Greenville, Nc: Airport Access Or Inaccessible?

Greenville, North Carolina, has a few airport options for travellers to choose from. The closest airport to the city is Pitt-Greenville Airport (PGV), which is just 6 miles from the city centre. This airport caters to domestic flights. Travellers can also opt for Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, located 47 miles from Greenville, which offers domestic flights from New Bern, North Carolina. Aside from these, there is also a private airport in Greenville, NC.

Pitt-Greenville Airport

Greenville, North Carolina, is served by the Pitt-Greenville Airport, located two miles (or three kilometres) north of the city's central business district and East Carolina University. The airport, which is public, covers 872 acres (353 hectares) and has two runways. While it is mostly used for general aviation, American Airlines operates a commuter service to Charlotte from the airport.

The Works Progress Administration constructed the Greenville Airport in 1940 on land jointly owned by the city of Greenville and Pitt County. A Civil Pilot Training Program operated from the airport until the United States Navy leased it on May 1, 1942, to serve as an outlying field of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The field was underutilised until November 30, 1942, when the Civil Aeronautics Administration announced plans for an upgrade. During World War II, Outlying Field Greenville was the busiest of MCAS Cherry Point's outlying fields, serving fighter squadrons and photo reconnaissance squadrons.

In the years following the war, PGV, as the airport is also known, served Delta Airlines, providing a service to Atlanta. However, the airport faced challenges due to its short runways, which limited aircraft operations, particularly during hot weather. To address this issue, the airport underwent a significant expansion project starting in 2013, with the extension of Runway 2/20 by 670 feet. The $7.9 million expansion, funded by the federal stimulus, took two years of planning and 18 months of construction, finally being completed in 2014.

Today, Pitt-Greenville Airport continues to serve the region, providing essential aviation services to the community of Greenville and the surrounding areas. The airport is committed to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of its passengers and regularly conducts emergency drills to maintain a high level of preparedness. Additionally, the airport values community feedback and often encourages individuals to participate in surveys to help shape its future development.

Coastal Carolina Regional Airport

Greenville, North Carolina, is served by the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, located three miles southeast of the central business district of New Bern, a city in Craven County. The airport is in the top 10 of North Carolina's airports and is the closest commercial airport to North Carolina's Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

The airport has had several name changes over the years. It was originally named Simmons-Nott Airport in honour of North Carolina Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons and First Lieutenant Joel Nott, a Marine Corps officer who was killed during an air performance for the dedication of the new terminal in 1931. In 1941, the airport was leased by the Marine Corps, who named it OLF Camp Mitchell. It then became known as Craven County Regional Airport, New Bern Regional Airport, and finally, Coastal Carolina Regional Airport in 2008.

The airport has a master plan that includes extending the main runway and expanding the runway safety area. In August 2020, a $5.8 million contract was awarded to build a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) facility. The airport also hosts various events, such as the Pitt-Greenville Airport Triennial Emergency Drill, and Honor Flights for World War II veterans in 2011.

Warren Field Airport

Greenville, North Carolina, is served by multiple airports, both public and private. One of these airports is Warren Field Airport, also known as Washington-Warren Airport or KOCW. The airport is located on Airport Road off of Market Street in Washington, NC, and serves general and corporate aviation traffic.

In addition to its aviation services, Warren Field Airport offers a range of amenities for pilots and visitors. These include a well-appointed lounge with free Wi-Fi and kitchen facilities, as well as aircraft tie-downs and staging areas. The airport also hosts various events and seminars for the aviation community, such as the Rusty Pilots seminar organised by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation (AOPA).

Kinston Regional Jetport

Greenville, NC, has its own airport, the Pitt-Greenville Airport. However, one of the closest airports to Greenville is the Kinston Regional Jetport, also known as Stallings Field, located just 5 km northwest of the central business district of Kinston, North Carolina.

History

The Kinston Regional Jetport was originally built in 1944 by the United States Navy and opened as a Marine Corps flying training airfield, serving as an auxiliary to the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The facility provided flight training for Naval Aviation Cadets until its closure in October 1945. Due to the Cold War and the expansion of the United States Air Force, the airfield reopened in October 1950 as a contract flying training school. In 1952, it was renamed Stallings Air Base in memory of two Kinston natives, Lt. Bruce Stallings, and his brother, Lt. Harry Stallings, who were killed in action during World War II.

In 1957, the contract training program ended, and the base was formally inactivated. However, the airport continued to serve the region, providing flights to nearby cities such as Greenville, New Bern, and Jacksonville. The current air terminal opened in 1978, and over the years, various commuter airlines have served the airport, including Wheeler Airlines, Sunbird Airlines (later CCAir), and Delta Air Lines.

Present-Day Usage

Today, the Kinston Regional Jetport is primarily used for general aviation and serves as a convenient airport for East Carolina University's athletic teams and personnel. The airport boasts a single runway, one of the longest in the southeastern United States, capable of accommodating large jets. The jetport also features free parking and wireless Internet access in its terminal, which houses several businesses.

The airport is also notable for its adjoining Global TransPark (GTP), an industrial park built to attract high-tech industries and boost economic development in eastern North Carolina. Spirit AeroSystems, a manufacturer of Airbus A350 parts, is a prominent tenant at the GTP facility.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base

Greenville, North Carolina, is served by the Pitt-Greenville Airport, also known by the code PGV. There are three airports in Greenville, NC, including both public and private airports. Pitt-Greenville Airport holds events such as the Triennial Emergency Drill, for which it thanks volunteers.

The base has a long history, dating back to 1942 when it was established as a US Army Air Forces training base. It was originally called the Seymour Johnson Army Air Field and was used to train pilots and aircrews for combat duty during World War II. After the war, the base was renamed the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and became a permanent installation of the US Air Force in 1947.

The base has played a significant role in the history of aviation and the military. In the 1950s, it was home to the 83rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing, which was the first unit to fly the F-86 Sabre jet. The base has also been associated with the 62nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which has a long history dating back to World War I. The squadron has been credited with shooting down 14.5 enemy aircraft during World War I and has flown various aircraft throughout its history, including the P-40 Warhawk and the P-51 Mustang.

Today, the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base continues to be an active and vital military installation. It regularly hosts events and activities for the local community, such as air shows and open houses. The base also has a rich heritage and maintains a strong connection to its history, with memorial sites and historical displays located on the base.

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