NEWBERRY — Newberry County has a new airport terminal that will serve as a gateway to about 3,000 airport users annually.
According to Michael Pisano, director of Public Works, the total cost of the new terminal was about $550,000. From that amount, the county only paid five percent, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) paying 90 percent and South Carolina Aeronautics also paying five percent.
“We originally started out as a renovation, with the walls that were standing, we had to knock the walls down — they would not hold the weight of a new building, they weren’t reinforced concrete block. So we basically went down to the studs, it was basically full rebuild from the ground up,” Pisano said. “They actually designed it based on the gas station near the (new) museum, kind of an Art Deco look. “
Pisano said the design of the new terminal was based on the footprint of the old building. While he was not sure of the construction date of the original building, he did say the airport dates back to 1946.
Councilman Scott Cain, who is a pilot and has an airplane out at the airport, stressed that this new building is a gateway into the community.
“The FAA does a study every year on the number of airplanes and visitors, and everything else that use airports, all around the whole state. For this airport, almost 3,000 visitors that come in every year, just to this. That is 3,000 people outside of Newberry that come in — this is the first thing they see,” he said.
Cain added that those 3,000 people represent businesses, corporations or private recreational users.
“This is their gateway, this is the first thing they see when the come into our county,” he said.
According to Cain, the FAA estimates those visitors generates about 36 additional jobs in Newberry County, a 1.5 million dollar annual payroll that increases, increases annual spending by 4.1 million — for a total economic activity of 5.6 million dollars. The FAA also estimates that it generates about $241,000 in tax revenue for Newberry County.
“That is a huge impact, it doesn’t seem that way just driving by, but it is a definite impact and significant to the well being of our county,” he said. “My hope is that with more utilization of it (airport), hopefully in a short period of time we can have a flight school out here.”
The new terminal includes a variety of amenities, which will be utilized by the pilots coming in. There is a bed, a shower, a kitchenette with a microwave and computers so they can log their flight plans. The airport is an unmanned airport, meaning the county doesn’t control air traffic, and they have self serving fuel. Pisano said they will have people out there from time to time, but for the most part, it will be pilots utilizing the airport and terminal.
Councilman Henry Livingston said the new terminal is a major upgrade for the county — which will be an asset for Newberry County.
“Two to three years ago, we had an economic development prospect land here and came in (to the old terminal). It was absolutely the most embarrassed I’ve been for my county. This spot here will be a good welcoming spot, make a good first impression and is so much more advanced than we previously had,” he said. “This is more of what Newberry is than what our old building was.”
