The South Carolina Forestry Commission requested committee authorization to acquire two fixed‑wing aircraft to replace aging aircraft in its fleet, which the commission said range from about 46 to 60 years old.

State Forester Scott Phillips told the committee the commission historically relied on the federal excess property program but that market prices for replacement aircraft had risen since funds were first appropriated. The item presented that the original appropriation under Proviso 118.19(b)(40) for fiscal year 2022–2023 was $425,000, and the commission requested an additional $1,000,000 in FY24 carryforward funds to facilitate the purchase of two aircraft.

The agency said replacement airframes under consideration were likely Cessna 182T turboprops with low hours and that used examples 3–10 years old were being seen in the market in the mid‑six‑hundreds of thousands per aircraft; the commission proposed a budget buffer to secure appropriate airframes. The commission described multiple mission uses for the planes, including wildland fire detection and suppression, storm damage and insect/disease assessment, forest health management, training, and support for other state agencies.

Questions from committee members focused on the price increase and timing: a member asked why the agency did not act sooner after funds were appropriated; the agency responded that national inflation and rising aircraft pricing had increased costs before the agency completed due diligence and exercised acquisition authority. The committee approved the request by unanimous consent during the meeting.

What the committee approved: Committee minutes show the item “stands approved” following discussion; no roll‑call vote was recorded in the transcript.