General Aviation 101

Use the word “aviation” and most people think of passenger jets, large airports, the commercial airline industry and, perhaps, the air traffic control system. Less well-known is general aviation, which includes all airworthy craft except commercial and military planes. 

General aviation serves all 19,200 U.S. aircraft landing facilities; in contrast, only 650 airports are certified for scheduled airlines that seat more than 30 passengers. General aviation can be particularly important in rural areas where there are few other viable transportation options.

This October 2009 LegisBrief describes state, local and federal roles in general aviation; the state role is pivotal, and includes directly owning and operating airports in some states. The economic benefits of general aviation are also presented.