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From page 35... ... 36 APPENDIX B Statistical Summary of Survey Results Survey Results and Analysis for S03-3 Survey for Users of Airport Economic Impact Studies (Airports and State/Regional Transportation Agencies) Wednesday, June 20, 2007 Powered by: Executive Summary This report contains a detailed statistical analysis of the results to the survey titled S03-3 Survey for Users of Airport Economic Impact Studies (Airports and State/Regional Transportation Agencies) Read the entire page →
From page 36... ... 37 Response Count Percent Alabama 2 3.4 Alaska 1 1.7 Arizona 2 3.4 Arkansas 2 3.4 California 4 6.9 Colorado 1 1.7 Florida 4 6.9 Georgia 2 3.4 Idaho 2 3.4 Illinois 1 1.7 Iowa 1 1.7 Kansas 1 1.7 Kentucky 1 1.7 Maine 2 3.4 Maryland 1 1.7 Massachusetts 2 3.4 Michigan 2 3.4 Minnesota 1 1.7 Missouri 1 1.7 Nevada 1 1.7 New Hampshire 1 1.7 New York 2 3.4 North Dakota 1 1.7 Ohio 2 3.4 Oregon 2 3.4 Pennsylvania 1 1.7 Rhode Island 1 1.7 South Dakota 1 1.7 Tennessee 2 3.4 Texas 3 5.2 Virginia 1 1.7 Wisconsin 6 10.3 Wyoming 1 1.7 1) Please indicate the state in which your airport(s) Read the entire page →
From page 37... ... 38 2) Please indicate the number of years of experience that you have in the aviation industry: No. Read the entire page →
From page 38... ... 39 • Business and industry • Business community • Local municipalities • The studies were typically prepared for an airport authority or state department of transportation. However, those agencies commissioned the studies to inform a much broader set of stakeholders • Local communities • Airline management, elected officials • Legislative, to help promote airport FBO, to help promote airport management • Economic Development Commission/chamber of commerce • Political body 7) Read the entire page →
From page 39... ... 40 • Non-quantitative items such as air ambulance, parts delivery, etc. Also property taxes paid on aircraft and used by local government • Airport construction, aerial applicators • Taxes paid by business/industry and employees and employee commuting distances • Educational requirements for entry-level jobs • Tax impact • Air passenger volumes, cruise passenger volumes, bridge traffic volumes • Payroll; total annual economic activity • The specific metrics used in each study varied with the study but generally included some measure of payroll and airport spending, as well as visitor spending. Read the entire page →
From page 40... ... 41 10) Did the airport economic impact study(ies) Read the entire page →
From page 41... ... 42 Comment Responses: • Would be more valid with better airport business participation. • It was very useful as a PR piece and satisfied all who asked • In progress, but early results are encouraging • There was some resistance to the document, describing it as propaganda • It depends who you ask. Read the entire page →
From page 42... ... 43 Local government and civic organizations Airport operators Government officials, business leaders, convention and tourism executives Governing board of targeted owner, Town of Erwin Industrial Development Agency County airport commission county supervisors Rotary club meetings, city council meetings, airport board presentation Civic groups and governing bodies Civic clubs Seminar will be a mix of lift providers, freight forwarders, academics, and politicians Mayor/council, airport board conference attendees, council of governments, chamber of commerce Business community; branches of state government Chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureau, governmental agencies Airport authority members, local and state elected officials, economic development officials, convention and visitor bureau officials, hotel industry, travel agents Chambers, Rotaries, local governments, and media Community groups tenants business and industry governmental entities Local community organizations, members of state legislature, economic development agencies Chambers of commerce, both local and regional Local assembly and airport users The airport's mid- and upper-management, aviation committee of the full board of commissioners, local noise abatement meetings, as part of all speaking engagements and within content of all airport collateral materials Chambers of commerce, governmental bodies Airport management Local government, airport commission Public hearings that targeted nearby property owners because of expansion Presumably presentations were made to the study sponsor. The results of some studies were presented at professional meetings. Read the entire page →
From page 43... ... 44 15) Was there any follow-up done to the studies in terms of ongoing assessment or validation? Read the entire page →
From page 44... ... 45 Affirms the positive return on investment for airport funding Satisfy community requests Know what is really happening on your airport Airport acceptance Understanding the economic impact to the community Community support of airport development Public awareness of the benefits of airports Provides an end dollar amount that people can relate to Improved elected official support Setting goals Justification for investment in an airport Value and importance of the airport to the local community It shows the value of air service Public awareness Quantifying the level of economic impact Validation of airport benefits to the community Bringing awareness of the airport's benefit to the community Airport justification to the community. Makes case for additional public/private funding Satisfy local development agencies Tell others what is really happening To combat crazy politics Understanding the economic impact to the local governments; i.e., taxes received Public relations Tool to evaluate and substantiate investment and development Communities feel that they are important Increased airport appreciation Planning To quantify its impact on the community Economic development tool for local chambers and community Enhances the image of the airport with citizens Tool for garnering support for elected officials for program implementation Providing statistical data that can be used to support any number of initiatives Documentation of aviationrelated business impact Protection of the airport from incompatible land uses Encouraging local government investment in the airport Gives politicians firm reasons for legislative changes that enhance the airport's position Satisfy local government requests Justify the existence of airport To support future investment Understanding the economic benefits from commercial airline service to the community and businesses User relations Other public affairs Larger airports can obtain more funding Increased investment in airport Education tool Where additional or less emphasis needs to be placed when awarding grants for community improvement program projects Enhances the image of the airport with developers Key analysis for both aviation-related and nonaviation-related collateral development surrounding the airport Validity of economic impacts and benefits of the airport to the local and state economy by someone outside of the local airport Documentation of nonaviation business located on the airport As a tool to help leverage additional money for airport needs Read the entire page →
From page 45... ... 46 Influence investment in airport infrastructure Illustrates to airport neighbors how many jobs exist because of the presence of the airport Justifies capital investment Relating airport value to the communities Support expenditures Independent assessment of the role of airports in dollars Communicate the value of public investment in airport Economic benefits Educating the general public Snapshot of airport economic impact Aids a state to focus their scarce resources in airport system development Public education Airport system planning Validates the importance of the airport to the community and surrounding region Measuring airport's benefit to local economy Measure the direct impact of airport on community Community education Reminds/informs public and elected officials of the broader value of airports beyond just transportation Finding funds Community support Gauge strength of airport/aviation on community or regional economy Protect existence of airport facilities Illustrates to government officials the jobs and revenue created by the airport Justifies public ownership Justification of capital improvements at airport Support value to community Garners support for ongoing investment Document the value of private investment in airport business Jobs Informational tool for community Airport sponsor can prioritize capital improvement projects and fund the most important ones Public relations Economic analysis Confirms the airport plays a vital role in the continued expansion of the metropolitan and regional economy Helps with requesting funding (lobbying) Display impact of capital investments and tax impact on community Level of impact Provides additional avenue of communication with tenants and customers Qualifying funding request Community support Gauge employment generated by airport/aviation Educating public of quantifiable and nonquantifiable value of aviation Makes the case for continued investment to modernize and/or expand facilities Use as a planning tool Specify commerce supported by aviation Helps general public see what aviation does Gain public support for airport operations and development Growth and facilities development and planning Potential use to justify investment Aide communities to understand and thus support their airports Justifying capital expenditures Transportation system planning Draws positive attention to the airport and aviation industry for Fargo and the surrounding region Importance of aviation as an economic engine Validates or revalidates worth of the enterprise for employees General knowledge Community support Gauge impact of related and support industries within industries of tourism and trade Read the entire page →
From page 46... ... 47 Learn the economic impact of your airport(s) Airport's economic contribution to the community Provides information about the benefit of the airport to the community Show community what is at the airport Use The value of any given study is so dependent on its scope, how it is performed, and how the results are used that it is not meaningful to speak of the top three benefits in general terms. Read the entire page →
From page 47... ... 48 18) What are the top three constraints or disadvantages of airport economic impact studies? Read the entire page →
From page 48... ... 49 Technicality of information makes it subject to criticism The results might not be as good as you think Lack of understanding and acceptance by the non-aviation public Not all use the same base model, so it is difficult to compare Induced impact tough to substantiate with actual data They tend to use multipliers etc., to determine indirect benefits to community Explaining the concept to the public Aviation activity is hard to measure Only a snapshot of a complex, changing operation NIMBY still highest consideration so studies ineffective Induced impact is not widely accepted Methodology sometimes not understood Validity of the study Reliability of input information Timeliness of information The timeliness of collecting the data Usually not conducted annually Difficult to explain to multiplier effects Always subject to the criticism that it is selfserving Cost The information is outdated even before it reaches my desk The model we have used has been difficult to apply on a statewide basis Number of assumptions not well-grounded in fact They are hard to relate to non-users/taxpayers in community Making it sound believable since the numbers are so large Impact of aviation can only be truly seen if you paint a picture for citizens of what a community would be like without the local airport Without 90% participation from businesses/organizations, results may not be as meaningful Industry information is limited False information provided by airport tenants Other factors determine investments Cost prohibitive for communities to conduct these needed studies Limitations of the model used Overuse and overreliance on the data The difficulty in obtaining data from stakeholders Quality control of the data Generally shows economic value at a point in time; not readily dynamic. Finding qualified consultant to do the study Indirect impacts tough to accurately estimate Use of old methodology to compile data Making it real when comparing with parks, streets, water/sewer, etc. Read the entire page →
From page 49... ... 50 Time consuming Keeping information current True validity of all information provided by industry partners Expensive to conduct Narrow scope Sometimes the manner in which a report is written may not be user-friendly Members of the public question its validity The principal problem with most economic impact studies is that the methodology used is fundamentally flawed and the results are meaningless. What else is there to say? Read the entire page →
From page 50... ... Choose methodology that is defensible rather than just using the one that produces the biggest numbers Annual updates Standardization in the industry In every airport lease, operating permit, contract, vendor agreement, and so forth include a stipulation that the business must fully and accurately complete the economic impact survey and return it by the deadline whenever the survey is conducted. I don't think there is such a thing. Read the entire page →
From page 51... ... 52 Consistent and accurate data that stands up over the years and continuity of reports form previous to current years. Timing the study to be able to use the most up-to-date socioeconomic data available from reliable sources (County Fact Book, Woods & Poole, etc.) Read the entire page →
From page 52... ... 53 20) Please use this space to provide any additional comments regarding airport economic impact studies. Read the entire page →
From page 53... ... 54 There is a pressing need to recognize that the methodology currently used in most studies fails to address the real issues that need to be considered and confuses costs and benefits. As a result, most studies have little value from a planning or policy perspective. Read the entire page →
From page 54... ... 55 Survey Results and Analysis for S03-3 Survey for Authors of Airport Economic Impact Studies (Airports and State/Regional Transportation Agencies) Monday, June 25, 2007 Powered by: Executive Summary This report contains a detailed statistical analysis of the results to the survey titled S03-3 Survey for Authors of Airport Economic Impact Studies (Airports and State/Regional Transportation Agencies) Read the entire page →
From page 55... ... 56 1) Please indicate the state in which your airport(s) Read the entire page →
From page 56... ... 57 Other Responses: • Economic development organizations • Chamber of Commerce • Private MRO operators (aircraft maintenance/repair/overhaul) Read the entire page →
From page 57... ... 58 Qualitative survey (survey of 4 Extremely Useful 36.4 airport users, passengers, etc.) 4 Very Useful 36.4 1 Useful 9.1 0 Not Very Useful 0.00 0 Not Used in Study 0.00 2 Not Applicable 18.2 Community benefits 1 Extremely Useful 9.1 2 Very Useful 18.2 5 Useful 45.5 1 Not Very Useful 9.1 1 Not Used in Study 9.1 1 Not Applicable 9.1 What-if analyses 1 Extremely Useful 9.1 1 Very Useful 9.1 1 Useful 9.1 2 Not Very Useful 18.2 2 Not Used in Study 18.2 4 Not Applicable 36.4 Comment Responses: • Need more description of 8.3 and 8.4 9) Read the entire page →
From page 58... ... 59 Reliance on aviation by 4 specific industries, such as R&D, biotech, banking, 36.4 universities, etc. Growth in business 2 aviation/emergence of 18.2 fractional ownership 1 Consolidation and globalization 9.1 0 Emergence of very light jets 0.00 4 None of the above 36.4 3 Other (please specify) Read the entire page →
From page 59... ... 60 18) What methods were used to disseminate the results (select all that apply) Read the entire page →
From page 60... ... 61 Educating airport owners (city and county elected officials) about their operations Quantitative data on jobs and expenditures Provide quantitative data on the economic impact of the airport Funding entity awareness of economic benefits Scale and scope of airport in local economy Appropriate allocation of scarce financial resources Economic development opportunity assessment Promotional brochures and other material that presents information in a concise manner Provide useful overall statistics about business at the airport Funding entity awareness of correlating benefits that are not easily quantified Clearer view of airport investment opportunities Justification for local sponsor financial support Validation of investments Perspective, both quantitative and qualitative, of the importance of the airport to the region Provide data useful as a comparison with other impact studies Public awareness of the range of impacts an airport brings to community Useful in competition for scarce airport improvement dollars Gain support for needed airport expansion 22) Read the entire page →
From page 61... ... 62 23) What one thing would you suggest to improve the reliability or applicability of future airport economic impact studies? Read the entire page →

From page 35...

... 36 APPENDIX B Statistical Summary of Survey Results Survey Results and Analysis for S03-3 Survey for Users of Airport Economic Impact Studies (Airports and State/Regional Transportation Agencies) Wednesday, June 20, 2007 Powered by: Executive Summary This report contains a detailed statistical analysis of the results to the survey titled S03-3 Survey for Users of Airport Economic Impact Studies (Airports and State/Regional Transportation Agencies)