Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties

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Home > Target Industries > Aerospace

Aerospace/Aviation Testimonial: SFK Aerospace

One of only three places in the world assembling & delivering wide-body commercial aircraft.

And is also home to the world's largest wind turbine drivetrain testing facility. Given the shared synergies of aerospace and wind energy, the Charleston region's objective is to become a global manufacturing hub and an innovative R&D leader for these target industry clusters.

Skilled Workforce and Talent

As of 2009, Charleston is the fastest growing mid-size metro for aircraft manufacturing in the U.S. (80% job growth) and one of the nation's Top 10 mid-size metros for workforce growth in key occupations such as aircraft mechanics, computer hardware engineers, and electrical engineers.

Charleston's skilled manufacturing workforce grew more than 5% between 2000 and 2009 compared to a 28% decline for the United States during the same period.

Comprehensive workforce training customized and delivered by South Carolina's internationally recognized pre-employment training program, readySC, develops a trained workforce at little or no cost to the company.

Trident Technical College's Aeronautical Studies division is designed to prepare students for two different career tracts within the aviation industry: aircraft maintenance and aircraft manufacturing. The college also collaborates with local companies to develop company-specific programs.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers a growing number of graduate, undergraduate and certificate programs ranging from Aeronautical Science to Supply Chain Management.

Charleston has a deep pool of military & defense talent, with the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR), the Charleston Air Force Base, a growing base of defense contractors and 10,000+ ex-military and government employees, many with high security clearances. Much of this knowledge and experience has direct applications in the aviation/aerospace industry.

Integrated, Global Infrastructure

The Port of Charleston is the most efficient and eighth-busiest U.S. seaport, with five terminals close to the open sea. This deepwater Port expertly handles container (including fully-loaded Post-Panamax vessels), breakbulk, project and heavy lift cargoes up to 500 tons with on-dock rail, excellent oversize clearances inland, and ample open or covered storage.

Charleston offers dual rail access, linkage to multiple Interstates via I-26, and a convenient international airport with direct domestic flights to major cities and quick connections to nearby international hubs.

A number of industrial parks and greenfield sites have existing Foreign Trade Zone permits while the entire region is FTZ eligible. Learn more about the benefits of Foreign Trade Zone status.

South Carolina Supports Business

S.C. has been ranked as one of the Top Five most business-friendly states for the past six years by the Pollina Corporation and as "one of the best places to do business" by a survey of site selection consultants conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI).

One of the lowest corporate income taxes in the Southeastern U.S. at 4.6% and no state property or local income tax
Very favorable regulatory climate

As a right-to-work state, South Carolina's workforce has one of the lowest unionization rates and lowest work-stoppage rates in the nation.

In 2010, just 1.9% of workers in the Charleston metro area were members of an organized union, well below the national average of 11.9%
The manufacturing unionization rate in the Charleston region is 5.95%

Competitive Wage Structure

The chart below provides wages typically associated with the aviation/aerospace sector, or visit our workforce and employment page to access a more comprehensive list of average wages by occupation (BLS data).

For a local wage & benefit survey broken down by industry sector and company size contact Hank Taylor, V.P. Global Business Development, at 843.760.4526 or htaylor@crda.org, at the Charleston Regional Development Alliance.

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Aerospace Cluster, Selected Occupations, Charleston S.C. MSA

Occupation Code	Occupation Title	2010 Average Hourly Wage	2010 Median Hourly Wage
11-1021	General & Operations Managers	$51.73	$45.35
17-2112	Industrial Engineers	$34.90	$34.70
17-2141	Mechanical Engineers	$33.67	$34.02
43-1011	First-line Supervisors of Office & Administrative Support Workers	$21.65	$20.43
49-3011	Aircraft Mechanics & Service Technicians	$25.25	$24.33
49-9041	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$22.28	$22.64
51-1011	First-line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers	$28.15	$27.43
51-2092	Team Assemblers	$15.39	$14.95
51-4031	Cutting, Punching, Press Machine Setters, Operators, Tenders, Metal & Plastic	$16.86	$16.08
51-4041	Machinists	$16.78	$15.82
51-4121	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$18.17	$17.81
51-9061	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers & Weighers	$17.44	$16.61
53-7051	Industrial Truck &Tractor Operators	$16.81	$15.42
53-7062	Laborers & Freight, Stock & Materials Movers, Hand	$11.86	$10.88

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10/2011

Reliable, Low Cost Energy

South Carolina's industrial electricity averages 20 - 25% below the U.S. average. The Charleston region is served by two generating electric utilities (Santee Cooper and SCANA/SCE&G) with a combined capacity of 10,275 megawatts, plus two electric cooperatives (Berkeley Electric and Edisto Electric).

Greater Charleston is also part of the South Carolina transmission grid, which is served by four generating utilities with a combined capacity of 19,721 megawatts. For natural gas transmission and distribution, the region is served by Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, a subsidiary of SCANA Corporation.

The Composites Manufacturing Technology Center led by SCRA Affiliate, ATI, serves as technology resource to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Navy Manufacturing Technology Program (ManTech). The CMTC develops improved manufacturing processes for composites and advanced materials and facilitates technology transfer for the resolution of manufacturing and repair issues identified and prioritized by the Navy's Program Executive Offices (PEO's), other Department of Defense (DoD) services and industry.

The Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers & Films at Clemson University has been designated by The National Science Foundation as a national Engineering Research Center the only one in the country to focus solely on film and fiber research.

South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a non-profit contract R&D organization facilitating cross-industry collaboration via national and international research networks. SCRA has expertise in 30 market and technology segments, including advanced metals, composite materials, alternative energy and supply chain logistics.

Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) is constructing the world's largest wind turbine drivetrain testing facility in Charleston as part of a growing renewable energy R&D campus. Fully operational by the end of 2012, it will offer simultaneous testing of power train components up to 15MW and 7.5MW.

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Aerospace/Aviation Cluster Firms in the Charleston S.C. MSA

Company	Web Address	Product/Service
PRIMARY
AAI Corporation	www.aaicorp.com	Software/hardware design and production, flight simulators
Boeing South Carolina	www.boeing.com	Fabricate and assemble major 787 aircraft components; final assembly and delivery of 787 commerical airplanes
Eaton Corporation - Aerospace Operations	www.eaton.com	Machined components
Parker Hannifin Corporation	www.parker.com	Fluid pumps for gas turbine fuel systems
Rotomotion, LLC	http://rotomotion.com/	Aerial robotics
SKF Aero Bearing Service Center	www.skf.com	Aircraft engine bearing inspection, remanufacturing
TIGHITCO	www.tighitco.com	Design and fabrication of engineered components for aerospace and industrial applications
Venture Aerobearings, LLC	www.ventureaerobearings.com	Jet engine bearings (joint venture SKF & GE Aviation)

SUPPLIERS
The 2AM Group, LLC	www.2amgroup.com	Engineering, technical logistics and training, quality management
Acutec Precision Machining Inc.	www.acutecprecision.com	Precision machining, precision welding, and related services for aerospace, power generation, and other industrial sectors
Coastal Hydraulics Inc.	www.coastalhydraulics.net	Hydraulic and pneumatic systems for industrial equipment
DC Machine LLC	www.dcmachine.net	Industrial machine shop with design/engineering, manufacturing/assembly and welding capabilities
Gedore Tools Inc.	www.gedoretools.com	Distribution of hand tools targeting aviation, automotive, industrial and renewable energy sectors
Hawthorne Corporation	www.hawthornecorp.com	Management consulting (aviation specialty)
IMO Group USA	www.goimo.com	Manufacture slewing rings used to spin wind turbines
Leatherwood Electronics & Manufacturing	www.leatherwoodmfg.com	Electronics, precision fabrication
Mankiewicz Coatings LLC	www.mankiewicz.de.	Distribution facility for coatings manufacturer serving the medical, automotive, aviation, rail and yachting sectors
Mi-Tech, Inc.	www.mi-tech.net	Machine shop and technical consulting services ; specialty in repair and remanufacture of components for rotating and reciprocating equipment
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions South	www.tss.trelleborg.com/us	Sealing devices, gaskets wholesale distribution
UEC Electronics	www.uec-electronics.com	Electronics design, assembly
Wesco Aircraft Hardware	www.wescoair.com	Aerospace/aviation products distribution

Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 2/2012