by Glenn Hamer/  Dec. 6, 2011

Upon the formation of the Arizona Commerce   Authority earlier this year, Gov. Jan Brewer and ACA CEO Don Cardon made   clear that the new entity would draw upon our state’s strengths in this new   effort to boost the state’s economic development efforts.

One of the sectors included in the ACA’s   four pillars of growth is aerospace and defense. This economic sector is responsible for over 35,000   direct jobs in Arizona that bring with them an average annual total   compensation of $109,000, which is more than twice the statewide average for   all employed individuals. The industry’s jobs impact becomes more pronounced   when you consider its multiplier effect, which raises its total impact to   over 90,000 jobs in the state.

Arizona is one of the leading states in defense contract recipients and   aerospace and defense has been integral to Arizona’s economic prosperity;   it’s a sector that will be critical to the state’s success in our second   century.

But as war fighting changes, Arizona has to   be ready to adapt in order to win the jobs that will spring from the new   technologies that are being developed to equip our men and women in the armed   forces.

Many of the recent eliminations of   high-value targets have been achieved with the use of unmanned aircraft   systems, and UAS will continue to be a vital tool in the war on terror. But   UAS can be used in additional roles, such as search and rescue operations or   local police agency law enforcement functions. UAS can perform the jobs that   are dull, dangerous and dirty.

As UAS continues to grow, so will jobs   connected to the technology. According to estimates by the Association for   Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, UAS will be responsible for 230,000   jobs in the next 15 years. According to the AUVSI report “An Assessment of the Impact of Job   Creation in the U.S. Aerospace Industry,” those new employment opportunities   could translate into more than $1.6 billion in wages or over $106.6 million   annually.

Arizona is already a recognized leader in UAS. We’re home to the world’s largest UAS training center at Ft. Huachuca,   where nearly 9,000 members of the military have been trained in UAS over the   past decade. And more than 30,000 UAS flight hours have been flown in Arizona   airspace since July 2006, with an additional 60,000 UAS hours having been   flown in military “theaters” outside of Arizona and throughout the world.

But in order to maintain Arizona’s position   at the forefront of UAS research, development and training, airspace in our   state should be designated a national UAS test range location by the Federal   Aviation Administration.

Legislation currently pending in Congress would outline the criteria for the designation of four to six UAS test range   locations. This is where our entire congressional delegation can get   involved. If Arizona wins FAA test range designation, it will go far in   retaining the state’s niche dominance in aerospace and defense. By   encouraging more research in UAS training, testing and development, more   industry investment, economic development and employment opportunities will result.

Arizona has the experience in UAS training,   we have the close proximity to the potential users at our military installations throughout the state, and we have industry stakeholders with   major operations here. Arizona is uniquely positioned to play a significant   role nationally in the development of UAS technology, but we can’t rest on   our laurels. Arizona congressional Republicans and Democrats should be   focused on ensuring our state maintains its leadership position in UAS   training, research and development. If Arizona does not respond in this   critical juncture, defense and aerospace businesses are likely to follow UAS   out of state.

An all-volunteer UAS Arizona advisory   committee comprised of leaders from industry, academia and government has been working tirelessly to elevate the state’s standing as the right place   for UAS to thrive, but they can’t do it alone.

Arizona has lost over 300,000 jobs since   the nationwide economic downturn. In order to get back on firmer economic footing,   we have to put ourselves in a position to attract the jobs of the future.   Unmanned aircraft systems are the future of the aerospace and defense   industry. In order to grow and attract these desirable jobs, we need our   representatives and senators in Washington to work together for Arizona and   promote our state as the ideal UAS test range location.

Glenn Hamer is the president and CEO   of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and   Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the   global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic   growth and prosperity for all Arizonans. http://www.azchamber.com/.
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