Daher Joins Private Aircraft Owners in Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

Daher Aircraft joined a number of private aircraft owners and operators to fly relief support missions in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Extraordinary relief support was provided by Daher Aircraft and the owners/operators of its TBM and Kodiak airplanes in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Details of the relief efforts were detailed this week at the 2024 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It showcased just how the private and general aviation sector can make a crucial difference in disaster response.

Private Aviation Support Missions

The company launched an urgent repair mission for a damaged North Carolina Forest Service Kodiak 100 at Asheville Regional Airport. At the same time it also coordinating relief supply deliveries.

In parallel, numerous Kodiak and TBM private owners conducted a series of independent missions. They were involved in transporting essential supplies, emergency personnel, and evacuating displaced animals from hurricane-affected areas.

“Our aviation community once again stepped up during a crisis, while proving our company’s ability to respond swiftly when customers face emergencies,” said Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert during a press conference at NBAA-BACE.

“The combined efforts of our corporate resources and private owners highlight the vital role business aviation plays in disaster relief.”

Forest Service Aircraft Damage

The Forest Service’s Kodiak 100 was critically damaged by a business jet’s exhaust blast at Asheville Regional Airport. It received immediate attention from Daher’s specialized Kodiak Care support team. The company’s Sandpoint, Idaho facility provided crucial backup for the complex repair operation.

The Forest Service hired Daher to replace both elevators on the aircraft’s horizontal tail after mechanics determined irreparable damage.

This particular aircraft served a vital role in assessing Hurricane Helene’s impact and coordinating recovery efforts from the airport. This had become a central staging area for multi-agency relief operations.

Daher’s Sandpoint team worked through the weekend to manufacture new elevators. The company deployed their Kodiak 900 demonstrator aircraft to deliver these components to North Carolina. It carried equipment, along with necessary tools and two experienced support technicians.

The situation became more complex when technicians discovered additional rudder control damage during repairs.

A dedicated Kodiak Care mechanic personally delivered a crucial bearing, working late Sunday to retrieve it from Sandpoint. They then took a red-eye flight from Spokane to Asheville.

Transport of Critical Supplies & Aid

The busy conditions at Asheville’s airport necessitated nightly relocation of the Kodiak 900 and crew to Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem. Upon learning about relief supply collections there, the team utilized their aircraft to transport 2,000 pounds of critical aid, distributed between Asheville and Rutherfordton.

Private owners played an equally vital role in the relief effort. Indiana-based Kodiak 100 owner Mike Speedy conducted multiple missions to airports throughout the Carolinas.

His aircraft carried diverse cargo including canned goods, hygiene products, pet food, and medical supplies.

One notable flight included transporting an emergency medical technician to Statesville, where medical assistance was urgently needed.

Eric Walden’s Little Hawk Logistics, operating two TBM 900s from Charlottsville, West Virginia, focused particularly on animal rescue operations while maintaining supply deliveries.

In partnership with the non-profit organization “Green Dogs Unleashed,” Walden’s team transported 1,000 pounds of pet food and successfully relocated numerous cats and kittens to safe foster homes.

“Flying these missions was incredibly rewarding,” Walden reflected. “The TBM’s capabilities proved essential for success. We could reach affected areas quickly and carry significant loads while operating from smaller airports closer to where help was needed most.”

Summary

The combined efforts of Daher Aircraft and its aircraft owners after Hurricane Helene exemplify how business and general aviation can rapidly mobilize to provide crucial support during natural disasters.

The successful integration of corporate resources with private owner initiatives created an effective response network. It delivered both technical expertise and humanitarian aid when and where it was most critical.