Former Building Damaged In 2007 Storm

For the better part of two decades, the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina has been fighting an uphill image battle. For years, it was known as the Greenville-Spartanburg Jetport.

Around 1990, a coordinated effort was made to get the locals to call it by its FAA identifier, GSP... thought to be a more sophisticated-sounding name. Locals responded by joking it would more accurately be called "the Greenville-Spartanburg Propeller Port."

A more recent blow to the airport's image was dealt by a 2007 rainstorm, which collapsed the roof of the general aviation terminal. In what probably should have become a Jeff Foxworthy joke, Stevens Aviation, the field's FBO, was forced to move out of the unsafe building into... a trailer.

Things are finally looking up. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reports the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport Commission Monday awarded a contract valued at $1.25 million dollars to JonScot General Contractors of Greenville for construction of a new, 5,000 square-foot GA terminal. It will even have some thoroughly modern touches, using mostly recycled materials in construction, and incorporating rainwater collectors, day lighting and a solar water heating system.

GSP Spokeswoman Rosylin Weston observes, "For some of our customers, this is their first impression of the Upstate and we want to make it a good one."

In addition to providing the airport with a facelift, the construction jobs will be welcome. Construction is expected to start by April 1, and be completed by year's end.

FMI: www.gspairport.com