The Aerospace Issue

Photo by George Johnson, Aviation Section, US Army Signal Corps , Public Domain

The aerospace and defense (A&D) industry is a driving force within the U.S. and global economy. In the U.S. alone, it accounts for 2.55 million jobs and $929 billion in annual sales, representing 1.8 percent of our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) . As an industry, aerospace is an area developing true innovation and next generation technology advancement. Globally, the U.S. is leading the charge and demand for American products and services in A&D continues to grow.

Within the U.S. economy, Texas is a leading state for A&D, employing nine percent of the national workforce and generating eight percent of the national economic output. The diversity of A&D offerings across the state has allowed industry growth not only of businesses and workforce, but also the development of the additional infrastructure needed to support an ongoing pipeline of future expansion.

A microcosm of the national and state A&D industry is flourishing in greater Waco. With more than 40 aerospace

and aerospace-related companies in the community, nearly the entire industry spectrum is covered from general aviation to maintenance repair operations to commercial space development.

A&D became ingrained into Waco more than a century ago with the establishment of Rich Field, a U.S. Army Air Service pilot training camp during WWI. That single event planted a seed for the future.

Today, Waco’s A&D industry is an economic engine, directly employing five percent of the Texas aerospace workforce, generating thousands of additional indirect jobs and pumping millions of dollars into the local economy each year. The community has built an ecosystem around this industry, unique for a community of 260,000. Looking at Greater Waco’s aerospace portfolio, which includes three airports, OEMs, an extensive supply chain network, talented workforce and training resources to support industry changes and growth, and uncongested airspace, it is easy to understand why this business sector locally continues to expand and thrive.