SC Aviation Association Update

Kevin Howell, C.M, I.A.P., SCAA President

Thank you to the SC Aviation Association Conference Committee, 2023 sponsors and exhibitors, the Beacon Association Management team and everyone that helped make the SCAA Annual Conference a tremendous success! This was the first time the conference was hosted in Spartanburg. Over 300 individuals attended the conference, enjoying a diverse and informative conference program as well as some great aviation community fellowship. Conference highlights included:

• The 2023 Hall of Fame Banquet honoring Bud Coward and Michael Miller with induction into the SC Aviation Hall of Fame for their contributions to aviation and the state of South Carolina;

• Former SC Aeronautics Executive Director and current Greenville Downtown Airport Manager James Stephens receiving the Order of the Palmetto with remarks from SC Aeronautics Commission Chairman Delphin Gantt;

• Retired Greenville Downtown Airport Director Joe Frasher being honored with an SCAA Lifetime Achievement Award;

• The 2nd Annual SCAA Scholarship Silent Auction raising $4,475 for the SCAA Scholarship Fund and the live painting of Charles Lindbergh by artist Jared Emerson raising an additional $5,000 for the scholarship fund. Combined with proceeds from the golf outing, over $12,0000 was raised for the scholarship fund;

• Education sessions from industry leaders and key updates were provided by FAA Southern Region Regional Administrator Michael O’Harra, FAA Southern Region Airports Division Director Steven Hicks, FAA Atlanta Airports District Office Manager Parks Preston, SC Aeronautics Executive Director Gary Siegfried, and SCAA lobbyist Ben Homeyer.

Homeyer provided information on a couple of items pertaining to airports and the aviation community under consideration. Document 5134 updates Title 55 to codify existing procedures used by the Division of Aeronautics regarding airport funding and adjacent land use compatibility. Bill S.459, Alcohol Sales at Airports, will provide commercial airports additional flexibility in their terminal food and beverage concession programs regarding alcohol sales and consumption in the post TSA screening portions of the terminal. Most importantly, Homeyer discussed the SC Aeronautics funding request submitted for the FY24 state budget and what we as airports and the aviation community of South Carolina can do to help encourage its approval. SC Aeronautics, led by Gary Siegfried, has requested $100 million in the FY24 state budget to help support both com- mercial and general aviation airports. Last year was a historical success with $50 million in funding being approved for the six commercial service airports and setting aside dedicated funding for counties that currently do not have an airport. FY23 marked a significant increase from the previous $250,000 in annual funding for commercial airports that only started in FY22. The goal this year is to not only renew the $50 million investment towards commercial service airports, but to convince legislators to make airport funding an annual reoccurring commitment and to add an additional $50 million in investment for runway rehab and reconstruction at general aviation airports.

South Carolina continues to lag behind other southeastern states when it comes to airport investment. North Carolina provided $124 million in funding for its 10 commercial service airports and 62 general aviation airports in 2021. Florida provided over $190 million in funding for its 21 commercial service airports and 84 general aviation airports. Prior to last year’s $50 million one-time investment, South Carolina was only trailed by the state of Alabama when it came to airport funding in the southeast. If South Carolina desires to be competitive when it comes to aviation and aerospace sectors, the state needs to make the commitment to invest in its airports and aviation infrastructure. Without financial support, South Carolina will fall further behind its neighboring states and be unable to compete when it comes to aviation infrastructure.

In 2021, the SCAA community teamed together to promote S.675, which increased revenue to SC Aeronautics to help fund more airport capital projects. Together we saw what SCAA teamwork can do. But we are not done. Once again, we need to rally together and push our state legislative bodies to pass this year’s funding request, make the commercial service airport investment fund an annual reoccurring investment and make a strong commitment to permanent aviation investment for all airports.

Aviators have long used the term CAVU as an unofficial meteorology term which means “Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited.” I am calling on all SCAA members and airports to come together, tell our story, explain the need and encourage your legislators to support the needed investment in our airports. By doing so, we can ensure S.C. Aviation’s Ceiling and Visibility is Unlimited. CAVU!

-Kevin Howell