“While helicopters are invaluable for their range and payload capabilities, drones complement these assets by offering quicker, more cost-effective deployment,” Skydio, one of the largest U.S. drone manufacturers, told FLYING. “Their ability to operate in challenging conditions—including wind and rain—and their capacity for remote operation from anywhere via a web browser enhances the overall safety and efficiency of the response efforts, ensuring broader and more flexible coverage.”

Since shuttering its consumer drone business to focus on selling to enterprise and public safety customers last year, Skydio has assisted operators with plenty of disaster response and recovery efforts. Even before then, the company said it provided assistance following Hurricane Ian in 2022.

“Skydio team members—many of whom live in the communities their customers serve—closely monitor developing situations such as these, proactively deploying resources to impacted areas and supporting on the ground and in real time,” the company said.

In the wake of Helene, Skydio customers are deploying drones for search and rescue, overwatch, and damage assessment. Since the storm damaged many bridges in the most affected areas, for example, customers are using drone inspections to create digital twins, helping them assess safety and accelerate the repair process.

The company said it surged available personnel, remote connectivity systems, and its X10 and X10D drone models—equipped with spotlight attachments—to regions most in need, including the Florida Panhandle and western North Carolina.

Skydio has been working with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for and respond to Helene, including the city of Tampa, Punta Gorda Police Department, and Southern Company.

Southern Company, an electric and gas utility provider, enlisted Skydio drones to perform damage assessments with “unprecedented speed and efficiency,” per Jonathan Tinch, an uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) pilot and safety coordinator for the company.

The aircraft collected high-resolution images and real-time video of the damage, transmitting them to a command center. There, they were analyzed by experts who directed ground crews to the areas most in need of repair.

“As a result, we were able to restore power to our customers more quickly than ever before,” said Tinch.

As another major hurricane approaches, Skydio said it will offer further support.

“After what we saw in Asheville and the impact of drones there, we have doubled our efforts to support agencies responding to Milton,” Skydio told FLYING. “We have a team of people holed up in an Airbnb in northern Florida poised to be on the ground in the Tampa area the minute the storm clears and it is safe to travel.”

Also assisting with post-Helene recovery efforts are pilots, engineers, and scientists from Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.

Raspet, backed by Project JUSTICE—a program within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate designed to learn about uncrewed systems by sending them on real-world missions—is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) with a massive UAS called Teros.

Built by Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation, Teros has a 44-foot wingspan and can remain aloft for 20 hours, allowing it to perform long-duration missions. Raspet deployed to Georgia on September 29 to assess post-hurricane flooding.

“Once a hurricane has passed over an inland area, the water it leaves behind is constantly moving, and that movement can be difficult to predict, especially in places where trees and other barriers might obscure water from satellite imagery,” said Jamie Dyer, a geosciences professor at Mississippi State and associate director of the university’s Northern Gulf Institute (NGI).

NGI experts tracked Helene through the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Using Teros’ sensors and cameras, they collected real-time data and visuals on the movement of floodwaters, beaming it to federal entities like FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“UAS allow us to see in better detail where water is going and which areas will be impacted by flooding, which is vital information to have during a crisis event,” said Dyer. “Additionally, the data we collect will improve the river forecasting models that local, state and federal officials rely on.”

State officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation have also deployed drones to survey roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, flying more than 200 missions in the past week alone.

Over at NOAA, meanwhile, “hurricane hunters” are flying a pair of Lockheed WP-3Ds and a Gulfstream IV-SP—affectionately nicknamed “Kermit,” “Miss Piggy,” and “Gonzo”—directly into the eye of Hurricane Milton. Some of these missions will deploy Blackswift S0 UAS to measure temperature, pressure, wind, and humidity, which can help predict a storm’s path.

The FAA advises individual drone users or hobbyists to be mindful of temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in place around hurricane-affected regions. Pilots who neglect to coordinate with local emergency services could inadvertently hinder their efforts, so noncommercial operators should exercise caution.

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The post Responders Turn to Drones Amid Hurricane Recovery appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to the agency, the Joint Crisis Action Team at the FAA Command Center oversees and coordinates planning before a storm hits as well during the aftermath and cleanup.

• READ MORE: Hurricane Milton Triggers Florida Airport Closures

The responsibility includes helping prioritize activities in the affected airspace and getting the needed resources to the areas hit hardest.

This was demonstrated recently following Hurricane Helene, when roads and bridges were damaged and left impassable by debris, leaving air travel as the only option to get needed emergency help to devastated areas in parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

When it becomes likely that a storm will strike FAA facilities, the agency covers equipment inside buildings to protect it in the event the roof or windows leak or are torn away. Airport surveillance radar antennas are also disabled to allow them to spin freely to minimize storm damage to the internal motors.

• READ MORE: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

The agency said that long-range traffic radars and FAA control towers built in prone areas are designed to sustain hurricane-force winds. When the winds reach this level, controllers are evacuated from the tower to a shelter in a lower level of the building. The agency said they stay on duty and return to the tower as soon as a storm passes and it is determined safe to do so.

The FAA has backup generators and fuel for them standing by in case they are needed in the event of commercial power outages. These generators are tested prior to a storm arrival. In addition, the agency has teams of technicians staged just outside the eye of the storm and ready to make necessary repairs to get services restored as soon as possible.

• READ MORE: Military Evacuates Aircraft Ahead of Hurricane Milton Landfall

After a storm has passed, the FAA Command Center works with both federal and state authorities to facilitate relief efforts and coordinate temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) to keep pilots apprised of the situation.

The post Here’s How the FAA Prepares Year-Round for Hurricanes appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

On Tuesday morning, the storm was gaining strength as it moved over the state’s Gulf coast. It was expected to make landfall as a Category 3 storm.

“On the forecast track, the center of Idalia is forecast to move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico [Tuesday], reach the Gulf coast of Florida within the Hurricane warning area on Wednesday, and move close to the Carolina coastline on Thursday,” the National Hurricane Center said in a statement Tuesday morning.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “there is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along portions of the Florida Gulf coast, including the Tampa Bay and Big Bend region of Florida which may see water as high as 8 to 12 feet above ground level.

Tuesday morning, the FAA said it was rerouting aircraft, closing Gulf routes, and also considering pausing flights at Palm Beach International (KBPI), Miami International (KMIA), and Fort Lauderdale International (KFLL) airports.

The FAA is re-routing aircraft and closing Gulf routes as Hurricane #Idalia is expected to hit the Florida region Wednesday morning. We may pause flights in and out of @flyPBI, @iflymia and @FLLFlyer to keep you safe. Monitor https://t.co/smgdqJNBiL. #FAAWeatherSquad pic.twitter.com/xkwSDMsuGy

— The FAA (@FAANews) August 29, 2023

As of Monday night, approximately 500 flights in and out of Tampa International Airport (KTPA) were preemptively canceled, CNN reported. By Tuesday, cancellations continued at several airports, resulting in a domino effect across the nation’s air travel grid. More cancellations are possible.

According to the storm models under review by NOAA, the agency that tracks hurricanes, Category 3 storms carry winds greater than 80 mph. 

As of 11 a.m. EDT, a look at the TAFs for the state shows multiple airports with strong winds from the south with gusts forecast to approach 50 mph.

Time is running out to prepare for Idalia! Follow the urgent advice from local officials. This hurricane could very well join the extensive list of storms starting with the letter I that have been especially destructive. pic.twitter.com/GjryWUCnl1

— NWS Director (@NWSDirector) August 29, 2023

The post Flights Scrapped as Florida Braces for Hurricane Idalia appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Precisely at 1:47 a.m., the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket engines ignited and powered the 322-foot vehicle off Launch Pad 39B. No issues were encountered despite some pre-launch concerns regarding a fueling leak that temporarily put the launch on hold. Crews remedied the issue and the countdown resumed as planned. Unlike previous launch attempts in recent months, weather conditions remained clear.

We are going.

For the first time, the @NASA_SLS rocket and @NASA_Orion fly together. #Artemis I begins a new chapter in human lunar exploration. pic.twitter.com/vmC64Qgft9

— NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2022

Hurricane Nicole, which brought a powerful storm surge and high winds to Florida last week, did not cause significant damage to the vehicle, according to NASA teams. A piece of caulking near the Orion crew capsule did peel off during the storm, The Associated Press reported. During a press briefing Monday afternoon, NASA officials reiterated that this 10-foot section near a seam on the spacecraft was not something that necessitated a delay or a scrubbed launch.

• READ MORE: NASA’s Space Launch System Explained

During launch preparations, the NASA team discussed the replacement of a component tied to an electrical connector on the hydrogen tail service mast umbilical ground-side plate. Engineers opted to swap the piece after noticing inconsistent data reported via that connector— even after replacing a cable earlier in the week. When asked if this issue could affect the launch, managers expressed confidence that it would not, because the rocket has several redundant data sources to convey this information.

My first launch, definitely won't be the last #GoArtemis pic.twitter.com/3SMxJjwmHw

— Jeremy Kariuki (@TheAfrikid) November 16, 2022

Orion’s Lunar Itinerary

During the 25-day mission now underway, Orion will travel 1.3 million miles to (and around) the moon before returning home on December 11. Penetrating the Earth’s atmosphere at 24,500 mph, or Mach 32, the planned reentry will heat the spacecraft to temperatures never-before endured by human-rated spacecraft. 

The unmanned ship will splash down off the coast of Baja, California. While no humans are onboard, two high-tech mannequins will have the distinction of being the first passengers for this lunar ride.   

Orion’s trip to the moon is powered by its Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, or ICPS. Once there, the spacecraft has a lot on its lunar “to-do” list. During its moon orbit phase, the craft will fly 62 miles above the surface for six days before heading back to Earth.

This launch comprises just part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon by 2025. Establishing a long-term presence on the moon is a stepping stone to eventually sending astronauts to Mars. For now, NASA is enjoying a well-deserved pat on the back. 

“What an incredible sight to see NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft launch together for the first time,” said NASA administrator Bill Nelson. “This uncrewed flight test will push Orion to the limits in the rigors of deep space, helping us prepare for human exploration on the moon and, ultimately, Mars.”

The post Liftoff: NASA’s Artemis I Launches Into Space, History appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Artemis program has been delayed for months after NASA waived off launch attempts following mechanical issues and weather concerns.

Monday, after a weather forecast indicated conditions were 90 percent favorable for launch, final preparations were made, and Artemis I managers gave a “go” toward launch. A two-hour launch window was established, beginning at 1:04 a.m. EST November 16. 

Tuesday afternoon, propellants were loaded into the SLS rocket, and tanking operations began, loading liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

For the first time in five decades, a spacecraft designed for humans is headed to the moon.

• READ MORE: NASA’s Space Launch System Explained

Those in Florida have a chance of seeing the launch “for a brief minute,” Jim Free, NASA’s associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development, said on social media.

This first mission of NASA’s larger Artemis Program is nothing short of historic. The initial flights are aimed at not only returning humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, but landing crews will include the first woman astronaut and person of color. 

Artemis was conceived to create a pathway toward long term exploration of the moon and Mars. If successful, Artemis could be laying the groundwork for humans to someday become an interplanetary species, establishing a colony and living on Mars. 

Although the first mission hasn’t yet launched, NASA is already focusing on future lunar landing locations. Last week, the agency revealed 13 possible touchdown sites for Artemis III, near the moon’s South Pole. 

Watch NASA’s live coverage of the launch:

Thom Patterson contributed.

The post NASA Shoots for the Moon in Predawn Launch of Artemis I appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

For residents of Sanibel Island, Florida, there’s only one way in and one way out of town: the Sanibel Causeway bridge. 

But when Hurricane Ian devastated the state in late September and early October, that lone access point was destroyed. Thousands of people were left stranded on the island, with access to the mainland limited to the occasional helicopter or barge delivering supplies.

Last Wednesday, the causeway reopened to residents with temporary repairs. But the key word there is temporary. Work to repair the damage is still ongoing, and residents, businesses and private contractors can only use the bridge between Wednesday and Sunday at limited hours.

However, a trio of drone delivery companies are filling in the gaps. 

Zing Drone Solutions, based locally in St. Petersburg, last week partnered with Los Angeles-based A2Z Drone Delivery and San Rafael, California-based Skyway to deliver on-demand meals from the World Central Kitchen to residents on the island. The mission ran over the weekend and concluded Monday.

“Hearing about people stranded on the island with limited access to resources made us realize there is an opportunity for our companies to help out by providing an expedited drone delivery service,” Ian Annase, CEO of Zing, told Modern Shipper.

Almost immediately, Annase reached out to A2Z and Skyway to begin preparations. The A2Z team quickly shipped its drone from California and flew to Zing’s headquarters to run tests. The following week, Skyway arrived on nearby Pine Island to monitor the airspace.

• READ MORE: Operation Airdrop Ferries Supplies to Hurricane-Ravaged Florida Island

“There are a lot of pieces that are required to make a drone delivery operation successful,” Annase said. “Scoping out the area with the A2Z team the weekend prior and performing some test deliveries helped us identify what we needed. We brought our solar-powered generators to power all computers and air traffic monitoring devices because there was no power on the launch or landing sides.”

Zing facilitated the deliveries, opening a phone line that customers could call to reserve a meal and confirm a pickup time. Meals were then prepared by World Central Kitchen at a site on nearby Pine Island.

From there, drones equipped with A2Z’s second-generation rapid delivery system (RDS2) picked them up and carried them across the water to a central drop-off point at 1177 Causeway Blvd. About a dozen deliveries were completed during the operation.

The RDS2, launched in August, is a winch-and-tether system that can be retrofitted to other drones (including nondelivery drones) and carry up to 22 pounds. That means that unlike most small delivery drones, aircraft with A2Z’s RDS2 can carry multiple meals at a time.

The system is also designed with safety and privacy in mind. Using a winch and tether, the RDS2 makes deliveries from about 100 feet up, keeping the aircraft far from people and other hazards.

“With debris, dangling power lines, etc. possibly cluttering delivery locations, it was important for the team to be able to drop off those payloads from altitude in order to keep spinning propellers away from potential snags,” Aaron Zhang, CEO of A2Z, told Modern Shipper.

A2Z also produces its own drone, the RDST, that can fly up to 9 miles round trip. It’s billed as an “off-the-shelf” solution that is compatible with any retailer’s packaging, so long as it fits within the aircraft’s cargo hold.

Although conditions on Sanibel Island have improved in recent weeks, the missions conducted by Zing, A2Z, and Skyway are demonstrating how drones can be part of the connective tissue of the last mile.

In addition to heavy traffic on the causeway, Sanibel residents are also contending with a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. EDT curfew and 20 mph speed limits across the island. For many, that’s essentially eliminated the ability to get food on demand unless it’s coming from down the street. 

But with delivery drones adding an extra layer of transportation, damaged roads can’t sever a customer’s proximity to restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops.

• READ MORE: Humanitarian Operations in Ukraine Prompt Drone Design Tweaks for Draganfly

“We learned a lot from the operation and proved that drone delivery can be deployed in disaster areas to assist relief efforts, especially to barrier islands that can only be reached by water or air,” Annase said.

Even in normal circumstances, drones could help islanders avoid the heavy congestion that often comes with living in a place with one or two access roads. Rather than take the 40-minute round trip journey to get their favorite food from the mainland, Sanibel residents could instead get it delivered via drone in a fraction of the time.

That goes for other hard-to-reach places too. For example, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, a Native American reservation and long-standing drone testing partner of the Federal Aviation Administration, is using drones to provide better access to amenities like food and health care.

For years, drones have been used to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief in places like sub-Saharan Africa. Now Floridians have gotten a firsthand look at what they can do.

“Ian [Annase] and the team he pulled together for this hurricane relief effort put a lot of hard work into making this mission happen,” Zhang said. “I can’t say enough about how quickly they all jumped to the ready to try to provide some assistance in the wake of the hurricane. We were proud of the way this diverse group of volunteers came together on short notice to make these deliveries a reality.”

For more coverage on drone delivery logistics, go to Freightwaves.com.

The post Drones Deliver Meals to Hurricane-Impacted Floridians appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The bridge that connects Pine Island to Fort Myers was heavily damaged by the storm, making the island only accessible by boat or aircraft. The island is southwest Florida’s largest island measuring 17 miles long and 2 miles wide.

This week, the community turned out bringing much-needed supplies to the Naples Airport.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community, which itself is still recovering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Ian,” said Naples Airport Authority executive director Chris Rozansky. “In one day the community came together and collected over 15 pallets of critically needed food, water, cleaning supplies, and more for the people of Pine Island.”

Because of the tremendous response, the decision was made to take the supplies to the island by boat rather than aircraft. The Cajun Navy, an informal group of private boat owners who volunteer to assist in disaster relief efforts, will deliver the supplies.

At the height of the hurricane, the runway at Naples Airport resembled a lake. The airport has a field elevation of 8 feet msl, and the storm surge caused damage to the airport signage and lighting system. When the water receded, airport crews immediately started repairs to allow the facility to reopen at least on a limited basis.

According to airnav.com, there are 352 aircraft based at the field. It is not known how many were there when the storm hit, or if there was any damage to them or to airport buildings.

Naples Municipal Airport covers 732 acres, and is home to flight schools, air charter operators, car rental agencies, and corporate aviation and non-aviation businesses. The airport is also a central location for public services, including fire/rescue, mosquito control, and the Collier County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit. The airport has three runways: 5/23, measuring 6,600 feet by 150 feet, Runway 14/32, measuring 5,000 feet by 100 feet, and a turf runway designated SW/NE, measuring 1,850 feet by 100 feet.

According to flynaples.com, “The airport also prides itself on being the hub of emergency staging during natural disasters, like hurricanes and tornadoes, for first responders, lighting, and power crews.”

The airport is self-sustaining, as all funds used for the airport’s operation, maintenance, and improvements are generated from activities at the airport or federal and state grants from aviation-related user fees. The Florida Department of Transportation values the airport’s annual economic impact to the community at more than $440 million. For more information, or to subscribe to email updates from the airport, visit www.FlyNaples.com.

The post Operation Airdrop Ferries Supplies to Hurricane-Ravaged Florida Island appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

When there is a hurricane or severe weather of any sort, aviation weather websites get a work out.

If you are watching the weather, trying to determine the path of the storm, this national weather report, which can be accessed in just a few keystrokes, may be a helpful resource. 

How To Get It

1. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides an interactive weather map on its Aviation Weather Center, which may be found here.

Unlike other aviation weather sites, you do not need an account or a password to access this information. It is an excellent supplemental weather tool for pilots, and a valuable site for anyone who wants to check the weather on a global level.

2. Under “Aviation Weather Overview” at the top of the page, click on TAFs (terminal area forecasts). Move down the screen to the line that states: “Manually Select TAF Data.” In this box type @ and then the two letter postal code for the state you are looking for. For example, if you want to see what Hurricane Ian is doing to South Carolina, type: “@SC.”
3. Select the “Include METAR” box, then click on “Get TAF data” and voila! You have the information for all the airports in that state that have reporting weather.

Raw or Decoded

Pilots are required to learn how to read the weather reports in raw format. It’s how the reports appear on knowledge exams. Using the “Decode” function just makes it easier to understand them, if you are not familiar with the FAA’s acronyms.

If you have a copy of the FAR/AIM, you will find Chapter 7 of the AIM has a page I love to call “The Secret Decoder Ring,” because it translates the abbreviations that sometimes don’t make much sense—seriously, who came up with BR (“baby rain”) for mist? (Actually, it is an abbreviation for the French word for mist, brume.)

If you decide to go the raw-data route, remember the reports begin with the airport identifier—and you may have to look those up. For example, KACE is Columbia Metro Airport in South Carolina. 

In the decoded format, the name and location of the airport are included.

Next, the date and time of report issuance (and in the case of a TAF, when the report is valid), followed by the direction the wind is blowing and the velocity. The letter G means “gust” here. If you see PK WND, that is the “peak wind” recorded.

The acronym PRSFR means “pressure falling rapidly,” which typically means a storm is approaching rapidly.

A METAR at an airport is the “what is happening now” part of a weather report. METAR stands for “meteorological aerodrome reports” and usually provides hourly updates of weather within 5 nm/6 sm of an airport.

If the METAR has the acronym SPECI in front of it, that means the weather is changing rapidly and a special report has been issued to reflect that.

The post Weather Check: How To Plan Your Route Around Severe Weather appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The airport, along with most of the city, was flooded by storm surge when Hurricane Ian came ashore Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, dragging boats inland and washing away homes and cars. The control tower resumed operation Friday morning, however, the airport is currently open from dawn to dusk only due to damage to airport signage and the lighting system. Access to hangars is also limited.

Civilian pilots wishing to land at Naples need to obtain prior permission by calling 239-564-1692.

Repair crews scrambled to get the airport, which has a field elevation of 8 feet msl, reopened so that emergency helicopters could come in to assist with relief operations. 

According to Airnav.com, there are 352 aircraft based at the field. It is not known how many were there when the storm hit or if there was any damage to them or to airport buildings and infrastructure.

Damage Beyond the Airport

Naples Airport staff used all available equipment, including fire trucks, front-end loaders, and sweepers to clear debris from the runways, taxiways, and ramps in order to facilitate emergency and first responder flights.

The city of Naples, which has an elevation of approximately 3 feet above sea level, is known for its luxurious waterfront homes and constructed canals and lakes.

HURRICANE IAN: Firefighters in Naples, Florida removed equipment from their firetruck as floodwaters poured into the station. Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida’s west coast this afternoon.https://t.co/K0VItAbhJ4 pic.twitter.com/9bb2WtxBxr

— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) September 29, 2022

There have been multiple water rescues and attempts to mitigate damage. The national media has shared videos of buildings being swept away by flood waters, power poles being toppled by the storm and transformers exploding. It is estimated that some 2.5 million people in the state are without power. Local law enforcement reports that Coast Guard helicopters are rescuing people trapped by floodwaters.

Naples Municipal Airport covers 732 acres, and is home to flight schools, air charter operators, car rental agencies, and corporate aviation and non-aviation businesses. The airport is also a central location for public services, including fire/rescue, mosquito control, and the Collier County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit. The airport has three runways: 5/23, measuring 6,600 feet by 150 feet, Runway 14/32, measuring 5,000 feet by 100 feet, and a turf runway designated SW/NE, measuring 1,850 feet by 100 feet.

According to FlyNaples.com, “The airport also prides itself on being the hub of emergency staging during natural disasters, like hurricanes and tornadoes, for first responders, lighting, and power crews.”

The airport is self-sustaining, as all funds used for the airport’s operation, maintenance and improvements are generated from activities at the airport or federal and state grants from aviation-related user fees. The Florida Department of Transportation values the airport’s annual economic impact to the community at more than $440 million. For more information or to subscribe to email updates from the airport, visit www.FlyNaples.com.

The post Naples Airport Reopens to Civilian Traffic appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

While the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area has been spared the very worst of Ian, the sprawling sub-tropical metropolis has nevertheless felt its strength in the form of intense rain bands spreading out for nearly 200 miles from the hurricane’s center.

Aviation Experiences Ian’s Sting

Southeast Florida is a general aviation hub for the U.S. and the Caribbean. This vital industry was heavily impacted Tuesday night when strong thunderstorm cells spawned tornadoes in the Miami-Dade and Broward County area. Aside from residential impacts, Broward County’s GA community was particularly hard hit, with a tornado touching down at North Perry Airport (KHWO).

Breaking: Photos coming in from North Perry Airport in Hollywood, where a possible Tornado touched down. @NWSMiami pic.twitter.com/rhfbfPWWMw

— Total Traffic Miami (@TotalTrafficMIA) September 28, 2022

North Perry is a high-traffic GA airfield usually buzzing with flight training activity and banner towing operations. KHWO has four FBOs, 148 T-hangars, and more than 40 aviation businesses. It’s also home to Broward College’s aviation facility. 

Damage Is Spotty But Substantial

Reports have come in of at least 30 airplanes damaged, mainly on the north side of the field, although the south side was not spared. Aerial Banners Inc. offers aerial advertising nationwide and has one of its bases at North Perry. At least one of its Piper Pawnee banner-towing airplanes was damaged during the tornado’s touchdown. ABC News affiliate’s WPLG’s video report showed at least one of Wayman Aviation Cessna 172s damaged with its wing partially detached. In addition to aircraft, the report indicated that several hangars were also damaged.

Broward County Mayor Michael Udine visited the airport, which will be closed until further notice, as officials assess the damage.

Sarasota’s Airport Feels The Brunt of The Storm

Tuesday night’s damage at North Perry Airport occurred well before the hurricane made landfall the following afternoon. These rainband-produced tornadoes were just a hint of what other parts of the state were about to experience.

On Wednesday at 3:05 pm, Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, on Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. It packed a wallop producing 150 miles per hour winds and a storm surge over 7 feet high in nearby communities before coming ashore. As a result, initial assessments indicated substantial damage to the infrastructure, and airports were again affected.

Tampa Bay 10 reported damage at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, including a section of the roof’s membrane and many of the terminal’s ceiling tiles falling.

Fox 13 spoke with Rick Piccolo, the airport’s president and CEO, about the pre-storm preparations and water damage resulting from the roof damage. According to Piccolo, the section of the detached roof membrane measures about 100 ft. X 100 ft and damage to the terminal was contained to a specific area near the Sun Country Airlines check-in counters. He and other operational team members spent the night at the airport covering computers and other vital equipment with plastic sheeting before the eyewall arrived. Clean-up efforts are already underway.

Back at North Perry Airport, a post-storm assessment revealed the level of collateral damage. WPLG Local 10 and WSVN 7 News spoke to local pilots who came to see the aftermath, which appeared to be random in some areas of the airfield. Aviation Safety Network posted a list of aircraft damaged at the airport.

Flying Into Ian 

Even experienced weather observers were caught off guard with the intensity of the storm as evidenced by some video and supplied by NOAA Hurricane Hunter crews flying into IAN’s fury. 

When I say this was the roughest flight of my career so far, I mean it. I have never seen the bunks come out like that. There was coffee everywhere. I have never felt such lateral motion.

Aboard Kermit (#NOAA42) this morning into Hurricane #Ian. Please stay safe out there. https://t.co/DQwqBwAE6v pic.twitter.com/gvV7WUJ6aS

— Tropical Nick Underwood (@TheAstroNick) September 28, 2022

The post South Florida Airport Ravaged by Hurricane Ian. An Accounting of the Damage appeared first on FLYING Magazine.