Aerospace and Defense Manufacturers Launch Outreach Campaign

ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Aerospace Industries Association is launching an outreach campaign to underscore the value of the aerospace and defense industry to our nation's economic health.

The initiative, aimed at the incoming administration and Congress, will encourage leaders to consider the industry as an economic driver that will help our nation overcome our current financial challenges.

"The aerospace and defense industry supports more than two million middle class jobs with over 30,000 suppliers from all fifty states," said AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey . "We want the new leaders in Washington to be completely aware of the value of this industry to the economy."

"The nation is facing a tough economic situation," continued Blakey. "We are urging the new administration and Congress to support the programs and the people that can get America's economy moving again."

The aerospace industry exported $97 billion in 2007 and posted a $61 billion surplus, the largest of any manufacturing sector. The civil, national security and space sectors of the industry provide many vital functions from ensuring a strong national security, modernizing America's aviation infrastructure, to maintaining leadership in space and creating advanced technology innovation that enhances the life of every American.

Advertisements with the campaign theme, "Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift America," will run primarily in inside the beltway publications starting with a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post Dec. 2, 2008 .

AIA member companies contributing to the initiative include BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, General Dynamics Corporation, ITT Corporation, L-3 Communications Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, General Electric, Raytheon Company, Rolls-Royce North America, SAIC, Textron Inc. and United Technologies Corporation.

More information and a white paper on the aerospace and defense industry's contribution to our nation's economic health are available at www.aia-aerospace.org.

SOURCE Aerospace Industries Association