When Your Neighbors Are in Need, You Answer the Call
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Hawkeye Helicopter deployed to North Carolina to fly rescue and recovery missions
alongside Operation Airdrop and the Carolina Emergency Response Team.
Entire Communities Were Cut Off Overnight
Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26, 2024, then pushed north into the southern Appalachians. The National Weather Service called the rainfall that followed a once-in-1,000-year event for the region.
- Roads and bridges washed out, isolating entire mountain towns
- Ground crews and ambulances could not reach people who needed help
- Communities lost power, water, and communications for weeks
- The storm claimed more than 100 lives across six states
When roads disappear, aircraft become the only way in.
Hawkeye Flew to North Carolina and Got to Work
Our crews deployed from Kansas to western North Carolina and joined the civilian air relief effort staged out of Hickory Regional Airport, flying rescue and recovery missions into terrain no ground vehicle could reach.
- Partnered with Operation Airdrop, the disaster relief nonprofit founded after Hurricane Harvey in 2017
- Flew alongside the Carolina Emergency Response Team on wellness checks and air evacuations
- Delivered supplies directly to fields, roads, and landing zones in isolated communities
- Fueled by the generosity of Strategic Response Partners, who assisted our crew with a fuel stop
From HeliOps Hurricane Helene Special Edition
Our Helicopter Services Are Built for Your Needs
Every service we offer solves a specific problem quickly, safely, and with zero land damage.
Aerial Construction
Heavy-lift transport and structural placement in remote or restricted terrain. We help reduce site prep requirements and keep construction schedules moving forward.
Aerial Inspection
Systematic aerial monitoring of transmission lines, pipelines, and utility corridors to identify issues and consistently track conditions over time.
Aerial Patrol & Emergency Response
Helicopter patrol for infrastructure networks. We also provide post-storm and emergency assessments when a rapid response is critical.
Precision Longline
Hawkeye crews perform precision heavy-lift and longline work for structure placement, equipment installation, and other specialized aerial construction needs.