Operation Airdrop Brings Rapid Relief In Natural Disasters

Texas-based Operation Airdrop is part of the National Business Aviation Association’s Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) database of individuals and organizations in business aviation that respond to calls for relief mobilization during major natural disasters.

Colton Miller has been a professional pilot since the age of 19 and had known about Operation Airdrop for some time, but delivering relief aid during the recent flooding in central Texas is the first time he’s been able to participate. He flies for a major fractional charter company, and on this occasion he was able to pilot a Beech King Air based at McKinney National Airport (KTKI) owned by his friend Andy Smith.

On July 7, Miller loaded supplies into the King Air and flew to Million Air FBO at Addison Airoprt (KADS) to take on more donated cargo. He then flew to Operation Airdrop’s base at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Burnet Municipal Airport (KBMQ) northeast of Kerrville, Texas. The supplies were loaded onto a truck and driven directly to the people in the flood zone.

Miller said the operation went smoothly, like a “well-oiled machine” and the supplies were quickly loaded, unloaded, then loaded onto trucks going to the impacted area. He was grateful to Million Air for donating personnel and fuel, and also the CAF Highland Lakes Squadron for their assistance with handling the supply cargo. And of course he also acknowledged Smith for his gracious offer to use his airplane for this mission.

Miller said he couldn’t see the damage from Burnet airport, but the devastation was easily visible when flying over Lake Travis. He said there were a lot of airplanes coming and going from Northern Texas to help the victims with relief supplies.

“We’re a tight-knit community in the state. We’re all Texans. We’re all friends. We’re willing to help anytime. It felt like helping family,” said Miller.

FMI:  nbaa.org/ , www.operationairdrop.org/