Florence Regional Airport

(former Florence Army Airfield)
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPee Dee Regional Airport Authority
ServesFlorence, South Carolina
LocationFlorence County, near Florence, South Carolina
Elevation AMSL146 ft / 45 m
Coordinates34°11′07″N 079°43′26″W / 34.18528°N 79.72389°W / 34.18528; -79.72389
Websitewww.flyflo.us
Map
FLO is located in South Carolina
FLO
FLO
FLO is located in the United States
FLO
FLO
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
1/19 6,000 1,829 Asphalt
9/27 6,502 1,982 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Aircraft operations (year ending 2/22/2022)23,572
Based aircraft47
Sources: airport website[1] and FAA[2]

Florence Regional Airport (IATA: FLO, ICAO: KFLO, FAA LID: FLO) is three miles east of Florence, in Florence County, South Carolina.[2]

The only scheduled flights are American Eagle to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Facilities

The airport covers 1,436 acres (581 ha) and has two asphalt runways: 1/19 is 6,000 × 150 ft (1,829 × 46 m) and 9/27 is 6,502 × 150 ft (1,982 × 46 m).[2]

In the year ending February 22, 2022, the airport had 23,572 aircraft operations, average 65 per day: 84% general aviation, 11% air taxi, 6% military, and <1% commercial. 47 aircraft were then based at the airport: 25% single-engine, 14 multi-engine, 2 jet, and 6 helicopters.[2]

Airline and destination

AirlinesDestinations
American Eagle Charlotte[3]

Destination statistics

Busiest domestic routes from Florence
(November 2021 – October 2022)[4]
Rank City Passengers
1 Charlotte, North Carolina 31,000

History

The airport began with the purchase of 300 acres (120 ha) in 1928. During World War II the United States Army Air Forces' Third Air Force used the airport as a training base and added 1,400 acres (570 ha). Known as Florence Army Airfield, the 52d Pursuit Group was assigned to the airfield on 18 February 1942 and trained with P-39 Airacobra and P-40 Warhawks until departing on 27 April for Wilmington, North Carolina.

A succession of Troop Carrier groups trained at Florence during 1943 those being the 63d, 65th, 313th and 315th prior to their deployment to Europe and North Africa. The airfield became a combat crew replacement training school for A-20 Havoc light bomber crews, with the 411th Bombardment Group being the Operational Training Unit at Florence AAF from 15 August 1943 until 1 May 1944.

After the 344th was inactivated, replacement training was taken over by the 334th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Light Bombardment). Support units at Florence AAF were the 407th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 10th Aviation Squadron; 958th Guard Squadron; 341st Sub-Depot; HQ, 411th Bombardment Group (Light).

Florence AAF controlled two auxiliary training bases for its A-20 training.

In early 1945 the airfield was transferred to First Air Force and the 127th Army Air Forces Base unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Light) assumed the A-26 Invader training mission.

The property was given back to the City of Florence on 31 October 1945 and later shared with Florence County.[1]

Eastern Airlines served FLO from 1948 to 1965; Piedmont Airlines flights (including Boeing 737s) ended in 1981.

Operation of the airport was assigned to the Pee Dee Regional Airport Authority in 1999. The authority had nine representatives from the Pee Dee Regional Airport District, which includes the City of Florence, and the counties of Florence, Dillon and Marion.[1]

Florence Air & Missile Museum

From the 1960s until 1997 Florence was home to a large aviation museum, the Florence Air & Missile Museum. When it closed, the collection was divided among other museums in the United States.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. 1 2 3 Florence Regional Airport, official site
  2. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Form 5010 for FLO PDF, effective 13 July 2023
  3. ↑ "American Airlines Suspends Service to 15 Markets in October as CARES Act Service Commitment Expires". American Airlines Newsroom. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "RITA | BTS | Transtats". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. January 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
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