PAST

Local Spartanburg Aviators go to fight in France in 1917

Local WW1 Ace Bob Cates who, in 1920, suggested to the Spartanburg City Council that the city should build an airport

The Council readily agreed—and put Cates in charge of the undertaking.

First commercial airport in South Carolina with Air Mail delivery

Charles Lindberg visits Spartanburg

Airport dedicated as a Memorial airport

Amelia Earhart visited the area and Spartanburg Airport

Eastern Airlines begins to operate out of Spartanburg

1st Air wedding in South Carolina. Robert Turner, marries Doris Bell in Ford Tri-Motor Airplane

over the Spartanburg

Southern Airways, Piedmont Airways, Eastern and Delta Airlines operate out of Spartanburg

Nearby GSP Airport opens. Spartanburg becomes a General Aviation Airport

The 1970s brought explosive growth in the population of pilots and airplanes as well. 

Spartanburg Airport Control tower is closed after Air Traffic Controller Union Strike

An Instrument Landing System is added to the airport, which enables pilots to conduct an instrument approach to landing if they are unable to establish visual contact with the runway.

The airport underwent a $4.4 million transformation with renovations to the terminal building and two new units of T-hangars. 

Completion of a $30.5 million runway project. The runway was extended by 650 feet bringing the total length to nearly 6,000 feet.

The Spartanburg Aviation Community Program was founded.

Airport becomes a FEMA location for Hurricane Florence and Helene

New Taxi Lane completed.

New Hangars built