Commercial aviation helps drive more than 10M American jobs and 5 cents of every dollar of U.S. GDP
Commercial aviation drives more than $1 trillion per year in economic activity
In 2012, U.S. airlines moved more than 48,000 tons of cargo per day
In 2012, the value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air averaged 121 times the value exported by sea
For every 100 airline jobs, some 360 are supported outside of the airline industry
Federal taxes constitute $61 – or 20% – of the price of a typical $300 domestic round-trip ticket
In 2011, U.S. airlines carried 16 percent more passengers and cargo using 10 percent less fuel than in 2000
Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions
From 2000-2011, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 11% while transporting 16% more passengers and cargo
From 1975-2011, U.S. airlines and their partners reduced significant noise exposure by 99%
Commercial air travel is the safest form of intercity transportation in the United States
In the most recent decade, scheduled air service on U.S. airlines was seven times safer than in the 1970s
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 81.9%
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines reduced the flight cancellation rate sharply from 3.30% to 1.29%
Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2012, U.S. CPI rose 33% while average domestic fare rose just 13%
Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic airfare fell 15% from 2000
2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion
In 2012, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $427B
In 2012, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $39.5B, driving a $5.1B trade surplus
In 2012, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent more than $50B on fuel, averaging 36% of operating expenses
In 2012, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded
FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2027
In 2012, US airlines flew 83.4 million passengers in scheduled international service - a record high
In 2012, the total value of merchandise exported from or imported to the United States by air exceeded $927 billion
In 2012, 7.15 teragrams of merchandise was exported from or imported to the United States by air

Glossary

Events section: man under wing refueling a plane

The ATA glossary includes a list of commonly used aviation terms/acronyms and definitions.

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vertical stabilizer - The large tail surface normally found on top of the rear of the aircraft fuselage. The rudder is usually installed at the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer.
very light jet - Typically an aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds (though NASA uses 10,000 pounds) equipped with turbojet engines and capable of operating at high altitudes.
Violent Acts at Airports Protocol - (Montreal 1988) Formally called the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation. On February 24, 1988, an ICAO conference opened for signature a Protocol to amend the Montreal Convention of 1971. The Protocol provides for suppression of unlawful acts of violence at airports serving international civil aviation. A signatory to the Protocol who finds an alleged perpetrator on its territory must either take that person into custody for the purpose of prosecution or proceed with extradition. The United States ratified the Airport Terrorism protocol on November 18, 1994.
virtual tower - The ability to operate the surface and aerodrome without direct visual observation.
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - VWP is a U.S. government program that enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. VWP travelers are now required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, and are screened at the port of entry into the United States and enrolled in the DHS US-VISIT program.
visual flight rules (VFR) - Rules governing flight during periods of generally good visibility and limited cloud cover (i.e., a pilot’s ability to fly and navigate by looking out the windows of the airplane), predominantly employed by piston-powered general aviation. Aircraft flying under the VFR system are not required to be in contact with air traffic controllers and are responsible for their own separation from other aircraft. The visual flight rules (VFR) system is utilized almost exclusively by recreational pilots or low-flying piston-engine airplanes.