GA Pilots and Volunteers Drive Rescue Missions Behind the Scenes

Ever since Hurricane Helene tore through America's east coast, general aviation pilots have stepped up to direct relief efforts. Near Asheville, North Carolina, the community has set up a temporary helipad in a Harley-Davidson parking lot to gather donations.

Volunteers steering this private effort have logged upwards of a million pounds of food, machinery, medical equipment, blankets, tents, and other goods that have been flown in from all over the state.

“This is a long-term effort. And we've given our word to the community that we will stay and support them as long as it takes for them to get back on their feet,” stated Adam Smith. He played a large role in organizing the makeshift mission. “The mission is to get the local economy up and running again, make sure the community and residents of western North Carolina are taken care of, and to remind them on a regular basis that they haven't been forgotten.”

Despite the hurricane already being a month old, many parts of North Carolina are still inaccessible by car. Trees, powerlines, and fallen rocks are blocking streets -- if there’s even a street left to block. 96 deaths have already been counted in the state including seven being just down the road from Gerton, where the relief efforts are being hosted.

Others have picked up on the so-called “Redneck Air Force” operation, earning it a visit from Former President Donald Trump and a little extra assistance from the National Guard. Even the FAA has left the group to do its thing, awarding it an emergency designation as an approved landing zone.

Many of the volunteers are being forced to maintain an ‘act first, apologize later’ mindset, seeing as several of their impromptu operations violate local regulations. Luckily, law enforcement is letting most of it slide below the radar under the current circumstances.

"I do not have time to defend what the government is doing. They are doing a lot of hard, dangerous work,” expressed Amy Berry, who oversees goods piles at a nearby church. “We're a lot smaller, but they are our neighbors... We are going to respond faster because we are the ones standing in the water, in the mud. We are the ones seeing our friends float away.”

FMI: www.ncdhhs.gov