Volume 43, Number 4 Published by the S.C. Aeronautics Commission April, 1991

TATION$ff Mittion SC Fire Academy to be BuiltAirport Crash, Fire and Rescue Personnel znill be affectedFirefighters serving South fighters would have basic training we have no place to do our annual

Carolina's airports may soon have prior to employment. Airports hot drills on our airport, we felt thatto clap erasers/ take notes and around the state would have access a fire training facility should be inwash chalkboards if a proposal for to the Fire Academy so Crash, Fire the central part of the state for ac-a regional fire academy passes and Rescue teams could be trained cessibility."through the legislature. in the state-of-the-art facilitv.

A state Fire Academy, esti- Staff members of the SC Aero-mated at a cost of $tf milion, is nautics Commission met recentlyplanned to be built on state-owned with representatives from the Stateproperty adjacent to the S.C. Fire Marshal's Office, the FAA, theCriminal Justice Academy which State Budget and Control Board,borders Broad River and I-20. Only and various airports to discuss thean 80-acre portion of the 200-acres possible use and development ofis scheduled for development. the Fire Academy for use by airport

The Fire Academy would be CFR personnel.set up similar to SLED's Criminal Gary Jackson of Greenville-Justice Academy so that all fire- Spartanburg Airport said, "Since

Sharon Carter of the FAA's Air-ports Division added," The FAA'sposition on this facility is that wedon't want to spend a lot of moneyon hot pits around the state for air-port training. Ideally, we want onefacility per state and this regionaltraining facility is a great idea thateveryone can use since it would bein a very convenient location."

Jackson also noted, "We'd alsolike to see this facility under thedirection of the Fire Academy, withthe FAA and SC Aeronautics Com-mission funding it, along with helpfrom airports using it too."

Primary funding for the facil-ity, according to James Bowie, di-rector of the Fire Academy, comesfrom a percentage of insurancesold in the state.

Bowie said the way the firefighting system is designed in thestate, the Emergency Powers Actcan be invoked during a fire sostate-trained firefighters can takecharge.

"With 65 public use airports in46 counties, most fire fighter willhave to have this training as it ap-

See Fire Academy, Page 6

A South Carolina WelcomeA deleeation {rom SCAC was on hand lvhen the st.rte legislature offi-cially welcomed John I'ark to South Carolina. From left is Jim Hamilton,chairmarr, and conrmissionc.rs Charles Appleby, Curtis Graves, CrackAnderson, and forrner commission chairman Rep. Joe Wilder.

2 Palmetto Aviation April , 1991

Rep. Olin Phillips(l), reads a resolu-tion praising T.R.

Runnels (c) for hisjob as interimdirector whileChairman Jim

Hamilton looks on.PALMETTO AVIATION is an officialpublication of the South Carolina Aero-iTautics Commission. It is designed toinform members of the aviation com-munity, and others interested in avia-tion, of local developments in aviationand aviation facilities, and to keep read-ers abreast of national and internationaltrends in aviation.The Aeronautics Commission is a stateagency created in 1935 by the SouthCarolina General Assembly to fosterand promote air commerce in the state.

Carroll A. CampbellGovernor

Commissioners:

Jim Hamilton, ChairmanColumbia

Rep. Olin R. Phillips, Vice ChairmanGaffney

Edwin S. Pearlstine, Jr.,Charleston

Dr. Crack AndersonChester

Curtis GravesDenmark

Richard McClellionAnderson

Ralph SchmidtGreenville

Charles ApplebyFlorence

Ex-Officio Members:

Sen. Isadore LourieColumbia

Staf f:

John P. ParkDirector

Helen F. MunnerlynEditor

Aeronautics Honors Runnels,Awards Mc\Mirter Field utith Grant

The S.C. Aeronautics Commis-sion recently honored T.R. Runnelson his outstanding job perform-ance as interim director. ChairmanHamilton presented Runnels witha concurrent resolution from thelegislature commending him forhis improvements and accomplish-ments during his tenure.

Also during the March 11 meet-ing, McWhirter Field-LancasterCounty Airport received fundingfor an improvement project.

The Aeronautics Commissionapproved $4,265.00 for the airportproject and when completed, willtotal more than $8,000 when com-bined with local funding.

Chairman Hamilton an-nounced the state allocation forMcWhirter Field for replacing andenlarging the concrete pad at thefixed-based operators mainte-nance building and for erecting afour-foot chain-link fence for safetyand security purposes.

Camden Safety MeetirgPlanned for May 16

A fun, entertaining and educa-tional evening is scheduled forWoodward Field in Camden, May16 at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone interested may attendthe two-hour aviation safety edu-cationseminar sponsored by RoyalAviation in Camden.

Stall/Spin Prevention and FuelManagement are two topics whichwill be presented during theAOPA Air Safety Foundationseminar.

Bob Cathers of the Air SafetyFoundation is coming from Wash-ington, D.C. to assist South Caro-linians in becoming safer pilots.

AOPA will provide door

South Carolina Aeronautics Commission Offices are at Columbia MetropolitanAirport. Mailing Address: Post Office Drawer 280068, Columbia, South Caro-Lina,29228. Phone: (803) 822-5400, or 1-80G922-0574.

prizes. The FBO, Royal Aviation,will have free refreshments onhand to quench parched throatsand add to the hospitality.

An FAA Accident PreventionCounselor will issue Wings Pro-gram Applications for those inter-ested.

The public is invited to attendthis free educational opportunity.Don't miss this chance to become abetter and safer pilot or passenger.Everyone will benefit from theexposure to the latest informationin stall/spin research and fuelmana gement technology.

For more details, contactGeorge Roberts at (803) 469-3574.

April,1991 Palmetto Aviation 3

CalendarApril 14

Breakfast ClubTimmonsville AirportTimmonsville, SC

April25-2850th ReunionHawthorne Schoolof AeronauticsHoliday InnOrangeburg, SC(803) 272-6024

April23Breakfast ClubRoyal AviationWoodward FieldCamden, SC

May 1May-Fly'91Florence Regional AirportFlorence, SC

May 5Breakfast Clubfefferson Municipal AirportLouisville, GA

May 12Breakfast ClubSumter County airportSumter, SC

May 15StalUSpin Prevention &Fuel ManagementAOPA Air Safety Found.Woodward Fiel4 Camden5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

May 19Breakfast ClubLaurens County Airport

May 26EAA Chaper 242May Fly-InColumbia OwensDowntown Airport

June 9Breakfast ClubTwin LakesGraniteville, SC

fune 23Breakfast ClubPelion Airport

May-Fly'9L & SkyfestTwo Unbeatable Air Shows

Two festivals you don't want tomiss this spring are Skyfest in Spar-tanburg and May-Fly '1991, inFlorence. Both will have fantasticairshows and family-oriented en-tertainment.

Skyfest is scheduled forMother/s Day weekend, May '10-12

in Spartanburg with many activi-ties: hang gliding, balloon races,miniature and model airplanedemonstrations, skydiving exhibitions, helicopter, balloon and air-plane rides, and Warbirds, too.

The Spartanburg DowntownAirport will be the scene of two airshows on May 12, which will lastabout three hours each.

In addition to the aviation ac-tivities, Skyfest will also have an-tique automobiles, mountain crafts

displays, art exhibits, fireworksshows, and lots of gourmet and fastfood concessions. Proceeds ofSkyfest will go to benefit the Chil-dren's Miracle Network.

May-Fly 1991, is set for Wednes-day, May 1 at the Florence RegionalAirport.

Military and civilian static dis-plays as well as aerial demonstra-tions by the US Air Force Thunder-birds and the US A*y GoldenKnights will take place during theday.

A cooperative effort betweenmilitary personnel and the citizensfrom the Pee Dee Region, the showwill provide an opportunity todemonstrate support and appre-ciation for the efforts of the troopsin the Persian GuIf.

Attention: Warbirds on the looseby David M. FudgeVarious types of combat air-

craft of the World War II are ondisplay May 3 and 4 at the Spar-tanburg Downtown Airport asWarbirds of Spartanburg raise thecurtain forthe Spring Fling with it'sannual membership scramble andfly-i..

William T. Hope, ]r., Warbirdscommander, has announced for thefirst time ever an A-26 "Invade('twin engine light attack bomber,flown by airman in WWII, Koreaand Vietnam, is among those air-craft on display. The A-26 isownedby Dave Brady of Cartersville, GA.

A B-25 "Billy Mitchell"bomber, famous for the first Ameri-can air raid on Tokyo led by Gen.jimmy Doolittle in 19 42, will retwnfor another visit to Spartanburg.This bomber is owned by RandyPorter of Georgia.

A Vultee BT-13 Air Force basictrainer will also be available for in-spections.

P-51 fighters, 4'T-6 advancedtrainers (known in the Navy asSNJs), a W-17 Stearman biplaneprimary trainer and many othervintage aircraft will participate too.

The Warbirds Scramble, a re-union and barbeque for membersand guests, will begin at 6 p.m. onFriday May 3, in "C" hangar at theDowntown Airport. Visiting air-planes will be on public displayduring that time and all Saturday.AII aircraft will be flown at theoption of pilots.

Commander Hope said, "See-ing and hearing these true war-birds of a generation past is alwaysabig thrill forthose of us who flewduring the WWII period. It is won-derful that so many of the planesare still flying to preserve the pre-ciow heritage they represent. It'sgreat that the present generationcan see and touch some of the his-tory they see in the movies or readabout."

4 Palmetto Aviation April,1991

Greenwood County Airport:Once a WWII air base transformed into a modern f acility

The smell of red cedars andsweet pines aren't what lurespeople to Greenwood County -business is. That's why the Green-wood County Airport is such avibrant part of the economy and sobusy.

The Greenwood Airport isplaced in rural South Carolina butit's not the least bit country. MikeOpalak, manager of the Green-wood Airport, attributes the air-port's success to being a goodneighbor anct by getting involvedin all aspects of community activ-ity.

"We're involved with a num-ber of things in the area," saidOpalak, "This Spring we're help-ing with the Annual GreenwoodFestival of Flowers in May. We alsolet the National Guard bivouachere and practice land navigation,securing the area and setting upperimeter guards."

Opalak was adamant aboutletting users of the airport share indecisions.

"We did a survey to a largenumber of people in the area to askthem what possibilities they'd like

Greenwood Aviation,wood's FBO operatesrent-a-car business.

Creen-the Avis

N'Iik-e Opalakshows what thenew terminalbuilding rvilllook like oncecompletecl.Opalak hopesthe n'ork is ableto begin in thenext few months.

to see at their airport."It was interesting," the airport

manager added, "Most people saidthey'd like to see a new terminalbuilding or renovate the one wehave."

The Greenwood Airport termi-nal building was a very progres-sive building for the 50's when itwas built, but the brick stmcture isnot what it should be for the 90's."This terminal doesn't mesh withwhat Greenwood is - a progres-sive community with businessespushing ahead to the 90's."

As manager of the airport, heobserves the activity of a full serv-ice FBO, a number oihangars, Avisrental cars, and an aircraft mainte-nance facility.

Buck Griffin, of CreenwoodAeronautics, FBO at the airport,runs a tight ship with the able assis-tance of Pat Hall.

Ms. Hall operates the compu-terized FBO system with an ease ofassurance while at the same timegiving instructions to a question-ing student pilot.

"These people are like my fam-ilyi' quipped Hall, "I've beenworking with them for years."Griffin, a prankster since birth,likes to ask customers, "Do youwant to speak to the man in chargeor the woman who knows what isgoing on?"

Hall said return business is onereason the FBO does so well. Someof the businesses are Warner Lam-bert, the Henley Group of inves-tors, Cooper Communities of Ar-kansas, Fuji Corporation, KaiserAluminum and Westinghouse,many of which pilot business jetsinto the county facility.

Industrial growth into Green-wood is the primary reason the

, county has applied for a runwayextension and an apron expansion.

The runway extension is esti-mated at $1.4 million, while theapron expansion project is esti-mated at $356,000. Both projects areeligible for federal and state fund-ing grants.

The runway extension involvesclearing trees, rehabilitating therunway/ construction of the exten-sion, and constmcting partial par-allel taxiways.

The apron project will expandthe existing aircraft parking areaand remove the underground fuelstorage tanks which have beenreplaced.

He said construction costs maybe held to a minimum if bids forboth projects go out simultane-ously. "We can benefit by havingthe projects done at once with alimited amount of timeto finish theprojects," he said.

One project completed with a

Palmetto AviationApril,1991

The red brick Creenwood Airport terminal wasbuilt in a typical style for the 1950s.

eas surrounding the airport, and ifthat's tme, the Greenwood Airportwill be on top of things very soon.

"Until the recent downturn inthe economy, we have seen steadygrowth, as in ourMasterPlan. Veryrecently, we've seen the airportgrow as the forecast predicts."

More businesses have beeninvesting in the area. For instance,Sara Lee - Hanes has boughtproperty for a plant which willmake all the material for t-shirts,underwear and like products.Also, Dart Container, DefianceMetal Products and a UPS branchoffice, are all confident of increas-ing their activity and more thanlikely their services in the Green-wood area.

With an influx of new busi-nesses and ex-panding indus-trial growth, thenew or refur-bished terminalproject seemsmore importantthan ever.

Opalak ad-mitted costs forthe project wouldbe an importantfactor and thelikelihood of us-ing some creativefunding would be

Progressive and Proudminimal amount of aggravationwas the implementation of theirnew fuel farm. "We're very proudof our new above ground fuel farmwhich is now about 80% complete,"he said enthusiastically in his softdrawl.

Also at the airport is Double D,an aircraft maintenance shop.However, the maintenance isn't al-ways limited to aircraft. Inside theirwell-equipped facility is a '1924

Model T. The black leather coachwas detached from the chassiswaiting to be refurbished. Accord-ing to Opalak, the Model T whenoperational will provide the FBO aunique way to take people intotown. Just the thought of riding aModel T gives new insight to thefrequently used airport car.

Even though Opalakis optimis-tic about the future of the airport,his optimism is clouded by reality.He cited the economy as the majorreason the number of based aircraftas Greenwood Airport as declined.

"During the last few years,some companies, like L.W. Ap-parel, have sold both of theirplanes. We used to have 52 basedaircraft, now we're down to the low40's."

The best growth for airports issteady growth of the economic ar-

This Model-T (l) isbeing completely

restored atDouble D Aircraft

Service. Below,Opalak, sits behind

his desk and dis-cusses the strong

points of theGreenwood County

Airport.

necessary."We've had an increase in our

airport commission fund and havehad some contributions from localbusinesses for the terminal proj-ect," he said. Monsanto has talkedto the airport about donating car-peting to the building and Green-wood Mills may donate wallpaper.

"We'll have the best lookingbuilding. Everybody in town willcome around to see it," said theenthusiastic manager.

The original World War II run-way configuration at Creenwoodhas given way to two 5,000-footrunways for use by modern jets.But like the runways and the ModelT on airport property, the airportjust gets better and more valuableas each year passes. Surely, theGreenwood Airport is a fine assetto the community and to the state.

Palmetto Aviation

Fire Academy to Senre State CFR TeamsContinued from Page 1

April,

Rorr Safko (c), architect for the SCFire Academy, discusses the lay,-out of the regional fire facility.

plies to airports," Bowie said."There needs to be a much strongerrelationship between firefightersand airport CFR."

As it is designed now, the FireAcademy looks more like a resortarea than a working fire schoolwith modern classroom buildingsand a conference areas. The planswill have to be modified onlyslightly to accommodate the extratraining facilities required to teachairport fire classes.

As it is proposed, CFR teamsand any new CFR employees fromairports will be allowed to takebasic training and receive a certifi-aa a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aa

t- Tf . o

'. tlaulng an :ottFl .

i aff snow( :I Sena a copy of FAA :' Form 771L-l andTTLL-Z to: .I Pubtic Information Office :! Aeronautics Commission :r P.O. Box 280068 .! Cotumbia, SC 29228 :i lf you have questions: :r 1-800-922-0574 or .i tsos) 822-s4oo :oo a a a a o a a a a a a a a a t o l ol

cate. Afterwards, firefighters willtake specific courses which pertainto the Federal Aviation Administration's regulations concerningairport CFR training, including hotpit training twice a year.

The overall cost for the acad-emy is about $11 million dollars,but with added costs of specializedaviation fire training, the facilitymay add at least $3 million more.

Although the architecturalplans themselves will only have tobe modified slightly, the cost of thespecialized equipment is greater.

According to Ron Safko, anarchitect for the project, the facilitywill have a modern conferencecenter with 4,700 square feet, anadministrative building of 9,000 sq.ft., education facilities with a multi-purpose auditorium, classroombuilding, covered walkways, landbridge and visitor and bus parking.

In addition, there will be dor-mitories with a full service cafete-ria, a weight-room and a lobbyarea.

Plans also call for fire waterreservoir facilities, undenl'atersearch and rescue with diving/rapelling tower and outdoor class-room/ structural drill facilities forhigh rise buildings, simulatedlandscaping fires, a fire researchlab, helipad, haz-mat and field res-cue facility, computerized firesimulation system and a nuclearfacility fire simulator.

Sharon Carter ofthe FAA joins

John Floyd (r) ofSCAC, in listening

as Bob Waddle,Columbia Metro,

asks about fundingcrash, fire and res-cue equipment forthe Fire Academv.

Above, T.R. Runnels examinesarchitectural renderings of theacademy's 80-acre development.Below, James Bowie, director ofthe Fire Academy, discusses pre-liminary costs for the new facility.

Not to mention all the latestenvironmental protection aidsavailable.

April,1991 Palmetto Aviation 7

FYI From the FAA

Fewer People Becoming Pilots May Mean ShortagesA generation ago the road to fense Transportation Association ready are underway.

the cockpit of a commercial air predicts U.S. airlines will have to One example is FAA's 1989 es-

carrier provided tough sledding hire 53,000 pilots over the next ten tablishment of the Recreationalfor most civilians. The preferred years, to meet increased air travel Pilot's Certificate as a new lower-candidates were ex-military pilots. demands and replace flight deck re- cost alternative for obtaining basicThe Korean/Vietnam wars tended tirees. At the present rate of train- flying credentials and experience into create a large reserve of battle ing, it was estimated, there will only the cockpit. The agency projects as

trainedaviators. Later,whenthese be 41,000 qualified pilots available. many as 7,000 additional pilots a

airmen were faced with removal These prospects exist in spite of year may be encouraged to beginfrom flying status at a relatively the fact the U.S. Air Force is losing flight training thanks to the availa-youthful age, they were only too pilots to civilian life faster than it bility of this certificate.eager to extend their career status can replace them. Another innovation aimed ataloft by moving into a civilian Special career incentives are reducing the high cost of flying isflying job. being considered to retain pilots in the proposed rule to establish a

Those circumstances have militaryservice. Anysuchmove,of category of "primary aircraft,"changed, and in fact, the 1.990's course, would further reduce the which would be less expensive toappear to offer civilians some of pool available to airlines. build and certificate.t h e -- - - FAA

; ;',; ...Lf.S. airlines will haae to hire 53,000 pilots ooer the a r s o

iJ"!;:; next ten years, to tneet increased demands... .l.,ou..lin aviation we have seen since the In spite of the improving jobexpansionof commercialairtravel prospects in aviation, the numberafter World War IL of civilians learning to fly is still

In testimony given to the declining, according to the F./rAUnited States Senate Commerce statistics. Over the period 1978-Subcommittee on aviation last 1,987, FAA figures show a peakyear, FAA officials stated bluntly, drop-off of 26 percent in the issu-" ...we may be facing a shortage in ance of student, private and com-thenumbers of adequately trained mercial pilots who will become eli-personnel availableio sta'ff our fu- gible to train for transport pilotture civilian fleet." positions.

One of the warning signs cited Large airlines are temporarilywas 1988 was the first year in keeping up with hiring needs al-which U.S. scheduled air carriers though the experience level of newhired more pilots from GA than hires, particularly in regard to jetfrom military services. time, is not as high as it once was.

Furthermore, the pool of gen- They report informally a currenteral aviation pilots is known to pool of about 6,000 job applicants,have been shrinking in recent although conceding this numberyears/ due primarily to the high may be inflated as a result of mul-cost of training, aircraft ownership tiple applications. Most experts sayand use. the real crunch in pilot availability

Atthesametime,thederegula- is two to three years away,leavingtion of air carriers in the late 1970's precious little time to resolve thehas been followed by a great ex- problem.pansion of air carrier services. A Many initiatives to deal with1989 report by the National De- the perceived future shortage al-

taken a sweeping reassesment ofpilot training and certification re-quirements at both general avia-tion and commercial levels. Theseefforts are aimed at promoting "in-novations and flexibility' in pilottraining, important factors in as-suring an adequate pool of quali-fied pilots.

The nations colleges and uni-versities also are stepping in to helpcounter the anticipitLa pitot short-age. Nearly 400 centers of highereducation now offer aviation edu-cation and/or flight training.

Industry, government and aca-demia all agree there is no easy fixfor the shortage of pilots.

However, FAA is committed toworking withe the aviation com-munity and the academic commu-nity to promote a program whichwill encourage young people tolearn to fly and which will be thebest training possible to ensure ahighly qualified pilot community.

The rest is up to you.

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDColumbia, S.C.PERMIT NO.75

SOUTH CAROLINAAERONAUTICS COMMISSIONP.O. Drawer 280068Columbia, 5C29228

This Month. . .

Inside Palmetto Aviation. State Fire Academy planned for CFR teams. Greenwood County Airport isn't the least bit country. Skyfest and May-Fly to highlight flight

...and much much more!

lEeecons shcw tnae weyfon alnport devenopment

Nineteen airports will receivenew or refurbished beacons in thecoming year thanks to a new pro-gram initiated by the AeronauticsCommission and the FederalAviation Administration.

The statewide airport beaconproject involves equipping se-lected airports with 36 inch bea-cons. The Aeronautics Commis-sion is very hopeful that those air-ports in need which were not se-lected will be allocated monevnext year for beacons from th'eFAA.

Of the 19 airports chosen, 11

airports will receive refurbished36" rotating beacons on existing

towers. The remaining eight air-ports will receive a new36" beacon,four on existing towers and four onnew 51 ft. tubular beacon towers.

The beacon project will befunded 9}Voby the FAA, 9288,398.The airport sponsor and the statewill pay SVo each, $14,420.

Beacons in these 19 airportswill enhance safety by making theairport easier to locate during in-clement or normal weather. Inaddition, the new beacons willhave a metal halide lighting systemwhich will reduce electrical andmaintenance costs.

The entire project, which beganin November of 1990, should be

completed by August of this cal-endar year.

Thus far, the following air-ports have completed work:Clemson, Aiken, Santee CooperRegional, Rock Hill, DonaldsonCenter, Fairfield, Walterboro andBeaufort. The airports in Berkeley,Lancaster and Pickens are cur-rently undergoing beacon workand should be finished soon.

The following airports arescheduled to have work done inthe future: Dorchester County,Greenwood County, Pelion Cor-porate, Georgetown, GrandStrand and Spartanburg Down-town.

This publication is printed and distributed by the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission in theinterest of aviation safetyand to fostergrowth of responsible aviation in the state. The viewpointsexpressedin articles crediled to specific sourc_es are presented as the viewpoints of those liritersand do not necessarily reflect the-opinion of the Soulh Carolina Aeronautics Commission.