very smaller share, putting in
mind the consumption component which is about 70%. In addition, a smaller component like
residential investments at times punch their weight, which is much evident at the time, is
measured by the use of growth rates other than levels. This means that, though residential
26. Effect of US National Economy 26
investments are a small component of GDP levels, it has the capability of contributing
substantially to the growth rates of GDP at a very shortest time possible. Figure 1 illustrates the
link between residential investment and the business cycle for the past 35 years.
By excluding the recent recession, residential investments has been contributing to at
least 50 basis points to the growth of GDP within two years. This indicates that, though
residential investment is not a major element of GDP growth, its growth is of much help during
economic recovery. However, after the official end of recession, one and a half years down the
line, residential investment has yet to make sensible contribution to the growth of GDP. And in
fact, in the present times, it is making negative contribution to GDP growth. To some extent, this
has to be expected. This is based on the reasons like dramatic fall in housing prices during
recession which creates a glut of existing home, either already on or waiting to be put on the
market after an increase in price stabilization. This inventory of existing homes substantially
dampens the urge for the construction of new homes.
These in one way or the other imply that, the year after recession, there is no continuous
recovery. However, it gives a suggestion that, the residential investment contribution, is likely to
be much smaller than normal, or, it might be delayed substantially. Under any circumstance, it
holds water remembering that, residential investment is not the only expenditure element of
GDP. As earlier noted, consumption is the largest component of GDP, and as such, it has higher
probability of contributing significantly to the growth of GDP. On the other hand, such growth
that is driven by consumption can also be hindered by residential investment indirectly, through
its effect on the employment of construction workers. This forms a group having current
unemployment rate of over 20%, hence unlikely to be in a mood of spending.
27. Effect of US National Economy 27
Aviation impact on national economy
Measures of Economic Impacts
It is possible to make use of the direct and the indirect expenditures to estimate the
induced effects of those expenditures on the U.S. economy. Using those identified expenditures,
the impacts can be analyzed in terms of the induced or the secondary expenditures and both the
direct and the induced earnings and jobs creation.
Output: This is the total value of the goods and services produced.
Earnings: This forms the wages and the salaries, other labor income and the proprietors’ income
paid to all employed persons who deliver the final demand output and the services.
Jobs: The aviation schools trainees and releases a number of people to provide the civil aviation
services, manufacture the aircrafts and the aircraft engines or work in other industries that are
indirectly affected by the activities in the aviation industry. The table 1 below provides a
summary of impacts of aviation.
spending Earnings/Jobs
Primary Expenditures of the airlines The Earnings /the jobs of the aviation
Direct and other aviation firms industry and firms employees with the
payments over $ 1500.
Primary Expenditures of the hotel that The Earnings /the jobs of the aviation
Indirect are involved in the aviation related hotels/the restaurants
industries which are over $ employees and the owners in ranges
1500. over $ 1500.
Secondary Expenditures of the industries Earning/the jobs of the employees and
intermediate supporting the airlines or the the owners of the supporting industries
hotels resulting from the that results from the primary
primary expenditures. expenditures.
28. Effect of US National Economy 28
Secondary Increased household The personal earnings/jobs throughout
Induced consumption of the persons the economy as a result of the
gaining income from the household consumption of those
primary and the secondary gaining the income from the primary
economic impacts. and the secondary impacts.
• The Primary Direct Impacts: the activities of the firms which provide the aviation services,
such as the airlines, FBO’s, aircraft manufacturers, the flight schools, and the ATC.
• The Primary Indirect Impacts: the activities of firms serving aviation visitors
• The Secondary Impacts
• The Intermediate: the activities of the suppliers to firms providing the aviation services or
serving aviation visitors.
• Activity generated by households who derive income from the primary and secondary
impacts
These activities include;
Spending (Economic Activity)
• The total expenditures by all the economic units
• Same counted multiple times: for example pax airline manufacturer
Aviation increases the individual Earnings; this can be achieved through;
• Personal income generated
• Not subject to double counting
• Comparable to GDP
Aviation school economy influences the economy by improving the labor quality as well as the
provision of the Jobs.
29. Effect of US National Economy 29
Aviation and the growth of the potential GDP can be analyzed in terms of the following
perspectives;
• Aviation as the input to Production
• Aviation as the stimulus to innovation
Aviation as the input to Production
• Aviation Infrastructure as social overhead (public) capital
• Studies examine relationship between GDP (output) and inputs including
a) The Aviation schools economy which enhances the labor to the aviation industry.
b) The Private capital
c) The Public capital.
This study placed great emphasis on the aviation production function which comprises the
aviation activity variables (e.g. the passengers and the freight enplaned) at the National-level
production functions. (Wells & Chadbourne, 1987).
• The national economy with more aviation activity has higher output.
• Freight effect is stronger and more statistically significant than the passenger effect.
Aviation as the stimulus to innovation
• Aviation through the flight schools initiates the impacts of improvement which helps to
do things in a better way.
• The ultimate value rests on the combining the improved transport with other things.
• Innovation helps to do old things in a new way.
• Do new things.
• The “companion innovations” by the users of transportation systems drives the growth
and economic benefit.
30. Effect of US National Economy 30
Aviation Contribution to GDP in the United States
Source: Federal Aviation Administration. (2010).
Emerging Trends from the data analysis above
Demand for the aviation services is a consequence of the vibrant and the growing economy. The
Figure 2 above illustrates the closeness in the Relationship between the overall economic growth
(in real GDP) and the ensuing demand for air travel services (in revenue Passenger miles). The
31. Effect of US National Economy 31
national economic growth is counter cyclic with aviation economy and hence the Training school
economy in terms of the demand and provision of the services, so does the demand for air
transportation. However, the economic uncertainties cause the contractions and slowdowns
which have the pronounced effect on the level of the activities and the financial Performance of
the civil aviation industry. The civil aviation’s industrial growth, as measured by the real air
transportation GDP, tends to be much more volatile than that of the overall economy, as shown
in Figure 2. By 2007, on average, the civil aviation industry had experienced a real growth rate
of over 7 percent with a standard deviation of 7.1 percent, while the U.S. economy has been
growing around 3 percent with a standard deviation of 1.8 percent. This industry has
demonstrated both the exuberant growth and the precipitous drops. For example, in 1983, after
the recession that occurred in the period 1981-1982, the industry expanded by over 22 percent,
this was followed by three years of nearly zero growth in the real terms (Figure 2).These are
some of the highly volatile trends that can occur in future, although the magnitude of growth and
decline has lessened.
The Civil aviation is one of the integral parts of the U.S. economy. It is the key catalyst
for the United States economic growth and has profound influence on the quality of life of many
other populations around the globe. It integrates the world economy and helps in the promotion
of the international exchange of people, the products,
Investment and the general ideas. To a very large extent, the civil aviation has enabled small
community and the rural populations to enter the mainstream of global commerce through the
linkages such as the communities with worldwide population, the manufacturing, and some of
the cultural centers. The Civil aviation products and the services generates the most significant
32. Effect of US National Economy 32
economic surplus for the U.S. trade accounts and are in the forefront in the development and the
use of advanced technologies.
Fundamentally, the civil aviation influences nearly every aspect of the population’s lives,
and its success to a great degree, shapes the American society and the U.S. economy in the
coming decades. The ability of aviation school training to foster economic growth and engender
the social mobility is not, however, guaranteed. The economic and the personal cost of the delays
caused by constrained airport and airway capacity and the reduced the aviation system efficiency
reached unacceptable levels due to inefficiency manpower. The latest economic downturn and
the decline in the aviation activities following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the
aviation economy provides a temporary relief from the growing problems of congestion and
delay. It has by no means eliminated the problems. The training in aviation is expected to
provide thorough intervention in the problems facing the aviation industry; the costs of the
delays when not checked will continue to rise, thereby causing harm to the U.S economy, the
competitiveness of the related industries’ economy, and all who rely on the aviation in the
conduct of their business and the personal affairs. The additional investment in the nation’s
aviation training infrastructure will facilitate the National economic growth.
This study provides insight into the contribution of civil aviation to the U.S. economy, as
well as the economic and employment costs of congestion and delay to the nation and its
citizens. Analyzing the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Operational Evolution Plan
(OEP), which consists of air traffic initiatives aimed at slowing the growth in congestion and
delay, as well as a variety of potential runway investments, this study reveals the essential role
that increased airport capacity and modernization of the air traffic system play in managing the
growth of these problems and points to the need for additional efforts to reduce them.
33. Effect of US National Economy 33
The study’s findings are based on the econometric models which captures the detailed
workings of the U.S. economy. The framework of the study ensured that the consistency between
its results and those of the U.S. national system of economic accounts.
Taking the base year of 2000, the study estimates (in year 2000 constant dollars) the total cost of
the flight delays to the passengers and airline operators of scheduled commercial passenger
airline services in the United States for 2000, 2007, and 2010, and the benefits of the increased
capacity for the two forecast years. This study considers the national benefits of making the
additional capacity-enhancing the investments in the aviation infrastructure. It involves the
examination of the positive economic impacts of reducing the delays by training the flight staff
on the means of increasing the capacity, thereby concluding that the early investments are more
effective in resolving the capacity and the delay problems, this result into the significant gains
for the United States and its population.
Impacts of the Aviation economy on the National economy
For the purposes of this study, the aviation school training economy impacts include:
• The scheduled and unscheduled commercial passenger and cargo operations (including
cargo-only transportation)
• The General aviation (including business aviation and air taxi)
• The related manufacturers, servicing, and support (including the pilot and maintenance
technician training)
• The supply chains this have indirect impacts)
• The effects of the income generated (induced impacts) directly and indirectly by civil
Aviation.
34. Effect of US National Economy 34
• The direct, indirect, and induced impacts of the related industries, such as the travel and
the tourism, for which the air transportation provides an enabling function. (Jay, 2011)
In the United States, the population and the businesses have become reliant on the
advantages and the cost effectiveness of the air transportation. Similar to the Internet and new
labor saving technologies, the growth and maturation in the aviation industry, and particularly
the civil air transport, is truly a modern economic advancement. During the turbulent economic
times, the aviation activities remain a unique link for commercial activities which contributes to
the revitalization of the economy. According the data results of the Figure. 3 above, the
economic impacts of the U.S. civil aviation on the overall U.S. economy is evident, Almost all
the states in the United States depends on the aviation economy, this is in line with the current
trends in the civil aviation industry. The most current official economic data available is for
calendar year 2010. Reports on this year should update with 2010 data. The success of the civil
aviation industry may be more closely related to the overall U.S. business cycle than many other
industries since aviation is the major contributor to the National economic growth. During the
worst national economic crisis, the aviation industry shows the responsiveness and the flexibility
due to its ability to adopt the most innovative resource-saving techniques and the adjustment of
its business models to the changing economic circumstances of the businesses and the consumers
from the United States and abroad. This research paper also reviewed some of these trends and
the emerging techniques of the U.S. civil aviation industry.
35. Effect of US National Economy 35
Conclusion
The counter cyclic nature of the aviation industry provides a leveling ground for both the
Flight schools and the national economy, during the challenging times, the civil air transport
industry provides the economic benefits for the U.S. and the global economy. In an environment
of the decreasing barriers to the trade, the U.S. civil aviation industry remains one of the most
unique engines for the innovations and the effective technological progress, it provides the
infrastructure which keeps the nation at a competitive level. This research report found that, once
all the impacts are fully accounted for, the civil aviation represents the 5.6 percent of the United
States economy. United States aviation training and flight school economy in general contributes
to the economic growth and strengthens the ties to the local and the global markets for all the
regions in the nation. In the aviation industry, the total output of the civil-aviation-related goods
and the services amounted to $1.3 trillion in 2007 and this generated nearly 12 million jobs, with
accumulated earnings of approximately $401 billion. For the specific areas of civil aviation, such
as air cargo, they have contributed to very effective networking and the collaboration between
the companies far and wide. (Bednarek& Bednarek, 2003.)
Following the economic trends, the recovery in the wake of the recession period of
2008-2009 presented a lot of challenges for the aviation industry, aviation related training and
the U.S. economy as a whole. There is evidence which shows that the capacity reductions that
are made by the airlines and the airports in the wake of the high fuel prices can allow the
industry to better the situation, but the continued fall in the revenues and the demand will force
the aviation industry to continue with the process of innovation and become leaner and more
responsive to the market and the accumulating cost conditions. For instance the cost of fuel will
remain a continuing concern for the airlines and the activities that are affected by air
36. Effect of US National Economy 36
transportation, such as the aviation training and the tourism sector; this influence is propagated to
influence the prospects for all other sectors of the economy. As in the past century, the role of the
air transportation continues to grow for the U.S. and the global economies.
The economic impacts of the civil aviation have been quantified in this report
summarizes all the benefits that are accrued from the aviation activities which forms the most
vital and rapidly changing industry. This industry through its activities contributes positively to
the U.S. trade balance, thereby creating very high-paying jobs, which keeps the national
economy viable and connects to all other economic subdivisions by creating the commercial
opportunities. Since the role of air transportation is crucial, there is continued evolution and
becomes even more intertwined with the way of life, thereby creating a stable and an efficient
economic system that continues to be vital, even more essential, component in a very strong and
healthy American national economy in the 21st century.(Colton & Bruchey,1987)
37. Effect of US National Economy 37
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