Beaufort Executive Aviation Flies High in the Lowcountry

Not far from the Carolina Lowcountry fishing dock where a cherished movie staged the launch of Forrest Gump’s fortuitously successful shrimping business, sits an aviation gateway to a special destination, Beaufort Executive Airport (KARW), or as locals fondly call the airport, Frogmore Intranational.

With sprawling tidal marshes, superlative fishing, sought-after golf courses, stately antebellum homes and streets framed by supple Live Oaks, Beaufort Executive Airport and the Lowcountry seduce visitors like Forrest Gump lured shrimp.

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always got,” remarks Brandon Chavis, Airport Supervisor for Beaufort Executive Airport, a Phillips 66® branded fixed-base operator (FBO). “It’s a quote borrowed from one of America’s most famous disrupters, Henry Ford.”

“Some people live by certain things,” Chavis explains. “I keep that quote in the back of my head. And you know what? It works.”

Setting the Standard for FBO Customer Service

Beaufort Executive Airport consistently earns high praise from pilots and visitors alike on the aviation customer-review platforms that pilots rely on when researching airports, fuel options, and FBO services. Users frequently highlight the friendly and professional staff, who go out of their way to make every visit pleasant, welcoming, and efficient.

It’s Chavis’ own homespun business philosophy, not Henry Ford’s motivational line, that’s driving so many customers to post five-star reviews of Beaufort Executive Airport.

“I tell my linemen, don’t watch the clock; do what it does, keep moving,” Chavis says. “I don’t care how good your customer service is. We work on it every day. We try to be better every day. It’s all about customer service and safety.”

Pilots also appreciate the helpful ground support provided by the FBO team, which not only handles aircraft servicing and fueling but also assists with logistical needs such as arranging ground transportation and local hotel accommodations.

These personable touches, combined with competitive fuel pricing and convenient services like tie-downs, hangar access, conference room availability, and modern terminal amenities, contribute to exceptional customer satisfaction and strong loyalty from the general aviation community.

Built on Service, Soaring with Success

And the airport has kept moving. In recent years, the terminal was renovated, its 3,434-foot runway received a $1 million upgrade, and the airport just began construction on two additional sets of T-hangars. “The demand for T-hangars is unreal,” exclaims Chavis.

Flight traffic continues to rise, as sightseers, nature enthusiasts and history buffs, plus a healthy share of pro golfers and celebrities are lured to the Lowcountry’s charisma and the airport’s customer service.

“One thing about this place is we have a great line of local restaurants, like you're literally sitting on the marsh eating seafood within a mile of this airport,” says Chavis. “There are so many options. I get a lot of traffic of people just flying in because they want to come eat.”

Airport customers seeking Lowcountry delicacies often come with a side of Southern hospitality, as Chavis is known for using his personal vehicles to drive hungry patrons to lunch.

Fueling Passion for Aviation and Community

One of Beaufort’s biggest events is its decades-old Annual Beaufort Water Festival, a 10-day celebration in July that features an airshow over the waterfront. Beaufort Executive Airport hosts the airshow pilots and their unique, high-performance aircraft.

This past year, the airport invited the community to a meet-and-greet with the pilots, while giving VIP treatment to abused and neglected children served by CAPA Beaufort (Child Abuse Prevention Association) and its local shelter.

“While packing up, one of the pilots said he loves performing in air shows, but nothing beats being face-to-face with the kids and explaining how airplanes work, what they do, and letting them take pictures,” recalls Chavis. “It gives a kid, be they five or 15, the idea that aviation is something they could grow up to do as a job, whether as a mechanic, a pilot or whatever it may be.”

Not only is the Beaufort Water Festival an event to look forward to, the airport also hosts a unique event each spring, the Flying Frog 5K – living up to its fun nickname, Frogmore Intranational. This even benefits Operation Patriots FOB, an organization dedicated to veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and their families, and its work in combating military veteran suicide. The course is on the airport’s runways, a rare setting for running enthusiasts.

For 2026, the airport is taking the Flying Frog 5K a leap forward by hosting its first annual FrogFest, featuring bands, vendors and food trucks. The idea is to strengthen community connections with the airport and general aviation, explains Chavis.

“We’re saying, ‘Hey, we’re here, this is your airport, look what you have,’” Chavis says. “What a lot of people don’t realize is the economic impact that these smaller airports have on their counties is monumental.”

In the Business of Building Trust

Being a longtime member of the Phillips 66â branded FBO network is something Chavis credits with enhancing the airport’s success. Phillips 66’s quality control, brand perception and reliable fuel supply all help Beaufort Executive Airport better serve customers, explains Chavis.

“In my 10 years of being in aviation, I can’t tell you how many pilots will not get fuel if they do not see a Phillips 66 sign, and that’s the truth,” he says. “Being branded with Phillips 66 is a revenue enhancer.”

Surrounded by the timelessness of tidal marshes nurturing bountiful shrimp, sandy beaches framed by Bald Cypress and swamp Tupelo, and a small town charmed by Live Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss, Beaufort Executive Airport could easily rest on the region’s laurels. Instead, it’s not doing what it’s always done.

“We're always upgrading, we're always trying to do better, do more,” Chavis says. “It’s about making the airport the best it can be, and providing the best service it can to local citizens, visiting pilots, anybody coming in.”

For more about Beaufort Executive Airport, visit here.