Mike LehmkuhlerLeader . Transportation Team . Business Development
804-545-5722 MLehmkuhler@YesVirginia.org
Virginia has played a leading role in advancing the
American aerospace industry since 1917, when NASA Langley Research Center—the
nation’s first civil aeronautics laboratory—was established in Hampton,
Virginia. In 2007, Rolls-Royce announced it will build a state-of-the-art aeroengine
facility in Prince George County, creating 500 new jobs.
- Employs more than 26,100
- Location of a new jet-engine manufacturing operation for Rolls-Royce
- Home to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
- Home to the National Institute of Aerospace
- Location of NASA Langley Research Center and NASA Wallops Flight Facility
- Consists of 159 firms, 83 in the Aerospace Technology sector and 50 in the Aerospace Equipment sector
- Supported by 422 machine shops employing 5,500 people
- Ranks second in the nation for U.S. Department of Defense Prime Contracts ($36.7 billion in FY 2008)
- Direct economic output of $5.4 billion
- Central location on the Atlantic Coast provides interstate and rail access to the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest
- Access to international markets provided by the Port of Hampton Roads and Washington-Dulles International Airport
In 2008, Virginia’s Aerospace Industry employed almost 26,100 people. The top two Aerospace sectors by employment are Aerospace Technology (11,000) and Aerospace Equipment (8,900). These two sectors comprise 76% of all Aerospace Industry employment in Virginia. Virginia’s Aerospace Industry covers research and development in private, academic, and government as well as the production of aerospace equipment. The economic output of Virginia’s Aerospace Industry is $5.5 billion. Aerospace also supports $3.4 billion in additional economic activity in Virginia.
Virginia is home to 159 Aerospace companies with 349 locations. The top two sectors for Aerospace Industry firms are Aerospace Technology (83) and Aerospace Equipment (50). These two sectors comprise 84% of Virginia’s Aerospace companies.
Major
Aerospace Employers in Virginia |
Aerojet
|
Alcoa Howmet |
Aurora Flight Science |
BAE Systems |
Boeing |
Cobham Corporation North America |
Dynamic Aviation
Group |
EADS North America |
General Dynamics
|
Goodyear Tire &
Rubber |
L-3 |
Lockheed Martin |
Moog |
Northrop Grumman |
Orbital Sciences
Corporation |
Raytheon |
Rockwell Collins
|
Rolls-Royce North
America |
In the past ten years, 55 Aerospace Industry projects have announced over 5,000 new jobs and investments of $1.3 billion.
Recent
major announcements include |
Cobham Composites |
Eagle Aviation Technologies |
NextGen Aeronautics |
Orbital Sciences Corporation |
Rolls-Royce North America |
RTI International Metals |
The Commonwealth of Virginia offers companies a favorable
business environment characterized by a stable, competitive tax structure and
legislation that protects "at will" and "right-to-work" employment practices.
- Worker's compensation and
unemployment insurance payroll expenses are consistently among the lowest
in the nation
- 6% corporate income tax accounts
for less than 10% of total state tax revenues and has not changed in over
thirty years
- Manufacturers receive broad
sales tax exemptions for purchases of machinery, tools, replacement parts
and raw materials used in the production process, as well as all utilities
delivered through pipes, mains, and lines for all purposes
- Virginia does not tax accounts
receivable, inventory, computer software or other intangibles, and does
not levy a license tax on gross receipts
- The primary local taxes apply
to real estate and machinery and equipment
- There are no school taxes
in Virginia
- Virginia has extremely reliable
electric service at very competitive rates—average cost per unit of
electricity for the industrial sector is 4.63 cents in Virginia, compared
to 6.15 cents for the nation
- Unsurpassed quality of life—health care, educational
and recreational benefits for families rank among the finest available anywhere
in the United States
- Two of the nation's largest railroads, CSX Corporation
and Norfolk Southern Corporation, have extensive infrastructure throughout
the State
- Fourteen railroads operate on more than 3,400 miles
of railway in Virginia, of which more than 3,100 miles are Class I—one
of the strongest rail networks in the nation
- Six interstate highways and direct, double-stacked
rail connections provide quick access to Northeast, Southeast and Midwest
markets
- 14 commercial airports serve the Commonwealth, including
two of the nation's largest, Washington Dulles International and Ronald
Reagan Washington National
- The Port of Virginia is the second largest intermodal
facility on the East Coast and, due to natural harbor depth and Suez-class
cranes, the only East Coast location capable of handling post-Panamax vessels
as first port of call
- The Port of Virginia offers a schedule of approximately
3,000 sailings annually to more than 250 ports in 100 foreign countries
The National Institute of Aerospace is a research and graduate education institute created to conduct leading-edge aerospace and atmospheric research, develop new technologies, and help prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers. NIA is a strategic partner of NASA Langley Research Center and works through a consortium of research universities including Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, and William and Mary.
The Virginia Community College System provides education
and training programs for Virginians and Virginia businesses. Degree programs include:
- CAD/CAM
- Engineering Technology
- Industrial Electronics
- Industrial Production
- Industrial Technology
- Mechanical Engineering Technologies
- Welding
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- NASA Langley Research Center
- NASA Wallops Flight Facility
- National Center for Hypersonic Combined Cycle Propulsion
- National Institute of Aerospace
- Joint Training, Analysis, and Simulation Center
- Old Dominion University's Langley Full Scale Wind Tunnel
- The Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center
- University of Virginia's Aerospace Research Laboratory
- Virginia Tech's Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
- Virginia Space Grant Consortium
- Over 16,000 people exit the U.S. military from bases in Virginia each year
- The Pentagon
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Department of Homeland Security
- Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
- Defense Technical Information Center
- Fort Belvoir
- Fort Eustis
- Fort Lee
- Langley Air Force Base
- Department of Homeland Security
- National Ground Intelligence Center
- National Reconnaissance Office
- Naval Air Station, Oceana
- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren
- Norfolk Naval Base
- Office of Naval Research
- Quantico
|
