Staff Report
Published Feb. 21, 2012

The South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center, or SCTAC, said newly-opened Taxiway B at Donaldson Field will help attract new industry while greatly benefiting one of its largest tenants, Lockheed Martin.

The completion of the taxiway was aided by a $1.35 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation with assistance from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

“General aviation plays a critical role in the lives of our citizens as well as the success of our businesses,” Graham said. “These funds will help contribute to the competitiveness of several SCTAC companies in today’s aviation, industry and technology markets.”

The first aircraft on the new taxiway was a C-130 from Lockheed Martin, which maintains more than 1,200 flight operations a year at Donaldson Field and employs around 1,000 at the SCTAC facility.

“This is a significant upgrade to Donaldson Field and will certainly improve the efficiency of our operations,” said Don Erickson, site director for Lockheed Martin’s Greenville operations.

“Today, as SCTAC continues to expand our services to our current tenants, Taxiway B will make us more attractive to future tenants, leading to more Upstate jobs,” said Jody Bryson, president and CEO of SCTAC. “We are incredibly appreciative of Senator Lindsey Graham’s support.

“The Taxiway B project completed the parallel taxiway for the entire length of the runway and will ensure efficient and safe operations for all types and sizes of aircraft, eliminating the need for aircraft to back-taxi on the runway,” Bryson added.

The project included creating a new taxiway pavement, 4,000 feet in length with two large connector taxiways, allowing aircraft to exit the runway from the north end of the airfield. The taxiway is designed 50 feet in width and will be able to support both civilian and military aircraft.

Without Taxiway B, corporate and military aircraft are forced to complete their taxi on the active runway.