{"id":20580,"date":"2022-01-12T17:27:42","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T17:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saj.pachecostudios.com?p=20580"},"modified":"2022-01-12T17:29:28","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T17:29:28","slug":"public-investment-expected-to-propel-north-carolina-aviation-in-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/state-news\/north-carolina\/public-investment-expected-to-propel-north-carolina-aviation-in-2022\/%20","title":{"rendered":"Public Investment Expected to Propel North Carolina Aviation in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Innovations in air transportation\nand a major infusion of new state and federal funding will create economic\nopportunity in 2022 for companies with the experience and capacity to help\nairports build and maintain their infrastructure and push the boundaries of\nunmanned aviation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That activity should increase\nthe economic impact of North Carolina\u2019s 72 public airports, which already\ncontribute more than $61 billion to the state\u2019s economy, as well as expand the\nstate\u2019s burgeoning drone economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bobby Walston<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPublic investments in\naviation infrastructure will enable much-needed expansions and rehabilitation\nof public airport facilities, creating jobs and attracting new\naerospace-related companies to our state,\u201d says Bobby Walston, P.E., director\nof the North Carolina Department of Transportation\u2019s Division of Aviation.\n\u201cMeanwhile, we expect to continue opening the airways to unmanned aircraft in\n2022, working with innovative companies and the Federal Aviation Administration\nto usher in this new era of air transportation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aviation Division Advances\nN.C. Air Transportation <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NCDOT Division of Aviation\nleads innovation and activity that advances a robust air transportation system\nfor North Carolina. That includes managing a range of state and federal grant\nprograms to support infrastructure improvements at the state\u2019s public airports to\nhelp them meet safety and community needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Division provides\nplanning and technical assistance for airports, a statewide program of\ninfrastructure maintenance and federally mandated services, business\ndevelopment services and a unique general aviation airports economic\ndevelopment fund to expand investment at the airports and professional\ndevelopment programs for airport personnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Division also oversees\nNorth Carolina\u2019s unmanned aviation system and has positioned North Carolina as\na national leader in enabling commercial and government drone use. It works\nclosely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and innovative companies\nand government agencies to shape the regulations and practices that will enable\nunmanned aircraft to operate in the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of eight teams\nselected for the FAA\u2019s BEYOND<\/a> national\ndrone integration initiative, the Division has direct access to federal\nregulators setting the terms of how drones can operate in low-altitude air\nspace. Companies have taken note of North Carolina\u2019s leadership and come to the\nstate to partner with NCDOT in testing novel commercial drone services, gaining\nFAA approvals and launching operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through\nthis initiative, North Carolina has achieved more commercial drone missions and\nnational firsts in business and government drone use than any state in the\ncountry, many supporting life-saving missions. Among them are deliveries of\nmedical packages, from time-sensitive infusion medications to COVID vaccines,\nroutinely operating in urban and rural areas. NCDOT uses drones to support\nfirst responders during hurricanes and to improve safety and efficiency of\noperations such as assessing rockslide damage and inspecting transportation\ninfrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\nrecently released year-in-review video<\/a> highlights the Division\u2019s accomplishments in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among\nthose accomplishments was the release of the Division\u2019s biennial economic\nimpact study, called North Carolina: The State of Avi<\/em>ation<\/a>. The\nreport quantifies the impact of the state\u2019s public airports system and\nhighlights the state\u2019s aviation infrastructure and assets, companies, military\ninstallations and educational programs that undergird it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\n2021 report reveals that the state\u2019s 72 public airports generate $61 billion in\nbusiness revenues, support more than 373,000 jobs, provide $15 billion in\npersonal income and return more than $2.5 billion in tax revenues to local and\nstate governments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investments\nand Initiatives Coming in 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, innovations\nand expansions in both manned and unmanned aviation are expected in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the manned side, a major infusion of nearly $280 million in state and federal grant funding will flow through the Division of Aviation for infrastructure development at the state\u2019s 72 public airports in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

State funding of $242.8\nmillion is coming from: <\/p>\n\n\n\n