Since the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station opened in 1940, Elizabeth City has been in the business of flight. A variety of businesses contribute to the area’s aviation industry, which has become the backbone of Elizabeth City’s economy.

U.S. Coast Guard Commands

Officially opened as a seaplane base, the Air Station was the first of the five Coast Guard commands in Elizabeth City. The unit's missions include search and rescue, law enforcement, marine environmental protection, the International Ice Patrol and operative flights for other federal, state and local agencies. The Elizabeth City Air Station is one of the busiest air stations in the Coast Guard; on any single day, aircrews may travel to Greenland, the Azores or the Caribbean.

Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Aviation Research and Development Commerce Park

The new $13 million Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Aviation Research and Development Commerce Park will open in phases over the next few years and is expected to be a big draw for aviation and aerospace companies. Upon completion, the park will connect the 7,200-square-foot runway shared by the Coast Guard and the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport.

Coast Guard Support Companies and Suppliers

Many businesses in Elizabeth City help to keep the Coast Guard Air Station going. For example, DRS Technologies specializes in repairing C-130s for the Coast Guard. The company operates two aircraft modification, repair and overhaul facilities, each more than 100,000 square feet in size. With more than 300 employees and growing, DRS is one of Elizabeth City's top employers.

For more than 30 years, TCOM LP has been committed to quality airship manufacturing, assembly, flight testing and training. TCOM LP is currently in the process of building a $3 million, 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will double its workforce in Elizabeth City to more than 100. The new facility will be used to produce the mooring systems for aerostats, helium-filled balloons used for surveillance, as well as to develop and test the aerostats for communications used during emergencies.

VectorCSP is a small business with headquarters in Elizabeth City. Ranked 74th in Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in America, VectorCSP was created by experts in the fields of logistics, workforce performance, training, engineering, aviation management and information technology. Launched in 2002, the company handles training and logistics solutions for the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security.