Understand the categorization of the aerospace industry into various sectors based on the services it currently provides. Understand the key elements of these sectors and the activities of each of these sectors.
The aerospace and defense industry, as it has transformed over a short period of the last century and according to the services it provides, can be categorized into two key sectors, civil aviation and civil aviation. military aviation.
Civil aviation is one of the two broad categories of aerospace, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Civil aviation includes scheduled air transport, including all passenger and cargo flights operating on scheduled routes; and general aviation (GA), including all other civil, private or commercial flights. Although scheduled air transport is more important in terms of number of passengers, general aviation is more important in terms of number of flights and hours flown.
Commercial aviation includes most or all flights operated for hire or reward, in particular scheduled airline services; and private aviation includes pilots flying for their own purposes like leisure, business meetings, etc. with or without compensation. All scheduled air transport is commercial, but general aviation can be commercial or private.
The global civil aerospace manufacturing industry deals with all aspects of civil aviation. For example, companies in the civil sector manufacture complete civil aircraft, propulsion units, aerospace engines and ancillary equipment or parts. The main products and services of the civil aerospace sector include general, regional and large aircraft, as well as aircraft engines and other parts.
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for gunnery or warfare purposes, including domestic airlift (cargo) capability to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a unit or base or along a forehead. Airpower comprises the national means of such warfare, including the intersection of transport and warcraft. The wide variety of military aircraft includes bombers, fighters, fighter-bombers, transports, training aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft.
The military sector is made up of companies that manufacture complete fighter, bomber, military transport or missile aircraft. They engage in the manufacture of aircraft including ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, bombers, fighters, multirole combat aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and military transport aircraft. Experimental aircraft are manufactured to test advanced aerodynamic, structural, avionic or propulsion concepts. Other companies in this sector manufacture aerospace engines, propulsion units, missile guidance systems or auxiliary parts. Aerospace product prototypes are also developed in this sector, as well as aircraft system modifications and complete aircraft overhauls.
In terms of global size, the aerospace and defense industry is currently estimated at around US$800 billion. This number increases steadily every year. The military sector accounts for the largest portion of the market value, ~70%. The US aerospace and defense industry is the largest in the world, accounting for just over half of 53.9% of total global revenue. The second and third largest markets are Europe and Canada, with Europe controlling a significant market share of 35.9% of total global revenue. Brazil and Japan represent a smaller percentage of global revenue at 5.0% and 4.0% respectively combined. Other countries and regions also have aerospace and defense related jobs, such as Mexico, Russia, China, Poland, Czech Republic, South Korea and others. As we move towards an increasingly globalized world, the aerospace and defense industry plays a crucial role in global development.