The annual economic impact of aviation-related activities in Florida is estimated at $175 billion,19 and its 19 commercial airports account for 10% of the total number of passengers in the country.
As of 2018, there were 2,326 aerospace and aviation companies in Florida, employing more than 106,000 employees, and the average salary was $79,206. Many of these companies are located in northwest Florida, which has become the center of aviation and space activities, including research and development, testing and training.Florida is home to 20 major military installations and more than 60,000 active-duty military personnel, as well as a significant number of veterans, rocket scientists, machinists, pilots and engineers.Aerospace and aviation companies in Florida have a huge number of qualified specialists.
No other state can match Florida’s history in the aerospace industry, and it has a unique opportunity to remain a leader in this field for some time.Two of the ten active US spaceports are located here: the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and the Cecil Field Spaceport.Eight of the 24 licenses allowing private firms to launch rockets into space are issued from facilities in Florida, further strengthening its position as a leader in aerospace travel.