Aviation

Our Aviation Business Cluster is based around the significant aviation-related assets in North Carolina’s Northeast Region. Over $4 million has been invested to date in the development of the Elizabeth City Aviation Research & Development Commerce Park adjacent to the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Regional Airport (ECPCRA). The Airport has been a magnet in recent years in supporting the growth of defense-related contractors, such as DRS Technologies, providing higher-wage civilian jobs for the US Coast Guard Aircraft Overhaul functions.

Complementing the ECPCRA are the Northeastern Regional Airport (Chowan) and the Currituck Airport, which individually, have quantifiable niches: Currituck is closest to Southeast Virginia and provides connectivity to the Outer Banks, and the Northeastern Regional Airport is on the cusp of the inner banks development.  Collectively, these airports all have access to the same aviation related resources:  the Aviation Science Program at ECSU, workforce development capabilities of The College of the Albemarle, and the Elizabeth City Center of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest fully-accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace. 

Other airports in the Region are expanding. The new Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport is being built to accommodate the anticipated future growth of developments like Carolina Crossroads and the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research. Rural airports like Plymouth, are taking advantage of funding for future expansions and to develop their own individual niches.

A key opportunity exists to attract business developments that can take advantage of proximity to the existing airport facilities, U.S. Coast Guard facilities, and other existing aviation-related resources from throughout the Region. 

Key Aviation Resources

• Aviation Science degree program at Elizabeth City State University

• Aircraft Maintenance and Technical Management degree programs at Embry-Riddle University

• A wealth of skills from retired US Coast Guard Aircraft Repair and Supply Technicians

• Aircraft maintenance, technical support, consulting businesses are currently operational in the area

• Elizabeth City Aviation Research and Development Commerce Park

• Civil service and military aviation workforce also available from greater Norfolk, Virginia region

REGIONAL AIRPORTS