The South Carolina Aviation Association, in partnership with\nthe South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, is celebrating this week with a\nseries of events that highlight the impact aviation has on economic development\nand educational initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Carolina has six commercial service airports, 58\ngeneral aviation airports and five military airfields. Each of these facilities\nprovide essential support to the state\u2019s diversified business base through\nrecreational flying, providing gateways to communities and tourism,\naccommodating agricultural spraying, supporting air cargo and air freight shipments,\nhelping law enforcement, supporting military operations, providing access in\ntimes of emergency, and supporting medicine and healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSouth Carolina\u2019s airports are essential to economic\ndevelopment in the state,” said South Carolina Aviation Association\nPresident Kevin Howell. ” They directly contribute to the economy by\nproviding services, moving passengers, and transporting cargo. The movement of\ngoods and people benefit South Carolina\u2019s government, consumers, and its\nindustries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The state\u2019s aviation industry supports more than 122,000\njobs with an estimated annual payroll of $4.8 billion. Annually, at least $16.3\nbillion in economic activity can be traced to aviation in South Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n