Aerospace

The Charleston region delivers a deep, job-ready talent pipeline designed to meet the precision, scale, and reliability demands of aerospace manufacturing. Education and training providers across the region work in direct partnership with industry to prepare graduates for complex production environments and compliance-driven operations, allowing companies to hire with confidence and grow without disruption.

• Charleston Southern University offers a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics, preparing graduates for leadership and management roles in aerospace manufacturing and aviation operations.
• Trident Technical College supports hands-on workforce development through its Aeronautical Studies Division offering programs in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Avionics Maintenance Technology, and Aircraft Assembly Technology, producing technicians ready to contribute immediately.
• The C. Aeronautical Training Center trains thousands of students annually through advanced manufacturing and engineering programs developed in collaboration with aerospace employers. Its $80 million, 218,000-square-foot facility, opened in 2019, provides modern lab and production training environments aligned with industry standards.
• Employers also benefit from readySC, a division of the SC Technical College System that provides customized recruiting and workforce training for new or expanding companies, at no cost. In FY24, readySC trained more than 5,500 skilled workers for 97 companies, helping reduce ramp-up time and operational risk.

Together, these institutions provide aerospace manufacturers with a coordinated, scalable workforce system designed to support production growth, operational excellence, and long-term competitiveness.

Home to more than 40 aerospace and aviation–related companies, the Charleston region is anchored by global leaders and strengthened by a concentrated network of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. Together, these companies create a production environment built for scale, precision, and long-term partnership.

Boeing’s local manufacturing complex produces the 787 Dreamliner and employs more than 9,000 people across three campuses. Since establishing operations in 2009, Boeing has invested $2.8 billion in the Charleston region. In 2025, the company launched a major expansion, committing more than $1 billion to infrastructure improvements and planning to add over 1,000 jobs during the next five years.

Surrounding final assembly is a robust network of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers that benefit from close proximity, integrated logistics, and strong regional support.

• Safran provides landing and braking systems, propulsion components, wiring, electronics, and engineering services for the 787 and has operated near the Boeing facility since its initial launch.
• Eaton, a global power management company serving commercial and military aircraft, announced a $46 million expansion in 2025 that will create 50 new jobs, reinforcing continued investment in the region’s aerospace cluster.
• Additional aerospace manufacturers including Parker, TIGHITCO, Venture AeroBearings, and others have established operations in the region, and contribute specialized capabilities in advanced components, systems, and materials, further strengthening the Charleston region’s position as a globally competitive aerospace production center.

The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness is a statewide, cross-sector network that brings public, private, academic, and nonprofit leaders together to support South Carolina’s aerospace assets while strengthening long-term competitiveness.

Through the Council’s SC Aerospace Partners, members gain access to candid, closed-door conversations with industry executives and researchers who influence key decisions across the aerospace ecosystem. Partners also engage with education leaders who are shaping the curricula that will prepare the next-generation workforce for tomorrow’s aerospace and advanced manufacturing needs. In addition, members are invited to private briefings, events, and working meetings that help guide and align the direction of the South Carolina aerospace cluster.

The Council also leads research studies that equip policymakers and industry stakeholders with actionable intelligence, providing clearer visibility of emerging threats and strategic opportunities to help in-state and out-of-state aerospace manufacturers and suppliers make smarter decisions.