This phrase is common in the pilot community when someone needs help, especially when aircraft can be part of the solution. After Hurricane Helene made landfall September 26, members of the Carolina Aviators Network (CAN) turned its social media platform into a volunteer clearinghouse.

In the days immediately following the storm, nearly 6,000 national guardsmen from 11 states deployed as part of relief efforts, with the North Carolina National Guard hauling in more than 100,000 pounds of supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency by C-17.

• READ MORE: National Guard Deploys Air Assets in North Carolina Helene Response

The morning after the storm, the CAN Facebook group also exploded with an overwhelming response from its members, eager to volunteer their time and aircraft to help, according to Joel Amick, an organization director at the time. 

With people so willing to volunteer their time and airplanes, they agreed that they needed to do something, and quickly, Amick said. The organization began as a Facebook group in 2021, advertising fly-ins and fly-outs. Today it has more than 7,200 members and is a state-recognized 501(c)(3) corporation in North Carolina and South Carolina.

That “something” turned out to be 1,000 volunteers, including over 300 GA pilots who mobilized and showed up at Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH), which became a major distribution point for supplies to be delivered to the storm-ravaged areas.

According to Erica Zangwill, a 400-hour pilot and CAN president, the organization along with the Hurricane Helene Airlift Relief Facebook group were simultaneously among the first on the scene. 

Airports across North Carolina and South Carolina became collection points.

Supplies were collected at Raleigh Executive Jetport (KTTA), according to Leeanna Tolles, vice president of the organization. Tolles is also vice president of technical operations for an aircraft solutions company and director of maintenance for a Cirrus Service Center—both jobs that require attention to detail. She said she used those skills to help facilitate the relief efforts by air and ground, although the latter was hampered by the lack of roads due to storm damage.

“We had a meeting on [September 30] with several other companies at KTTA, and by [the next day] we were collecting donations from as far away as New Jersey and loading airplanes headed for the mountains, as well as to the larger distribution sites like Statesville,” Tolles said. “Between airplanes and trucks/trailers, we have moved over 100,000 pounds of aid into the mountains. Our collection and dissemination of aid is still continuing as of October 20.”

• READ MORE: Responders Turn to Drones Amid Hurricane Recovery

Vacant hangar space was used for sorting and weighing donations. A wide variety of aircraft were used, including Robinson R44, Eurocopter EC-135, and Bell 47 helicopters. Fixed wing aircraft included a Daher Kodiak, Beechcraft King Air, and Pilatus PC-12, as well as Citation and Vision jets. A Douglas DC-3 and the military variant a Douglas C-47 were used as well as Piper and Cessna trainers, Kitfox and Super Cubs.

The organization worked with airport managers to arrange for hangar space and, in some cases, fuel discounts.

People pitched in wherever they were needed, said Mike Davis, a 4,500-hour pilot with multiple

certificates. Davis said he was surprised by the generosity and compassion of people in general.

“On [October 1] I worked controlling ground traffic through the gate at Statesville,” Davis said. “I took note that we had a car, truck, or SUV passing by me every 10 seconds. I recognized one woman

as she came in. She admitted that it was her third trip. Her car was packed to the roof.

Many people parked their cars by the road after dropping off their donations and went back

inside the hangar to help with the weighing and loading operations.”

Staying ahead of the needs was critical, said Stephen Linson, director of communications for 

CAN and a 430-hour commercially rated pilot. 

“The first 48 hours it was critical to get life-sustainable supplies up to the mountains,” Linson said. “After more information came into play, we found out that medication and life-saving supplies were most important.” 

First Flight

Zangwill said CAN’s  first flight was in the Piper Comanche, carrying 400 pounds of donated supplies to Rutherford County Airport (KFQD) in  North Carolina which was only five minutes away by car from some of the most devastated areas.

“We carried everything from water, baby formula and bottles, to toiletries, first-aid items, dog food, and cleaning products,” she said. 

At the time, powdered baby formula and clean water for mixing it were essential, she said, “along with EpiPens and Benadryl for first responders who were getting stung. The flooding had destroyed yellow jacket in-ground nests, leaving them aggressive.”

In a two-week period, CAN pilots flew 680 flights out of Statesville alone, carrying 34,224 pounds of relief supplies, she said.

The relief flights headed into the mountains of North Carolina required special skills. Low-time pilots or those who didn’t have much experience in the mountains were discouraged from making the flights, or were paired with more experienced pilots. Personal weather minimums were respected. As airlift operations increased, CAN requested that relief pilots have at least 300 flight hours and experience flying in mountainous terrain with a preference for two pilots on board.

• READ MORE: Western North Carolina Air Traffic Up 300 Percent After Hurricane Helene

The airspace and radios were busy. “Air traffic could be chaotic at times, but the air traffic controllers did an excellent job ensuring everyone’s safety,” Zangwill said.

When the aircraft landed, the ground operations team unloaded them quickly, with a goal of getting back into the sky within 15 minutes.

One of the most difficult things for pilots, however, was overflying the hurricane-damaged communities, littered with wrecked homes, roads, and bridges, Zangwill said.

“Flying the airplane took precedence over everything else,” she said. “So even while looking down on the devastation, my thoughts were focused on piloting the aircraft and staying ahead of it, maintaining spatial awareness of terrain and other aircraft. This is also where having two pilots aboard was very helpful.”

While TFRs were put in place in North Carolina for emergency response activities, as well as a survey by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of the affected areas in Raleigh and Asheville, the impact on relief operations was brief and did not cause any major disruptions as supply drops continued near the edges of the TFR, Zangwill said.

The most challenging aspect of the operation was communication. Cell phone service was nonexistent or hit-and-miss as towers became jammed, which became overwhelming as information changed on an hourly basis, she said.

“[However, by day five,] we had transformed into a well-oiled machine,” Zangwill said. “We worked in conjunction with Hurricane Helene Airlift Relief, a Facebook group formed at the onset of the hurricane, to establish an intelligence center of sorts. Volunteers utilized an old-fashioned whiteboard to keep track of supply needs at each airport we were delivering to, along with various other pieces of information they were monitoring and updating.”

Lessons Learned

Pilots who participated in the relief effort say they now have a playbook for future disasters that will help the GA community and ground-based volunteers act quickly to save lives before government agencies and larger organizations have the ability to step in.

“Will disaster relief become part of our focus at CAN? No,” said Zangwill. “But if we can leverage our pilot license and aircraft to assist our neighbors in the event of another disaster, we certainly will.”

Zangwill has advice for other pilots who might want to help after a natural disaster.

“Refrain from photo flights—they only congest the airspace and compromise safety,” she said. “Check NOTAMs and adhere to PPRs, monitor fuel at landing airports (some had fuel shortages), and coordinate with ground contacts to confirm the ongoing need for airlift support. It’s a good problem to have, but we nearly had too much assistance.”

Fundraisers will continue, she said, with efforts now directed toward recovery and rebuilding in those affected regions.

“Additionally, we are hosting a large fly-in toy drive at Woodward Field Airport (KCDN) in  Camden, South Carolina, in a couple weeks to gather toys for families in western North Carolina whose Christmas will be quite different this year,” she said. “We plan to continue our efforts until support is no longer essential.”

The post GA Pilot Group Delivers More Than 100K Pounds of Supplies to Storm-Ravaged North Carolina appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The North Carolina Division of Aviation (NCDA)—working closely with the FAA, U.S. Department of Defense, and FEMA—has created designated flight routes to separate civilian and military aircraft, as well as establishing temporary control towers to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic and reduce congestion.

• READ MORE: Responders Turn to Drones Amid Hurricane Helene Recovery, Milton Preparations

Prior permission is also required (PPR) to land at certain airports. As of Wednesday, PPRs were in place at Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL) and Rutherford County Airport (KFQD). A PPR line has been established, and pilots are requested to call ahead to schedule landing and unloading time. Space on the ramp for aircraft parking and fuel also need to be coordinated.

Pilots are reminded to check the Notice to Air Missions before each flight.

Over the past week, our NCDOT UAS teams have flown 200+ missions, capturing nearly 6,000 images to get crucial updates on the condition of roads, bridges, and infrastructure after #HelenNC.⁰⁰Thank you to our team for their tireless efforts in this important work. pic.twitter.com/bZbGwbcNux

— Division of Aviation (@NCAviation) October 7, 2024

The FAA may issue an Airspace Coordination Area (ACA), which is an advisory about unusual situations or congestion that can impact a flight. For example, there is an ACA in use over western North Carolina to alert pilots to congestion related to military relief efforts.

Pilots delivering supplies need to make sure there is a community-based organization ready to receive them at the airport. The airports are not being used as distribution points. Additionally, pilots should be aware that fuel is limited as many of the roads that the tanker trucks would use to access the airport may be damaged and unusable.

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

NCDA said pilots need to also be aware of Standard-use Army Aircraft Flight Routes (SAAFR) designed to separate civilian from military traffic. These SAAFRs are corridors in the sky and have specific protocols and communication procedures. Check the NOTAMs for details.

In addition, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) can pop up at a moment’s notice to facilitate search and rescue, emergency surveillance and the like. Relief operations, including civilian and volunteer operations, may access the restricted airspace if they are coordinated with emergency responders. Check TFRs frequently here. 

The post Western North Carolina Air Traffic Up 300 Percent After Hurricane Helene appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“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.

The airspace surrounding hurricane-impacted areas in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee is inundated with small airplanes, helicopters, and drones, the FAA said. In western North Carolina, there has been a 300 percent increase in traffic, it estimates.

The National Guard has deployed more than 200 vehicles and aircraft, while general aviation pilots are making supply drops. Officials at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia, said they are coordinating with partners to deploy a World War II-era Douglas C-47 which previously assisted during the Berlin Airlift to ferry donations.

Local charities and other groups have requested further volunteer assistance from pilots.

“The FAA’s goal at all times is to ensure safety and help facilitate this critical work,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement shared with FLYING. “At the request of local authorities or law enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration can issue Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) to ensure safety for aircraft conducting Hurricane Helene rescue and recovery activities.”

These TFRs can be found on the FAA’s website and are constantly being updated, the agency said. Drones and other aircraft can still support disaster relief and recovery efforts within restricted airspace, but civilian and volunteer operations will first need to coordinate with emergency responders.

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL), Hickory Regional Airport (KHKY), and Foothills Regional Airport (KMRN) are “hubs of Helene activity and for general aviation pilots.” Airspace in eastern Tennessee is also congested, the FAA said. It urged pilots to check flight restrictions around those locations specifically.

At Asheville Regional, GA pilots are advised to gain clearance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before attempting to land. The North Carolina Division of Aviation is implementing prior permission required (PPR) at Asheville Regional and Rutherford County Airport (KFQD) and expects to issue PPR at more busy sites throughout the weekend.

The FAA further warned that many airports in the hurricane’s trail do not have a control tower and directed pilots to the rules for Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations. Ramp areas are particularly congested, it said.

State and local authorities may enact their own airspace restrictions. They may also request that the FAA establish an Airspace Coordination Area (ACA), which the agency describes as “a heads up about an unusual situation and/or congestion that pilots should be aware of.” An ACA does not restrict flight—rather, it gives pilots important guidance about the airspace.

FAA personnel are further coordinating airspace at the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center, giving priority access to emergency services.

The FAA advised pilots seeking to deliver supplies to work with community organizations that can advise on local airport capacity. It also suggested pilots tanker fuel through busier airfields in order to reduce fuel demand.

Drone pilots, meanwhile, must fly under Part 107 rules or FAA public aircraft requirements. Crewed aircraft will always have the right of way, and operators should be mindful that mountainous terrain can make it difficult for pilots to see drones in their path.

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The post FAA Warns TFRs in Place for Helene Recovery Effort appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The North Carolina National Guard said it had deployed more than 200 vehicles and aircraft, “including hoist and emergency aviation assets,” along with more than 500 soldiers and airmen in the state.

“NC Air National Guard is hauling over 100,000 pounds of supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a C17 to Western North Carolina as part of Helene support,” it said in a post on X Monday afternoon.

According to the National Guard, some 5,500 national guardsmen have been deployed as part of the Hurricane Helene relief efforts in 11 states.

In areas where roads are impassable, helicopters are being used to airlift in supplies and rescue trapped people. Photographs from the region show people climbing aboard military helicopters carrying bundles of clothing, house pets, and meager belongings they were able to save from the rising waters.

Many of the flood-ravaged areas are only reachable by air as the roads are blocked by flood debris, downed power lines, mud, and flooded-out cars.

NC Air National Guard is hauling over 100,000 pounds of supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a C17 to Western #NorthCarolina as part of #Helene support.

: Maj. Monica Ebert pic.twitter.com/cAY4ndpVKE

— NC National Guard (@NCNationalGuard) September 30, 2024

• READ MORE: Volunteer Owner-Pilots Needed For Helene Relief 

In Asheville, one of the hardest hit areas, officials struggled to provide drinking water, food, and other necessary supplies to the residents of the mountain town where at least 35 people are believed to have died. Communication in the area is spotty at best as internet and phone lines are down.

Operation Airdrop

In North Carolina relief is also coming from civilian organization Operation Airdrop, which as of noon EST Monday had approximately 2,000 volunteers flying civilian aircraft to bring supplies to the area.

The nonprofit organization was created in 2017 to help in times of disaster.

Early Monday morning, Operation Airdrop flights began launching from Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (KJQF), transporting supplies to Hickory Regional Airport (KHKY) and Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH), where they will be further distributed. Pilots are encouraged to bring supplies with them. Pilots operating out of KJQF will receive a 75 cent per gallon discount on fuel purchased from the FBO.

At this time, Operation Airdrop is accepting the following items for disbursement:

• Sports drinks (powdered packets)
• Hydration packs (powder form)
• Baby wipes
• Diapers (children and adults)
• Baby formula
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Plastic utensils
• Manual can openers
• Trash bags (13 gallon or contractor bags)
• Nonperishable foods
• Cleaning supplies
• Plastic sheeting/tarps
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Toiletries/sanitation items
• Pet food (dog and cat)
• Hand sanitizer
• Sanitizer wipes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Heavy duty work gloves
• Socks (all sizes, unopened)

The organization cannot accept donations of water due to the weight or hazardous substances including fuel, flammable items, used clothing, or bleach.

Operation Airdrop notes that volunteers are essential to the mission as they are needed for organizing, unloading, sorting, and loading supplies.

Relief operations are expected to last throughout the week. 

Meanwhile in south Georgia, the community of Valdosta and Wings of Rescue are asking for help to move dogs and cats from the city’s animal shelters prior to the storm to safety. Many of the animals were placed in the shelters by their owners who were facing flooding. 

Ryan Spellman, Director of Operations at Airdrop, Discusses Helene Efforts: 

The post National Guard Deploys Air Assets in North Carolina Helene Response appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Operation Airdrop has established a base at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (KJQF) in North Carolina and is inviting owner-pilots to volunteer to operate supply flights to the storm-ravaged area. Pilots without their own aircraft and ground volunteers are also welcome to apply.

Most roads remain impassable and whole towns have been virtually obliterated by the massive storm.

“Flight operations will begin on Monday, September 30, 2024,” the group said in a Facebook post. “We’re calling on volunteer pilots to get ready to deploy! Multiple destinations are set, with Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL) being our largest, and other locations (with and without airport access) that are in need.”

Volunteers will get a 75-cent-a-gallon discount on fuel at the Concord FBO. Details for pilot participation can be found on the organization’s website.

Ryan Spellman, Director of Operations at Airdrop, Discusses Helene Efforts: 

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post Volunteer Owner-Pilots Needed for Helene Relief appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The National Hurricane Center warned that Helene would likely bring heavy rainfall and “devastating hurricane-force winds” inland to north Florida and Georgia on Friday.

A spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine Tyndall’s 95th Fighter Squadron relocated its F-35s to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada ahead of the storm warnings, noting that they will remain safe there until conditions improve at Tyndall. Meanwhile, officials at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia also evacuated its HH-60 combat rescue helicopters and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets to ensure their safety.

According to reports, Tyndall is still undergoing reconstruction due to damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018, which tore apart hangars and damaged several F-22 Raptors, causing some $5 billion in damage. Fortunately, Tyndall officials do not anticipate major disruptions from Helene.

Tyndall remains closed to non-mission-essential staff.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post Tyndall Air Force Base Evacuates Aircraft Ahead of Storm appeared first on FLYING Magazine.