General Aviation Daily Air Show at Georgetown, SC.m4v

Not just people in Georgetown County, but few in the world understand what general aviation (GA) consists of and what it means as an economic force, according to Pawleys Island Pilot Randy Hollister. The Georgetown County Airport, strategically located half way between New York and Miami in the Highway 17 corridor between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, is evolving into a busy and vital gateway to and from other parts of the United States and the world, welcoming tourists and travelers, including businessmen seeking to relocate to the Palmetto State, Hollister said. "The US has 20,000 public and private airports, but only 565 have airline service," Hollister said. "The rest serve general aviation, which is all flying that is neither commercial passenger airlines nor military. GA planes are used for business commuting, pipeline patrol, life flights, mosquito control, flight training, and environmental monitoring. Locally, SC DHEC aircraft can be seen watching turtle nesting season. The thousands of general aviation airports in communities large and small across the country serve about a quarter million airplanes.
Hollister said he sees more business-type aircraft at the Georgetown Airport. "I am more often there during weekdays than on weekends," he said. "In addition to the flights coming to Georgetown in support of local business enterprises, or bringing seasonal residents to their homes along the Hammock Coast, many pilots stop in Georgetown on the way up and down the Atlantic seaboard because it is a convenient refueling stop, servicing both piston engine aircraft and private or corporate jets. We have such beautiful facilities for them."
The whole experience at Georgetown Airport the last two years has been a good one for Hollister. "I've had great pleasure flying out of airport," he said. "They are fine people to deal with and the facilities are well maintained." He said his wife, Debbie Hollister, loves to fly, especially in their high-wing light-sport aircraft. "This new concept of light sport started six years ago in 2004, he said. "Light sport required no medical certificate. My plane goes about 135 miles per hour, and the operating cost is comparable to a car for trips." Hollister said he and his wife like to fly for fun and see their son in Indianapolis--3.5 hours away or go to Clemson and take their other son to lunch. He gave the example of the Experimental Aircraft Association chapter taking 20 planes for a "fly in" to Triple Tree Airport in Greenville. "They might video tape landings and award pilots for the worst landings," he said. "If you're looking for a different place to eat, then be sure to try Food Scapes located at the Lake City Airport." Charlotte Pilot Michael J. Pobiega of the South Carolina Breakfast Club said every other Sunday since 1938, pilots and aviation enthusiasts in and near South Carolina meet for breakfast. "No dues and no meeting requirements," he said. "Breakfast is around $6 a plate, is ready about 9 a.m. and there is always plenty." He tells interested people to fly in or drive to the airport." Usage figures are up 6 per cent this year compared to 2009, and the month of June had a 13 per cent upsurge over a year ago. Barry Brock of Seven Rivers Aviation, LLC, heads the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) company, which provides operational and maintenance services to the county airport. "We're growing back now with tourism and industry, such as the new gypsum plant."
Brock said maintenance activities have stayed level since the economic downturn with a steady flow of aircraft getting main airframe and engine maintenance and repair. The airport opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. in the summer and about 5:30 p.m. in the winter or at least 20 minutes past sunset. Rick Westfall, the airport manager, said local airport personnel go all out to meet the needs in-coming passengers and pilots, even providing free sodas, coffee and stacks. "Pilots have free use of automobiles, and a Hertz Car Rental office is available to handle transportation needs of passengers and others," Westfall said. Westfall said various emergency services utilize the field, including the US Coast Guard, such as during off-shore searches for missing boats, and various air ambulance and life flights to Cleveland Clinic, Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital, New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC, or the Medical University of South Carolina center in Charleston. Georgetown County Mosquito Control is located at the airport and does its flights from the field. "Most people who use our airport live here or own a second home here, or they're looking to build and relocate here," Westfall said. "Whether they live in the Upstate or a couple of states away, they can fly to our airport in their own aircraft or by charter almost any weekend they choose."

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News & Politics

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• Georgetown County Airport
• Private Aircraft

[CoastalDigital]

Dedicated to the men and women involved in general aviation (GA) at Georgetown County Airport and others throughout South Carolina and our nation.

[Grantalonus]

Nice new facility. When im down i usually pull in the lot and watch for any traffic. Thx for the video!