VALDOSTA — There are 104 publicly owned, public-use airports — nine commercial service and 95 general-aviation airports — in Georgia. Airports are significant to the state’s economic infrastructure and essential to transportation of goods and people. A single airport can support various diversified industries such as technology, manufacturing, distribution, agriculture and tourism.

“Out of 104 airports in Georgia, Valdosta Regional Airport is one of nine commercial airline service airports in the state and has the distinction of being classified as a Level III airport which means Valdosta is an airport of national and regional significance,” said Jim Galloway, Valdosta Regional Airport executive director and manager.

It is for these reasons alone that the Valdosta Regional Airport is so influential to the economic climate in Valdosta and surrounding areas.

On Dec. 15, 1941, the city of Valdosta leased 602.4 acres of land to the U.S. government. From 1942 to 1943, Valdosta Municipal Airport was constructed as an auxiliary to Moody Field with the assistance of federal grant funds. On Dec. 18, 1946, the government’s leasehold interest was declared surplus. On June 3, 1947, the leasehold interest was surrendered and transferred to the city. The airport became public.

Valdosta Regional Airport is now owned and operated by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority. It has three runways and is equipped with a precision instrument landing system, an air-traffic control tower, aircraft rescue and firefighting station and can accommodate nearly all commercial, military or general-aviation aircraft.

The local economic impact of the airport is significant, according to an independent study of the Valdosta Regional Airport conducted by CDM Smith. The airport provides the community with a total of 260 jobs — jobs measure the number of full-time equivalent jobs related to direct airport activity, including on-airport construction impacts while part-time employee count as one half of a full-time employee. This equates to a total payroll of $7.8 million and a total economic output of $25.1 million. The airport employs about 50 full-time and 50 part-time employees.

Many area businesses rely on the airport to transport staff, customers, goods and materials into and out of the region. Some of these businesses include Martin’s Famous Pastry Shop out of Thomasville and even various medical institutions in town. Galloway said medical professionals from South Carolina fly in every Wednesday morning. The airport also has strong activity in medical transport and transloading as doctors and medical supplies are flown in and out of the region.

The independent study outlined other area businesses such as Adventure Transportation Services, Langdale Industries and Georgia Air South that also rely on the airport. Military and law-enforcement agencies use the airport for training and search-and-rescue operations. Local real-estate companies use the airport to perform aerial photography and real-estate tours. Valdosta State University’s sports teams utilize the airport to travel to games and events. The largest employer in the region, Moody Air Force Base, supports nearly 5,500 military and civilian personnel and provides an annual economic impact of nearly $450 million. Valdosta Regional Airport is important to the units at Moody as it serves tactical-training exercises and as a training drop zone for pararescuemen.

“The airport is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year for aircrafts to utilize,” said Galloway.

In today’s fast-paced world, surviving the competitive nature of today’s industries means speed and timeliness are top priorities as they directly correlate to cost.

“Airports enable air transportation which dramatically reduces time involved in travel,” said Galloway.

For example, the typical distance one can drive in a day takes one hour in a jet aircraft.

“Whether traveling for business or pleasure, a person’s time is worth something and can only be used one time,” said Galloway. “Less time spent getting to one’s destination equates to more productivity.”

It is apparent that the community thrives off the presence of the airport, but the airport also serves as a key feature that will help bring Valdosta into the forefront of economic growth and dominance.

“A mile of roadway will get you a mile. A mile of runway will get you anywhere in the world,” reads Galloway’s email tagline.

Airports provide an outreach that moves people, goods and equipment contributing to the global economy. Not having an industry-friendly airport can inhibit local growth and become the single reason a business doesn’t locate in a community.

In a video by the Georgia Department of Transportation that correlates with the 2011 statewide aviation economic impact study, Carol L. Comer, director of DOT intermodel programs, said airports are a key community feature in industries determining a location.

“Adequate airport facilities may not be the only reason that a company would choose to locate somewhere, but often times it can be the single reason that they choose not to locate somewhere,” said Comer.

The video provides an example of this philosophy with the town of Thomaston. Years ago in a three- to four-year period, Thomaston lost about 6,000 textile jobs.

“We were looking for ways to attract new jobs,” said George Hightower Jr., Thomaston-Upson County Airport Authority chairman.

Two industries showed interest in locating in Thomaston but the airport did not have an appropriate runway. The airport authority worked with the state and the Federal Aviation Administration to improve the runway and airport. The new facility opened in 1994. First one new industry came. After the airport upgraded again to become an all-weather airport, a second industry located.

“Now it’s our county’s largest employer and, without the airport, we wouldn’t have either of those facilities,” said Hightower.

Airports and, in particular, the Valdosta Regional Airport, connect citizens and businesses to the rest of the state, the nation and the global economy. Though the airport has already made significant strides, it continues to grow and fly Valdosta to the top.