Updated January 12, 2021 12:57 p.m. EST By Abbey Slattery, WRAL Digital Solutions This article was written for our sponsor, Raleigh Executive Jetport. North Carolina's public airports contribute $52 billion to the state's economy every year, according to the state Department of Transportation, and in the process support 307,000 jobs, $12.6 billion in personal income and $2.2 billion in state and local tax revenues. In short, aviation is an underrated pillar in the state's economy. While major hubs like Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte bring in plenty of commercial traffic, regional airports like Raleigh Executive Jetport are opening the door for smaller counties to get in on the action.