RALEIGH – Throughout 2022, the
N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation made significant progress in its mission to promote the economic well-being of North Carolina by developing a safe and robust air transportation system.
The Division of Aviation provided vital development support for the state’s 72 public airports with $174 million in grant funding and planning and project oversight throughout the year to ensure airports met their community’s needs for commercial and leisure travel and operated safely.
With multiple new partnerships, representation at various statewide and national events and the relaunch of several programs to educate current airport leadership, businesses and the future aviation workforce, the division’s staff worked diligently to promote North Carolina as a prime hub for the ever-growing aviation industry.
The Unmanned Aircraft Systems team also achieved another national first early in the year by pairing tethered drones with statewide Incident Management Assistance Patrol trucks to improve accuracy of information for first responders during traffic and roadside emergencies.
The Division of Aviation also continued to support other state agencies and transportation projects by transporting state government personnel for state business and completing over 130 photogrammetry missions.