Duplin County Airport Welcomes N.C. Forest Service Eastern Aviation Hub

The Duplin County Airport Commission and Duplin County Economic Development Commission welcomed the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) Eastern Aviation Hub to the county today (Feb. 24) with a ribbon-cutting on a new $7 million hangar complex the NCFS will occupy at Duplin County Airport in Kenansville. 

“We are delighted for this new facility to be located here in Duplin County. This is additional evidence that our Duplin County Airport is a great asset not only to our county but to all of Eastern North Carolina,” said N.C. District 4 Rep. Jimmy Dixon.

“This new hangar positions our Forest Service Aviation Program for the future, and this beautiful facility sets us up to continue serving North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “It’s important for us to have the space and resources to manage and protect our state’s forestland and as commissioner of agriculture, I can say I’m excited about this new home for some of the Forest Service’s aviation resources.”

The NCFS Eastern Aviation Hub provides forest fire detection and suppression service across the state, including larger areas like national forests, national parks and military installations. The NCFS also assists with forest management, pest control and water quality programs as well as emergency and land management activities.

The NCFS relocated its eastern hub and aviation staff of 10 from Kinston to the new modern complex at Duplin County Airport, which includes two hangars, office space, other infrastructure built to meet the agency’s needs. Duplin County Airport managed the construction project with state funding administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation.