Western North Carolina Air Traffic Up 300 Percent After Hurricane Helene

Temporary control towers have been established in storm-affected areas of the state, as well as flight routes created to separate civilian and military aircraft.

Wednesday, October 09, 2024 at 03:47 PM ET

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The North Carolina Division of Aviation—working closely with the FAA, U.S. Department of Defense, and FEMA—has established temporary control towers to facilitate the smooth flow of air traffic and reduce congestion. [Courtesy: North Carolina Division of Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Western North Carolina is experiencing a 300% increase in air traffic delivering supplies after Hurricane Helene, prompting aviation officials to establish designated flight routes and temporary control towers to manage congestion.
Pilots are required to obtain Prior Permission (PPR) for landing at key airports, coordinate logistics for unloading and parking, and ensure community-based organizations are present to receive supplies, as airports are not acting as distribution points and fuel is limited.
All pilots must frequently check NOTAMs, Airspace Coordination Areas (ACAs), Standard-use Army Aircraft Flight Routes (SAAFRs), and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) to navigate the increased traffic and relief operations safely.

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Western North Carolina is experiencing a 300 percent increase in air traffic as aircraft continue to deliver supplies to the storm-ravaged communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, according to the state’s aviation officials.

The North Carolina Division of Aviation (NCDA)—working closely with the FAA, U.S. Department of Defense, and FEMA—has created designated flight routes to separate civilian and military aircraft, as well as establishing temporary control towers to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic and reduce congestion.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.