On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida. Over the next three days, Helene would rip through most of the Southeast, causing extreme and devastating damage and loss throughout much of Southern Appalachia, with Georgia and North Carolina taking on much of the devastation caused by flooding from Helene’s rains. At least 228 people have died as a result of Helene, with thousands of others left without homes and entire towns demolished.
The American spirit began shining immediately after the Helene tore through the Southeast. People from all walks of life have come together to help the people affected by Helene, especially those in Appalachian communities, who have been difficult to reach due to the mountains. That’s where dozens of pilots have stepped in to help.
Since Helene, we have learned of story upon story of pilots and aviation professionals taking to the skies to help the victims of Hurricane Helene, beginning with the story of a young student pilot from Waukee, Iowa, named Nate Fackler, who teamed up with his co-pilot, Connor Young, to gather supplies and fly them out to North Carolina and South Carolina. Fackler is a senior at Waukee Northwest High School and spends his weekends flying. Falker and Young delivered essential supplies including diapers, dog food, water, canned food, and batteries.
One story that’s making headlines is about a Southwest Airlines pilot who volunteered to fly to rescue shelter pets out of Florida and Tennessee. Captain Matt Prebish wasn’t expecting to adopt one of those pets–but a four-month-old kitten named Avery captured his heart once they landed safely in Milwaukee. Prebish adopted Avery and brought her home to live in Texas with Prebish and his other pets, another cat named Smalls, and two labrador retrievers.
Operation Helo is a newly formed group of nearly 100 helicopter pilots who have organized together to help with relief missions in North Carolina. Co-founder Matt McSwain told CNN the group was performing around 400 relief missions each day and has rescued more than 400 people from devastated areas. The group is based out of Hickory Regional Airport in Hickory, North Carolina and has used social media to spread the word about their mission. Read more about Operation Helo and their relief efforts here.
Another group of volunteer pilots known as Operation Airdrop, flying out of Concord-Padgett Regional Airport and Hickory Regional Airport, have also been busy performing similar relief efforts. Operation Airdrop formed in 2017 following Hurricane Harvey and have worked ever since to deliver relief supplies and perform rescue operations in remote disaster-stricken areas.
Members of the Jersey Aero Club have also taken to the skies to drop off supplies. The group has flown all over the South since Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Member David Williamson told New Jersey Spotlight News that general aviation is a big help when it comes to relief efforts in remote areas. “Where roads are closed down and remote areas are inaccessible, there are small airports there. You can’t send a 737 in there to deliver a bunch of stuff or a 747, but a plane like this can get in there and deliver much-needed supplies.”
Mr. Williamson’s statement highlights the importance and life-saving impact that general aviation has on small-town America. Large airports are well known because of their size and abilities to fly out all over the world. But our small and midsized regional and municipal airports are serving the heartbeat of America–the small towns and communities that make up the majority of our country. These pilots and airports are vital not only to the communities and regions they directly support–but also to our entire nation.
The aviation industry as a whole has been a lifeline to areas impacted by the recent hurricanes. We are both grateful and proud to be part of this incredible industry and community. For any pilot helping with relief efforts who may come across this article, we say thank you. Thank you for volunteering your time and being willing to go where no one else could go. The team at Rebel Services sees you and we are grateful.
