Behind the Wheel: Study shows N.C. airports pack an economic punch
Myron B. Pitts Staff writer @FOmyronpitts
This week at Behind the Wheel we are swapping our driving gloves for one of those old-timey leather pilot's helmets, because we're going to be In the Cockpit.
Or more precisely, in the airport — on a week where state officials have released a report on the economic impact of North Carolina's 72 publicly-owned airports.
Yes, we have 72. So there's your first big number.
There are other big figures in "North Carolina: The State of Aviation," prepared by the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at N.C. State University. The state Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation commissioned the study.
Fayetteville Regional Airport brings an economic impact of $784 million for the local economy and 4,410 jobs. Apparently the figure was a surprise even for city officials. City Manager Doug Hewett said at a City Council work session Monday: "It shocked me.
"We thought that we had a $318 million economic impact."
Other tidbits from the study:
• The state's public airports contribute $52 billion each year to the state's economy.
• The airports support 307,000 jobs, generate $12.67 billion in personal income and raise $2.2 billion in local tax revenues.
• The state has the "second fastest growing aerospace manufacturing sector."
Additionally, military aviation in the state employs 70,00 people over eight locations. The largest location? You guessed it, Fort Bragg, the world's largest post, which employs 50,000.
The report is not long and is worth a look. If for no other reason, people interested in flight in our state — the birthplace of the enterprise you'll recall, in 1903 — will get a lot out of the tables, charts and information. Included are things like the map of cities and towns where the publicly-owned airports are operating and material on everything from aerospace manufacturing to unmanned aircraft systems, which are popularly and not-quite-accurately known as "drones."
The report can be found here.
How low can gas go?
Low gas prices are going to be with us for a while — because the global demand keeps falling, according to a news release this week by AAA Carolinas.
In North Carolina and South Carolina, prices have dropped for 14 straight weeks, AAA said.
The statewide average in North Carolina is $2.11 for a tank of regular gas, down 4 cents from last week and 26 cents from last year at this time. In the Fayetteville area, several gas locations have dipped below the magic $2 line.
In Fayetteville, a number of stations were reporting gas at $1.86, including the Family Fare at Raeford Road and Owen Drive, the Speedway at Raeford Road and Ferncreek Drive and the Circle K at Raeford Road and Glensford Drive. The average price in Fayetteville was $1.98 as of Friday morning.
"As the global crude market continues to be oversupplied, oil prices are dropping, continuing last week's trend," said Tiffany Wright, a spokeswoman for AAA Carolinas. "This is good news for motorists filling up at the pump."
Demand for gasoline is at its lowest since February 2017, the news release said. Even a record season for holiday travel saw a dip in overall oil demand, with a drop of 900,000 barrels.
That figure suggests "demand this winter could be lower than expected."
That sounds like more good news for folks still recovering from holiday travel and gift expenses.
Columnist Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.