Oconee County Regional Airport was built in the early 1960s and currently occupies approximately 270 acres three miles southeast of Seneca SC. It is owned and operated by Oconee County. The facility has grown over the last 45 plus years from a basic rural airport off of Shiloh road to one of the busiest General Aviation / Corporate Airports in SC. Only 2.5 miles west of the Clemson campus, the airport is a gateway not only to the university but also to South Carolina's great freshwater lakes and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many transient aircraft operators use the airport as a jumping off point to the upstate and the mountain resorts of Highlands and Cashiers NC.
As of 2008, the airport is home to 65 based aircraft ranging from corporate turbine aircraft to many personal single engine airplanes. The Oconee County Sheriff’s office has also based its Jet Ranger helicopter at the airport since 2004. The facility currently has 40 T-hangars for indoor aircraft storage, 40 outdoor tie-down spaces and one private 15,000 sq ft. corporate hangar.
Even in these tough economic times many corporations still rely on corporate aviation to conduct business efficiently. Corporate aircraft empower business managers/owners to use time effectively allowing them to visit several facilities in one day and conduct business meetings in-flight.
Expansion plans are in the works for the airport. Groundwork has been laid for funding of a 600 ft extension which will give the facility a 5000-foot long runway with a full parallel taxiway. This much needed extension will allow the airport to accommodate larger business aircraft and keep Oconee County competitive for business expansion and continued economic development. With respect to economic impact, a 2006 SC Dept of Commerce study revealed the Oconee Airport generates $6.3 million in total economic output annually with only 16 on-airport jobs.
The Airport Enterprise is operated by five County employees who provide friendly customer service to each and every patron. Open seven days per week, the staff provides refueling and other professional aviation services to transient customers and based tenants equally. Each May the airport hosts a (free to the public) benefit fly-in to raise money for the American Humane society. Regular aeronautical activities include local sightseeing flights, flight training, sport flying, aircraft rental, skydiving, as well as other educational activities (with prior coordination). Oconee County Regional Airport is “The” aviation gateway to Oconee’s golden corner of South Carolina. Please come out to visit YOUR County airport and see aviation at work in SC.