GA steps up to provide relief in Helene aftermath

With storm-affected areas cut off by flooding and road closures, air transport has become an important part of the recovery effort. Private aircraft have the advantage of immediate availability and access to smaller airports that are closer to the people who need help.  

“I am so proud of general aviation,” said Morty Lloyd, major gifts officer for the AOPA Foundation. Lloyd led a flight of three aircraft carrying supplies into Asheville, North Carolina, one of the hardest-hit locations. The airport was abuzz with private aircraft to the point where controllers had airliners holding short to make way for them, he said. “There was such a sense of urgency and purpose. No one was walking on the ramp. Everyone was running.”

GA groups organized numerous relief flights to the hurricane-ravaged area, including Operation Airdrop and Aerobridge, which encouraged aircraft owners and pilots to volunteer their services. The National Business Aviation Association invited business aircraft operators to register for possible dispatches in the NBAA Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator database. GA can have a positive impact during emergencies when people are isolated and cut off from traditional lines of supply and assistance.

Aerobridge said that within the first two days of recovery operations in the Asheville area, its pilots flew 76 missions, delivering more than 21,000 pounds of supplies. The group staged shipments of donated supplies at Statesville Regional Airport, where they were loaded into aircraft and flown to Rutherford County/Marchman Field, Ashe County, Mountain Air, Elk River, and Avery County/Morrison Field airports. Aerobridge said two groups, Hands of Hope and a local church, distributed the goods on the ground in Asheville.

“Aerobridge is bridging the critical gap between disaster occurrence and the establishment of ground-based logistics,” said Marianne Stevenson, cofounder of Aerobridge. “Our volunteer pilots, aircraft owners and ground crews have stepped up to ensure life-saving supplies reach those affected as quickly as possible, and the impact we’ve made in just 48 hours speaks to their dedication.”

Aerobridge said it continues to welcome the assistance of volunteer pilots and ground crewmembers. Those interested in helping can visit the group’s website to sign up.

Operation Airdrop, which specializes in the aerial delivery of supplies, said it began conducting flights from Concord-Padgett Regional Airport to deliver goods to airports in Statesville and Hickory for distribution. The group is still seeking volunteers for loading, unloading, and sorting as well as flying. Its focus now is on coordinating supply drops to isolated areas using helicopters.

Pilots interested in volunteering can find a range of information on the Operation Airdrop website, from pilot deployment briefings and supply lists to donation links.