HICKORY— Aviation played a critical role in North Carolina's unprecedented response to Hurricane Helene.
Now, officials are studying the aerial response to determine what successes should be used again and the ways the state can better prepare for the future.
Officials with the N.C. Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation, general aviation airports and others discussed the response during the Helene After Action Workshop Friday at the Hickory Regional Airport.
“The success of our response to Hurricane Helene was built on collaboration, resourcefulness, and a shared commitment to serving our communities," said Becca Gallas, director of NCDOT Division of Aviation. “This workshop allowed us to acknowledge those successes, but more importantly, it helps us prepare for future challenges by building on what we've learned."
Officials discussed aviation's extraordinary response to Helene with millions of pounds of supplies moved by air and hundreds of people saved via helicopter search and rescue. Air traffic increased between 300 percent and 3,400 percent at different airports in Western North Carolina.
Over 11,000 images were gathered during more than 310 flights flown by drones, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft from NCDOT's Division of Aviation and Photogrammetry Unit, the National Guard and the Civil Air Patrol. The images gathered in many areas helped inform the response and direct resources to places that sustained so much damage they could not be reached by land.
Staff from general aviation airports statewide, including those from the eastern parts of North Carolina, traveled west to support airport operations and response efforts. This collaboration was essential in managing the unprecedented volume of aircraft operating in Western North Carolina. Their efforts included deploying safety strategies, monitoring aircraft fuel, managing takeoffs, landings, and ground movements, and coordinating with community-based organizations to distribute critical supplies efficiently.
The workshop participants came from almost all the general aviation airports who assisted during the response. They included staff members from Rutherford County Airport, Lincoln County Airport, Hickory Regional Airport, Concord-Padgett Airport, Foothills Regional Airport, Statesville Airport, Jackson County Airport, Kinston Regional Jetport, Avery Airport, Raleigh Executive Jetport, Wilkes County Airport, Harnett Regional Airport, Gastonia Municipal Airport, NC State Institute for Transportation Research and Education and the NCDOT Division of Aviation.
Officials also used the workshop to discuss areas that could be enhanced to be better prepared. Those included power and communication enhancements, enhanced coordination across impacted airports, and a handbook of best practices to share with airports and stakeholders for future events.
“The Hurricane Helene After Action Workshop exemplifies the aviation community's dedication to continuous improvement and resilience." Said Gallas, “It serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when individuals and organizations come together for a common purpose."