Hurricane Helene was one of the most dramatically destructive hurricanes in American history, wreaking havoc, especially in the Appalachian region of North Carolina. By this time, we’ve all viewed the horrifying images and videos of towns wiped out, highways decimated, and families stranded in remote mountainous areas with no way in or out by road.
While federal and state help was on the way, this was general aviation’s time to shine. Within hours of the storm’s abatement, volunteer organizations from Operation AirDrop, AeroBridge, Angel Flight, and Pilot N Paws jumped into action, mobilizing volunteer pilots to deliver supplies and resources to those in life-or-death situations. And that was no small task, given the damage to infrastructure, limited or no cell reception, and what some described at times as a chaotic situation.
As vice chairman and member of the board of Angel Flight Central, I have an acute understanding of how important general aviation is to helping those in need. While our day-in, day-out mission is to help people with limited financial means access life-saving medical care, we often collaborate coast-to-coast with sister organizations to offer resources and that of our volunteer pilots to assist in natural disasters such as this.
Shortly after Helene struck, Air Care Alliance, an umbrella organization representing public benefit flying groups nationwide, sent out some helpful tips for pilots interested in flying disaster relief missions. ACA member PALS SkyHope originally developed these guidelines following their 2017 response to Hurricane Harvey. I thought it would be helpful to share them with the wider Twin & Turbine audience.
Don’t go it alone — Coordinate with a disaster relief flight charity — Airspace and airports are often congested after a disaster. In addition, information changes by the hour. Coordinating with a disaster relief flight charity can ensure that resources are being maximized to save lives and help people.
Operate with two pilots — The details surrounding a disaster relief flight can be challenging. The last thing anyone wants is for a disaster relief mission to become an emergency itself. Operate with two pilots to manage the workload.
Stay on top of NOTAMS and TFRs — Check them regularly and again prior to departure for every flight. They can be enforced at any time. While ForeFlight and other flight planning tools display these products, it would be wise to get information directly from the source: https://tfr.faa.gov. You can check national airspace system status by going here: https://nasstatus.faa.gov. My suggestion: bookmark them both and make them part of your normal pre-flight brief.
Experience is essential during a disaster — Abnormal conditions during relief efforts call for experienced pilots who are instrument-rated and current.
Operate aircraft with traffic avoidance systems — Radar and flight following may or may not be available in the disaster area. In addition, flight operations will likely be very high volume, including private and government aircraft. Additionally, helicopters are often operating in disaster areas, causing additional air traffic.
Do not depend on fuel in disaster areas — Often, fuel supplies have not been replenished or are in short supply. If fuel is available, there may be long waits to receive it, or cash may be required to pay.
Prepare for potential mechanical problems ahead of time — Resources to help fix flat tires or fix aircraft discrepancies will likely not be available. Consider adding a spare tire and other necessary items for common mechanical issues. You do not want to get stuck in the disaster area due to an aircraft mechanical.
Do not load and drop supplies without checking in with a relief flight charity — Dropping supplies on the ramp of a disaster area airport complicates the relief effort and can hinder ground operations. Please coordinate with the relief flight charities for any supply or volunteer needs. If you are flying supplies for a charity flight organization, use proper weighing equipment and prepare manifests.
Avoid unnecessary flights — If you are flying for curiosity’s sake, don’t. Many needs need to be met after a disaster, and adding another aircraft operation can use valuable time and resources needed for other flights.
Prepare for uncertain ground circumstances — Disaster areas are constantly changing. You may arrive at an airport under military control. You may have to deal with security issues on the ground. There may be evacuees at the airport asking for transportation. Be prepared.
Recognize the end of a mission — One of the most important things a community can do after a disaster is resume normal economic operations. An abundance of donated supplies or donated flights can disrupt normal local commerce.
In addition to those great tips, I’d like to add a few comments regarding the role of social media. One of the greatest benefits of social media is the ability to quickly communicate with a large group of people and share photos and videos that tell the story better than words could. It was through Facebook that I learned about and donated to several rescue efforts, including “Fuel Helicopters to Save NC Mountain Communities,” which utilized GA helicopters to airdrop essential aid to mountain communities.
The flipside is that social media is equally effective at spreading rumors and misinformed advice. Unless you personally know the source and talked to them directly, the best thing you can do is verify, verify, verify. Also, one more thing: don’t be that guy or gal who flies into a disaster area airport with a roll of toilet paper so that you can take a “hero” selfie for Facebook fame. Sign up or coordinate with an organization to see where your time, talent, and airplane can help.
In disaster situations such as Helene, GA is truly the unsung hero. Hearing about our aviation brethren flying helicopter missions into remote mountains and corporate jets loaded with food, clothing, extension cords, and diapers, as well as making multiple trips into North Carolina, helped counterbalance the distressing stories broadcast on repeat on every channel. These unnamed and little-celebrated pilots came without delay, did their job admirably, and went home without fanfare.
As an active member of Angel Flight Central, I can promise you that there is no flying that is more rewarding. If you’re curious about charitable flying, and I hope you are, go to aircarealliance.org and click on the “directory of groups” to get started. I’ve never met a pilot who said they regretted becoming a volunteer pilot.
