The Virginian-Pilot 
                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996             TAG: 9610050377
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA  
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:   55 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** A story about regional airports Saturday incorrectly listed the number of jobs generated by the traffic at the facilities as the number of employees at the airports. Correction published Tuesday, October 8, 1996 on page B3 of the North Carolina Edition of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. ***************************************************************** STUDY: DARE AIRPORT IS FLYING HIGH IN 1994-95, IT PROVIDED JOBS FOR 282 PEOPLE AND HELPED LEAD TO $14 MILLION IN SPENDING.

One of 10 small airports in the central coastal plain of North Carolina, Dare County Regional Airport is a thriving and productive asset to the region, according to a recent study by the state Department of Aviation.

The report, ``The Economic Impact of Publicly Owned Airports in North Carolina,'' showed that the Manteo airport employed 282 people, brought in $5,508 in tax revenue and generated $6,008,665 in earnings during fiscal year 1995-96.

In addition, the facility stimulated $14,047,835 in spending.

``By having a nice airport and doing what we do here, it makes a difference,'' said Tim Gaylord, the airport's manager. ``It's the little things that add to the economy.''

The $217,000 study of the state's 74 public airports began in May 1995 and was completed in June. The Federal Aviation Administration paid for 90 percent of the study's costs, and the state Department of Transportation paid for the rest.

The report rated Dare County as the fourth-largest general aviation, noncommercial airport in the state, based on expenditures, employment and visitors. Johnston County topped the list, with Wilkes County and Industrial Air Center next in line.

In a meeting held Friday to announce the survey results, state and local airport representatives also said traffic control for the Dare County Regional Airport soon will be based in Norfolk rather than Washington, D.C.

Gaylord said flight safety will be improved because controllers in Norfolk are more familiar with the Dare airport. Blind spots in radar coverage from the Washington center will be eliminated in Norfolk's air traffic control. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PUBLICLY OWNED AIRPORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Source: Source N.C. Department of Aviation

[For complete copy, see microfilm]

KEYWORDS: NORTH CAROLINA AIRPORT by CNB