How many planes do you think are in the sky right now?
Hopefully you guessed a large number because according to a FlightAware estimate made in 2017, there were over 9,700 commercial airplanes in flight at any moment. And those are just commercial flights. If we add in cargo transport, military aircraft and private jets the number could be over twice as high!
With so many aircraft in operation throughout the United States and an increase in other forms of flight such as drones, it should be no surprise that the aircraft and avionics technology industry is growing at a substantial rate. In fact, there are concerns that the growth of aviation expansion and technology is outpacing society’s ability to keep up with it. Pilots and aircraft mechanics especially are becoming increasingly sought-after as airlines and aviation corporations attempt to retain skilled talent for their expanding programs.
This problem has not gone unnoticed at the Federal level. The Aviation Workforce Development Act, introduced in part by South Carolina’s own Senator Tim Scott, puts forward an excellent step to address the specific issue of workforce shortages. The act affects 529 plans – special investment accounts that offer tax benefits when they’re used for qualified education and tuition programs. Under this act, 529 plan funds would be eligible to be used for schooling in aviation-related topics such as pilot training or aircraft maintenance technician courses. The overall idea is to make training and certification in critical aviation jobs more accessible to draw new workers into these roles that have high barriers to entry.
This act and a continued focus on the aviation industry is a slam-dunk for the communities of Beaufort County. Marine Corps Air Station – Beaufort, as one of two significant hubs of aviation operations for the Marine Corps, is a large employer of aviation experts both from the Marine Corps and numerous defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin. The Defense Studies Institute states there are already over 700 active military and 600 civilian personnel who work at MCAS Beaufort, ensuring that Marine Aircraft Group 31 is ready at all times for deployment to defend the nation, and this workforce will only continue to grow in size and importance with the addition of F-35B Lightning training. With these essential operations, the installation will also require a steady stream of specialty-trained labor, both from the military and from defense contractors, to keep jets in the air. The Aviation Workforce Development Act will allow the workers in the Beaufort community more opportunities to jump into this high-demand industry right in their backyard.
This blog has already commented extensively on the economic benefits of Beaufort’s military installations to the communities of Beaufort County – over $1.2 billion in 2022 alone. But even that number doesn’t consider the benefits of having a hub of cutting-edge technology in a high-demand industry next door. We look forward to seeing what valuable partnerships and continued opportunities MCAS-Beaufort and a government emphasis on aviation can offer in the future.
