South Carolina Aerospace Industry | Infrastructure

South Carolina has a cost-effective transportation network for the top aerospace companies comprised of highways, railways, airports and ports.

Highways: South Carolina is crisscrossed by five interstate highways, offering excellent east-west and north-south access to the rest of the nation.  A number of top aerospace companies are in close proximity, including Boeing in Charleston, Gulfstream in Savannah, Georgia, HondaJet in Greensboro, North Carolina and Embraer in Melbourne, Florida.

Railways: CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern and seven short line railroads combine to offer rail service in every metro area. Additionally, South Carolina Public Railways operates three common carrier railroads.

Airports: Any location in South Carolina is within about an hour of a commercial airport, with four primary airports located at Columbia, Charleston, Greenville-Spartanburg and Myrtle Beach.  Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are within a few hours’ drive of most South Carolina locations, and both have non-stop flights to top worldwide destinations. The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has a Federal Express cargo terminal, and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport is one of six United States regional air cargo hubs for United Parcel Service.

Seaports: The South Carolina State Ports Authority owns and operates marine terminals in Charleston and Georgetown.

The Port of Charleston is one of the busiest container ports along the southeast and gulf coasts and is recognized as one of the nation’s most efficient and productive. It has the deepest shipping channels in the southeast.

The Port of Charleston also is growing its bulk, break-bulk and roll-on/roll-off cargo, commonly referred to as Ro-Ro, business and has invested $22 million to improve the handling of non-container cargo, including heavy lift. Charleston is experienced in handling everything from BMW automobiles to giant GE gas turbines.