Written by: Emma Rodriguez
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Collegedale Airport community stepped up to provide critical relief efforts to Asheville, North Carolina. A group of dedicated pilots, led by Mayor Morty Lloyd, flew several missions, transporting essential supplies to hard-hit areas in North Carolina and Tennessee.
In the initial relief effort on Oct. 1, Lloyd joined Tom Bowen and Alan Robertson in piloting three aircraft into Asheville, which had been greatly affected by the hurricane. The team faced challenging conditions due to fog and low-lying clouds, according to Lloyd. But with the assistance of air traffic control, the pilot successfully navigated the mountains and landed at the Asheville airport.
“[In] a lot of the communities that were affected, there [are] a lot of outlying areas that did not have access.”
Ryan Byford, director of airport operations at the Collegedale Airport, said the pilots had a significant impact on areas devastated by the hurricane.
“[In] a lot of the communities that were affected, there [are] a lot of outlying areas that did not have access,” he said in an interview with the Accent. “Roads were closed; the only way in was through air – helicopters and stuff like that.
“So, what we did is try to expedite some of these deliveries that were collected at The Commons over to those areas where they were off-loaded, put in helicopters and flown to very remote places in western North Carolina,” he continued. “It helped make a very big [difference] for those communities that were less fortunate than we were.”
The Commons served as the collection site for Collegedale’s Disaster Relief Operations, according to a press release from Bridgett Raper, communications strategist for the small cities coalition of Hamilton County.
“The City of Collegedale and the City of East Ridge greatly appreciate the continued efforts and support as they gather supplies for the victims and families impacted by Hurricane Helene,” the press release stated.
In an email to the Accent, Lloyd explained that with countless other aircraft from across the country delivering aid, air traffic controllers worked tirelessly to manage the influx of planes and ensure the safety of all involved.
“The ground controllers held a Delta Air Lines flight in place, so that the cavalcade of general aviation aircraft could taxi to the ramp to unload,” Lloyd stated in the email.. “I was immediately marshaled to a parking spot and shut my plane down.”
“The ground controllers held a Delta Air Lines flight in place, so that the cavalcade of general aviation aircraft could taxi to the ramp to unload.”
Once on the ground, Lloyd was approached by a local crew member of a privately owned helicopter, who was searching for supplies to deliver.
, “I began to list the various items and he said, ‘We’ll take everything that you’ve got. We discovered an isolated community on the top of a mountain that is completely cut off. I can have everything in their hands in 30 minutes,’” Lloyd recalled. “We began to unload my aircraft as quickly as possible and placed everything on his helicopter.,”
(Photo courtesy of Jason Allin)
In the following days, the Collegedale Airport team continued to fly relief missions to North Carolina, focusing on particularly hard-hit areas. With the help of a larger aircraft, they were able to transport significantly more supplies per flight, ensuring that more people could receive the assistance they needed.
“I called Taylor Newman of Crystal Air, who was instrumental in making this happen,” Lloyd stated. “ He helped coordinate and fly five additional flights with a much larger aircraft (a Pilatus PC-12) capable of carrying 2,600 pounds of cargo. I accompanied him on one of those flights into the Avery County airport and was impressed by the logistical operations at that airport. As quickly as aircraft were unloaded, there was a line of trucks and volunteers ready to deliver relief.”
Lloyd expressed immense pride in the Collegedale community for its unwavering support and generosity.
“Ryan Byford, the Collegedale Airport manager, and others helped bring the relief from Tthe Commons and load it onto the aircraft,” he stated. “As quickly as the aircraft was loaded, it went. These flights were made possible through several generous donors who paid for the fuel. It was wonderful to see the difference that the Collegedale Airport made for so many. Because of it, we operated that week with great efficiency and likely saved many lives.”
“It was wonderful to see the difference that the Collegedale Airport made for so many.”
Lloyd said he is proud of the Collegedale community for the way residents responded to the need.
“We led the Chattanooga community in the collection and distribution of needed relief,” he stated. “…I am touched by how many Collegedale residents and fellow community members helped provide 33 tons of goods to make a difference for so many in crisis. It was truly our community responding in love.”
