What's New
Runway Cafe is Now Open
Come watch airplanes and helicopters takeoff and land while enjoying a fantastic meal at GMU. The Runway Cafe serves a variety of delicious food, as well as beer and wine, from a unique building with an excellent view of GMU's runways. The aviation themed venue is family friendly, affordable and features a main dining area, outside seating, rooms for private groups and a large hangar for special events.
Pilots can park their aircraft right in front of the restaurant, and the site is convenient to an avgas self-serve fuel pump. There is also plenty of automobile parking for those who arrive by land. The Runway Cafe is located at 21 Airport Road Extension, Greenville, SC 29607. From Laurens Road, turn onto Airport Road beside the Post Office and go straight through the traffic light and over the railroad tracks. Continue going straight (do not bear right) until the road ends. The Runway Cafe will be in front of you. For more information, call the Runway Cafe at 864-991-8488.
Greenville Jet Center Purchases TAC Air’s Fixed Base Operation at GMU
A fixed base operation (FBO) provides all the services that aircraft and users may need like fuel, maintenance and repairs. FBOs also help visitors during their stay by assisting with car rentals, taxi services, hotel and restaurant reservations.
Over the last 22 years, Greenville Jet Center (GJC) has invested over 2.8 million dollars into GMU's east ramp facilities. After its assumption of TAC Air's lease at the end of October 2010, GJC's ground lease now covers 226,000 square feet of hangar and office space. This makes GJC the single largest general aviation FBO in the state of South Carolina.
The owner of GJC, Hank Brown, lives in Greenville and has been at GMU for 52 years. For 26 of those years, Brown served as a corporate pilot. His son, Jay Brown, is the company’s Vice President.
All former TAC Air employees have become GJC employees. While two part-time workers left to pursue other opportunities, no employees were laid off. Two new employees have been hired to cover the positions left open.
In business since 1989, GJC is part of a small chain that provides first class service to its customers. The company has a flight school and owns two other FBOs in South Carolina: Camden Jet Center at Woodward Field and Donaldson Jet Center at SCTAC, also located in Greenville.
Santa Visited GMU Companies
Open House
Several companies based out of the Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) hosted an open house on Saturday, December 11th. The event was free, open to the public and kids were welcome. Tours of aircraft maintenance facilities, hangars, airplanes, fuel provider facilities and the airport's control tower were offered at no charge. Also Santa was in attendance and greeted kids.
The following companies were the event's hosts: Douglas Duncan Aviation LLC, Flight Design Carolinas, Greenville Jet Center, Mint Air, OpenAir and the Runway Cafe.
Special Services Corporation provided Santa's transportation!
Venture Aviation's Key Role in Organ Transplants Shown on TV News Series
"Without general aviation, heart, kidney and liver organ transplantation would not be possible," stated David Knoblauch, President and Director of Operations for Venture Aviation, which is located at the Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) in South Carolina. "A heart can only last about 4 hours outside a human body, so the total travel time is very limited," Knoblauch added.
"Commercial airlines can't be used for organ transportation for several reasons: because many hospitals and patients aren't located close enough to commercial airports; an entire transplant crew has to travel with the precious cargo; and with only four hours available getting to the airport, through security, onto a scheduled flight, arriving and getting to the hospital just isn't achievable," Knoblauch added.
"Hospital helicopters can't fly these missions because they are too slow and they can't hold the number of people and amount of equipment that is needed," stated Knoblauch. "Venture Aviation's crew is on call 24/7 and flies several hundred of these important missions each year," said Knoblauch.
Venture Aviation and GMU were recently shown in a 3-part story which aired on Fox Carolina TV. The programs purpose was to increase awareness of organ and tissue donations that are made possible by making your wishes known on your drivers license. It was entitled: "Life Changing Mission". The piece shows Venture Aviation transporting the organs. "Shows like this help highlight how critical general aviation is for our community" stated Joe Frasher, Airport Director of GMU. "Venture Aviation is an asset to GMU and the many organ recipients that it has helped," said Frasher.
Venture Aviation provides executive charter, priority air cargo, along with aircraft sales and management services out of GMU. For more information about Venture Aviation please contact David Knoblauch at 864-370-2962 or visit http://www.venture-aviation.com
The Aviators is a weekly magazine-style TV series featuring interesting people, the latest aircraft, the coolest technology and the best fly-in destinations. Greenville is featured in a segment on episode 3 entitled "$100 Hamburger - A Food-run to Greenville, SC". The show captures this area as an aviation destination and visits the Runway Cafe for some great food and a cool view.
The Aviators hit the air last fall and all of the first season shows can be viewed free on Hulu. The Aviators estimated per episode viewership is at least 3 million.
The Aviators is a television series that premiered in the US in the fall of 2010 on PBS and in Canada on the Global Television Network and CHEK-TV. Internationally, The Aviators will begin airing on Discovery Asia in April as well as broadcast stations in Russia, India, and many other countries in the coming months. It is produced by FourPoints Television Productions which is based in Toronto, ON and has facilities in Oshkosh, WI. For more information about The Aviators and FourPoints Television Productions, please visit www.TheAviators.TV
Greenville Humane Society
Opens at GMU
The Greenville Humane Society signed a long term lease for a 10,000 square foot building located at 305 Airport Road. The building is owned by the Greenville Airport Commission and includes over 3 acres of outside space.
The state-of-the-art non-kill shelter just opened and plans are to later add a wonderful public dog park.
For more information, please visit: http://www.greenvillehumane.com/
Local Pilot Volunteers to Fly
2 Year-old Patient to Shriner's Hospital
William Glisson suffered a stroke, while he was being born, two years ago. William's stroke caused a variety of complications that have impaired his ability to speak and walk. Now his feet are developing improperly and the Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville, SC is evaluating him for surgery.
William and his parents, Travis and Shannon Glisson, live in Greenville, North Carolina, which is about 80 miles east of Raleigh. They would have had to drive William 7 hours to get to Greenville, SC and 7 hours to get him back home.
William has a very hard time riding in cars and when they took a trip last Thanksgiving, he cried the whole time. He was much calmer in the plane and the flight took less than two hours.
William arrived at Greenville Jet Center, which is located at the Greenville Downtown Airport, he had an appointment at Shriner's Hospital and when he was finished he was flown home by Bo Bowman, who is a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight Soars.
William is the first Angel Flight patient, coordinated by the local South Carolina office, to be taken to the Shiner's Hospital in Greenville, SC.
"My mother who lives in Atlanta would always send me news clippings from the Atlanta newspaper. On a couple of occasions, my mother sent me articles about Angel Flight and Mac Secord who lived across the street from me when I was growing up. As a cancer survivor I was intrigued with the idea of volunteering for Angel Flight and three years ago, I started volunteering to fly for them," stated Matt Kappel, a Greenville family law attorney and the Angel Flight volunteer pilot who flew William to Greenville, SC. "I try to fly 3 or 4 times a year for Angel Flight," Kappel added.
Qualified pilots can visit Angel Flight Soars website www.angelflightsoars.org and view the upcoming missions that are in need of a pilot. Volunteer pilots not only donate their time, they also donate the use of their plane and the fuel, which is no inexpensive matter with the fuel prices we have seen lately, Angel Flight is a 501 (c) (3) organization and is proud to have been named on the “2010 Angel List” by the SC Secretary of State . The organization relies entirely on donations to help cover the costs of mission coordination, community education and pilot recruitment.
Angel Flight provides free air transportation for people that have a medical need that can’t be filled in their local area. Angel Flight serves primarily patients who are traveling from, to or through the states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. The organization believes that the cost of travel should never stand in the way of receiving medical care. Therefore, the "angels" will take flight to get people to the hope of lifesaving treatment and all of our services are free! For more information about Angel Flight, please visit www.angelflightsoars.org or contact Bo Bowman at 864-554-3198 / 864-992-8998 / Bo@AngelFlightSoars.org
Travis, Shannon and William Glisson along with Matt Kappel (middle)
Southeast Bonanza Society's
Fly-in Lunch at Runway Cafe
The Southeast Bonanza Society (SEBS) visited GMU's Runway Cafe for lunch on Saturday, April 30th. Most people arrived in planes coming from Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
We are thrilled that the Runway Cafe at the Greenville Downtown Airport was chosen as their destination.
The Southeastern Bonanza Society (SEBS) is a social organization of pilots who are drawn together by their common appreciation of Beechcraft airplanes and the desire to utilize their airplanes to make interesting trips and associate with like minded individuals. They are one of seven regional groups throughout the United States who are affiliated with the American Bonanza Society. Anyone is welcome to join regardless of where they live or airplane ownership status. Officially, they cover the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. For more information about the Southeast Bonanza Society please visit http://www.sebs.org/ or contact Harold Bost at hbostmail@aol.com or 770-719-0638
The American Bonanza Society (ABS) was established in 1967 and has grown to more than 10,200 members in all 50 United States and in 39 countries. For more information about ABS please visit http://www.bonanza.org/
Couple from Willimington, NC; Harold Bost and Van Vander Ploeg.
Tim McConnell and Steve Wiley
FAA Safety Program held at the Greenville Downtown Airport
The event was held on Saturday, April 30, 2011, in the Runway Cafe's hangar and lasted about four hours. Another safety event will be held at the Greenville Downtown Airport on June 2nd at 6 pm. Information and registration can be found at https://www.faasafety.gov
Girl Scouts Earned
Aerospace Badges
On Saturday, May 7th, 29, fourth and fifth grade Girl Scouts were at GMU to earn their Aerospace Badges.
In partnership with Mad Science of the Upstate, a local science enrichment provider, a badge workshop was offered at the Runway Cafe for the Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands.
Greenville Jet Center transported the Girl Scouts over to tour the air traffic control tower. Special Services Corporation let them see their aircraft maintenance facility and provided a plane for them to look inside the cockpit. Then the Girl Scouts completed a variety of hands-on projects that are required to earn the badge.
The Girl Scouts learned about aviation while making a paper airplane, which they modified as they went, so they could see how adding flaps changes the flight of the plane. They watched a launch of a model rocket. They also made a kite and flew it.
They ended the morning with lunch at the Runway Cafe watching planes take off and land.
"Many pilots discovered their interest in aviation in their youth," stated Joe Frasher, Airport Director of Greenville Downtown Airport. "Our industry is facing a future pilot shortage and we are always looking for ways to inspire youth with the awe of aviation," stated Frasher. "Maybe one of these girl will grow up and fly for Southwest Airlines," Frasher noted.
The mission of the Girl Scouts is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands is a community-based organization serving a current girl membership of more than 12,500 girls and 5,000 adults within 22 counties in central and western South Carolina. Membership is open to all girls, grades K5-12, and to adults, both women and men, who subscribe to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. For more information about this program, please visit http://www.gssc-mm.org/ or contact Lynn Arve, Director, Program Services at larve@gssc-mm.org or 864-770-1410.
Mad Science® is the world’s leading science enrichment provider delivering unique, hands-on science experiences for children that are as entertaining as they are educational. For more information about Mad Science of the Upstate please visit http://www.madscience.org/locations/upstatesc/ or contact Mike Gisman A.K.A. "Molecular Mike" at madsciencesc@yahoo.com or 864-386-9815
Special Services Corporation (SSC) is an aircraft charter, sales, maintenance and parts company which is located at the Greenville Downtown Airport. For more information about SSC please visit www.flyssc.com or contact Steve Wiley at 864-430-3523 or SWiley@SpecialServicesCorp.com
Photo by Jeanette Watkins
David, Cecil Tune (Mint Air), Randy, Darrell Thrift (sport pilot student), Erin, Lydia, Lois Riggs (Teacher)
Elaine Crumpler and granddaughter, Barbara Fuqua, of Roanoke, Virginia
Airwolf Aviation Lands at GMU
Airwolf Aviation, a flight training company, is now located at GMU in the main terminal building. Airwolf Aviation, was founded four years ago by Michele Rash, with Cyndy Hollman as chief flight instructor, and one airplane. Currently, Airwolf has an expanding fleet of eight aircraft, distinctly painted black, five flight instructors and an aircraft sales / purchase assistance representative. The flight school offers training for a long list of pilot licenses and ratings, from Private Pilot through the advanced training required to become an Airline Pilot, Airwolf offers it all. These licenses may be earned through self paced flight training or an accelerated curriculum. Airwolf has already assisted many people inachieving their pilot license and/or ratings. Some are local professionals and some travel from afar for their accelerated flight training program. This bolsters the local economy for they use our hotels, restaurants, rental cars, gas stations, etc.
Airwolf’s customers range in age from ten to eighty six. Airwolf continues to open opportunities to young people through programs including Boy Scouts aviation merit badges, Young Eagle flights, ‘Give Them Wings’ high school student scholarships, youth summer camps and apprenticeships. Involvement with the community is very important to Airwolf as they continue to use flight donations to raise money for organizations such as ‘Meals on Wheels’ and ‘March of Dimes’.
Airwolf Aviation prides itself in having the most professional flight instructors, available to cater to eachstudent’s individual needs. Airwolf is extremely personalized, organized, and dedicated in helping each student achieve their goal. Airwolf is so confident in the quality of professional training a customer receives; it boasts a money back guarantee. Where other flight schools use newly certificated flight instructors whose primary interest is building time in their own log book, Airwolf’s instructors are dedicated professionals whose primary interests are the students and their success to become a safe, competent and confident pilot. Airwolf believes in more than just teaching people to ‘fly’, they believe in teaching people to become ‘pilots’.
Once a person obtains their pilot license, it is important to maintain proficiency while having fun. Airwolf strives to keep local pilots active and proficient by providing exciting weekly events including spot landing contests, cookout fly-ins, air-scavenger hunts, and free educational seminars. Stay informed on their events by going to www.FlyAirwolf.com.
Becoming a pilot is more than just stick and rudder skills, it involves learning about weather, aerodynamics, regulations, psychology, geography and so much more. Airwolf offers introductory flights that allow the customer to fly the aircraft the first time in the air!
Airwolf Aviation hopes to continue to expand opportunities in aviation to all individuals by providing professional flight training by career flight instructors. So the next time you look up and see a black aircraft flying overhead, you will know it’s another Airwolf student pursuing their life-long dream, marking an item off the bucket list or someone building a new career. What are you waiting for? Call Airwolf today to schedule your first flight lesson with a professional flight instructor! 864-224-7440
James Stephens Elected to the
S.C. Aviation Association's Board!
Stephens has a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and an Associates Degree in Aircraft Maintenance. James' professional work experience includes business development, airport management and marketing.
"Promoting aviation means jobs for South Carolina," Stephens said. "When companies visit locations that they are considering relocating to, they usually fly in. For these groups, the "Front Door" to South Carolina is our states' airports," stated Stephens. “South Carolina pilots travel to many states where they see what works and what doesn’t at other airports. They can help insure that our state makes a great first impression by sharing their experiences with SCAA and our airport members,” Stephens said. “Also if pilots and aviation businesses can network with others in the state through the SCAA, then when they need the services of another aviation oriented business, they will be more likely to “buy local”, Stephens said. “Look what ICAR (International Center for Automotive Research) is doing for the automotive industry in South Carolina. Active aviation collaboration would have a real positive effect on our state's industry,” Stephens added.
"The Upstate of South Carolina and the Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) will benefit greatly from James Stephens sitting on the SCAA board," stated Joe Frasher, GMU Airport Director and past SCAA president. “James’ “local” voice will help insure that our region is well represented,” Frasher said.
Elaine Crumpler Celebrated her 103rd Birthday at Runway Cafe
"My mom has lived in the city of Greenville, SC, since 1958," stated Nancy Pavelka, Elaine Crumpler's daughter. "My dad had a store on Main Street called The Dollar Store; it was in the building that currently houses Creative Health. That was before the big dollar chain stores," Pavelka said. "Our whole family would take our dad to the Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) so he could fly 3 or 4 times a year to New York to do his buying for the store," Pavelka noted. "The downtown airport was THE commercial airport for the area before the Greenville Spartanburg Airport (GSP) opened," Pavelka added.
"People may remember the store because my dad would give free fire truck rides to the local kids on the 4th of July and Labor Day," Pavelka mentioned. "That was when most stores were closed on holidays," Pavelka added.
"My mom has always loved the downtown airport and seeing the planes take off and land," according to Pavelka. "We have taken her to the Runway Cafe several times. She loves the planes and also seeing the kids that are there, because they are so excited about seeing the planes too," Pavelka added. "So when we decided to plan my mom's party, it was a natural that we have it at the Runway Cafe," Pavelka exclaimed.
Mrs. Crumpler loves to play the piano and can still play, even though her fingers aren't in as good a shape as they were back when she played the piano to accompany silent movies.
"Her family bought her a T-shirt because she loves the Runway Cafe so much," stated Mike Bliss, Managing Partner of the Runway Cafe. "We took lots of pictures and gave her a big card signed by all of us. She may be our most senior patron and it is so great that she wanted to have her party here with us!" Bliss added.
Elaine Crumpler's party was held on Saturday, July 23rd at the Runway Cafe. Relatives drove in from Aiken, South Carolina; Florence, Kentucky; Lexington, Kentucky , and Roanoke, Virginia. Elaine Crumpler's actual birth date is July 26.
Vintage Biplane Sightseeing Tours Now Offered
in the Upstate
Longtime Greenville resident, Mike Williams, has started the Upstate's only open cockpit sightseeing tour company, Wings over Greenville; which is located at GMU.
Many cities, like Atlanta, are home to companies that offer vintage airplane tours and the Upstate of South Carolina has some spectacular aerial views. Soaring above downtown Greenville, Paris Mountain, Furman University, Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Drive Stadium or The Liberty Bridge in Falls Park is a unique experience in an historic open cockpit biplane.
Wings Over Greenville's tours are given in a restored 1941 Boeing Stearman PT-17 that has a World War II history.
Mike Williams is a commercially rated pilot and over 35 years flying experience, with a special interest in taildraggers and antique aircraft. Mike is a member of the Carolina Soaring Association in Spartanburg, SC and is a skilled aerobatic pilot. For more information about Wings Over Greenville or Mike Williams please visit http://www.wingsovergreenvillesc.com or contact Mike Williams at 11mikew@gmail.com or 864.915.6124. See Scene on 7 story at http://www2.sceneon7.com/entertainment/2011/jun/06/new-aerial-tours-take-over-scene-ar-1935361/
Grandparents Camp Visits
"Our neighborhood is full of grandparents who want to host their grandkids for a week during the summer," stated Gerald Gaige, resident of The Cliffs at Glassy. "So we got together and formed a camp where we have planned activities for our grandkids," Gaige said. "One of the activities took place July 2nd when we took almost 50 people to visit the Greenville Downtown Airport so they could have fun and learn about aviation," Gaige noted.
"The 6 to 15 year old kids come from their parents homes, which are scattered across the U.S., to visit their grandparents and have fun," said Gaige. "Our granddaughter joined us from Houston, TX," Gaige added.
"We hope that the youngsters came away with a healthy base of knowledge about general aviation and a realization of the opportunities available in this industry and its important role in the economy of our state and the country," Gaige stated. "Several companies donated their time and facilities for us and for that I am grateful," Gaige said.
Special Services Corporation, a local air taxi and aircraft management company provided tours of aircraft; Mint Air displayed their light-sport aircraft that they use for flight training and rental; Wings Over Greenville brought their Bi-plane which provides open cockpit sightseeing tours and the control tower let visitors observe aircraft movements, as directed by the air traffic controllers based at the airport. Then the group headed to the Runway Cafe for lunch.
The Cliffs at Glassy is located on the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway and extends 3,500 acres at 3,200 feet above sea level on Glassy Mountain, one of South Carolina’s natural landmarks. For more information please visit www.cliffscommunities.com
Special Services Corporation (SSC) is an aircraft charter, sales, maintenance and parts company which is located at the Greenville Downtown Airport. For more information about SSC please visit www.specialservicescorp.com
Mint Air is an aircraft dealer and flight school specializing in light sport aircraft. For more information please visit www.flymintair.com
Wings Over Greenville is an open cockpit sightseeing tour company. For more information please visit www.wingsovergreenvillesc.com
The Runway Cafe is located at 21 Airport Road Greenville ,SC. For more information please visit www.runwaycafegmu.com
Greenville - Imprints of a City
Coffee Table Book
Southeast Aviation Expo 2012
The 2012 Southeast Aviation Expo will be held on September 28 and 29 at the Greenville Downtown Airport. The event will be hosted by the South Carolina Aviation Association (SCAA) and will showcase the latest aviation products, a static aircraft display and educational sessions.
For more information about the event visit http://www.scaaonline.com/news, call 1 (877) FLY-SCAA (359- 7222) or email Katie@associationsplus.com
New exhibitor for 2012
The list of 2011 exhibitors and sponsors included:
Hot Air Balloon Ground School
A hot air balloon ground school will be held at the Runway Cafe on February 25th and 26th. See: http://www.flyscbc.com/ for more details.
Mark Your Calendars
The South Carolina Breakfast Club will be coming to GMU on Sunday, December 9th. They will come for breakfast at the Runway Cafe, enjoy great fellowship and flying! Pilots & aviation enthusiasts in and near South Carolina have done it every other Sunday since 1938. The club has no dues and no meeting requirements! Breakfast is around $6/plate and is ready about 9 a.m. Fly in or drive to GMU, see a lot of great planes and talk aviation to your hearts content! Pilot or non-pilot, everyone is always welcome. See: http://www.flyscbc.com/ for more details.
Check out
Greenville Business Magazine's March 2012 issue
for contest details!
"Party Down for the Playground" Hangar Party Featuring music by Legends of Beach!
Save the Date! May 24, 2012! Get your tickets today at EventBrite to support the playground at GMU project. See GMU's Park Project page for more details. Follow the park project on Facebook.
Southeastern Bonanza Society Coming to Runway Cafe for Lunch on September 15, 2012
To learn more about this group visit the Southeastern Bonanza Society website.
