The aviation industry contributes about $4.3 billion annually to the state's economy and creates more than 65,500 jobs statewide, according to a report commissioned by the South Carolina Commerce Department.
"Airports throughout South Carolina help to support and improve the quality of life for all residents of, businesses in, and visitors to the state," read the study released Thursday during the state Aviation Association's annual conference in Myrtle Beach.
South Carolina's aviation industry includes six commercial airports - serving Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville-Spartanburg, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach - 54 general aviation airports for private and business use, and four military airfields.
Businesses that operate at airports directly contribute $1.26 billion yearly to the state's economy. The industry contributes another $1.26 billion indirectly through an estimated 2.6 million visitors who arrive by plane and $1.82 billion as airport employees spend their paychecks, the report found.
In the same way, the industry directly employs 19,515 people - 13,125 of those at the military airfields - and supports another 46,018 jobs indirectly, the study said.
The payroll of the combined work force totals $1.9 billion each year, with commercial airports accounting for 53 percent of that, military airfields for 38 percent and general aviation 9 percent. The state collects about $54.7 million in income taxes.
Island Packet
"Airports throughout South Carolina help to support and improve the quality of life for all residents of, businesses in, and visitors to the state," read the study released Thursday during the state Aviation Association's annual conference in Myrtle Beach.
South Carolina's aviation industry includes six commercial airports - serving Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville-Spartanburg, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach - 54 general aviation airports for private and business use, and four military airfields.
Businesses that operate at airports directly contribute $1.26 billion yearly to the state's economy. The industry contributes another $1.26 billion indirectly through an estimated 2.6 million visitors who arrive by plane and $1.82 billion as airport employees spend their paychecks, the report found.
In the same way, the industry directly employs 19,515 people - 13,125 of those at the military airfields - and supports another 46,018 jobs indirectly, the study said.
The payroll of the combined work force totals $1.9 billion each year, with commercial airports accounting for 53 percent of that, military airfields for 38 percent and general aviation 9 percent. The state collects about $54.7 million in income taxes.
Island Packet
