Operating Near Hurricane Recovery Efforts
Recovery efforts in the aftermath of a hurricane can be immense and require close coordination at both the federal and the state levels. The airspace around the recovery efforts have high levels of aviation activity, including small airplanes, helicopters, and drones. The FAA’s goal at all times is to ensure safety and help facilitate this critical work.
TFRs do not ban aircraft, including drones, from providing disaster relief
At the request of local authorities or law enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration can issue Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) to ensure safety for aircraft conducting Hurricane rescue and recovery activities. These TFRs do not ban aircraft, including drones, from providing disaster relief and recovery assistance. State and local authorities may also enact local restrictions. Relief operations, including civilian and volunteer operations, may access the restricted airspace if they are coordinated with emergency responders. In a dynamic and quickly evolving environment like this, TFRs are constantly shifting and you can find the latest online here: https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html
An ACA does not restrict airspace, but provides pilots important guidance
Additionally, at the request of a state government, the FAA will issue an Airspace Coordination Area (ACA), which is an advisory for very specific circumstances—a heads up about an unusual situation and/or congestion that pilots should be aware of. An ACA does not restrict airspace, but provides pilots important guidance. You can find the latest online here: https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html#/.
A local airport may implement Prior Permission Required (PPR) to manage air traffic, ensure safety and control access to their airport. These airports are not closed; however, pilots and operators must get permission to have full use of the runway or airport facility.
- As conditions permit, an increasing number of response flights, ranging from search and rescue to law enforcement to critical infrastructure and insurance damage assessment missions, will be operating over the areas most impacted by Hurricane Milton. These flights are crucial to the effort to save lives, and to mitigate and recover from damage to Florida’s infrastructure, as well as private property.
- The FAA works to ensure these air operations are not hampered. The FAA is actively working with the Florida State and local authorities, and FEMA and other Federal partners to ensure the safety of flights that support efforts to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
- The FAA is establishing, as needed by the responders and to maintain the safety of aviation operations, Airspace Coordination Areas (ACA) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). All pilots are strongly urged to check Notices to Air Mission (NOTAM) and Safety Program Airmen Notification System (SPANS) messages before flying, particularly for flights anywhere near the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Milton, so they can understand and comply with any instructions from the FAA.
- Drone operators are also encouraged to check B4UFLY and use services such as the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) before they launch their aircraft.
- Any TFRs established by the FAA to support response and recovery efforts will include instructions on the restrictions, including identifying who can operate in the affected airspace. The NOTAMs for more restrictive TFRs will also provide a number to call to request access if your flight has not already been pre-coordinated with the Florida and Federal air operations officials at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). If you are not participating in a pre-coordinated response mission, please be sure to call the provided access request number well in advance.
- The FAA has embedded personnel at North Carolina’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to assist with airspace coordination, ensuring the safety of flight and priority access for emergency services.
- Many of the airports in the area are non-towered and pilots should use extreme caution when flying in the area. For the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), general aviation pilots should not try to land without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Follow the airport's Facebook page for updates.
- The North Carolina Department of Transportation - Division of Aviation has stated that Asheville Regional Airport, Hickory Regional Airport and Foothills Regional Airport are hubs of Helene activity and for general aviation pilots. Please check for any flight restrictions before operating there.
- Pilots should exercise extreme caution in eastern Tennessee due to numerous flight operations engaged in post Hurricane Helene disaster response and recovery efforts.
- Search and rescue partners are using short, time and location specific temporary flight restrictions on air operations to ensure safety when multiple helicopters are engaged in localized search and rescue efforts.
- An ACA is currently being used over western North Carolina to alert pilots of additional congestion related to the National Guard and other military partner aircraft.
- Help keep yourself, your family and your community safe after Hurricane Helene by being aware of rumors and scams and sharing official information from trusted sources: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response
Rumor: FEMA is operating and controlling airports in western North Carolina
Fact: FEMA is not controlling any airports in western North Carolina. Airport Managers and Airport Sponsors are the legal entities in charge of operating airports, even in Helene response. FEMA staff may be present at airports as they deploy supplies and stage for Helene response. Airports are critical for accessing impacted NC communities for response and recovery efforts for partners including FEMA.
Rumor: The FAA is restricting access to the airspace for Helene rescue and recovery operations
Fact: The FAA is not restricting access for recovery operations. The FAA is coordinating closely with state and local officials to make sure everyone is operating safely in very crowded and congested airspace.
For more facts vs. rumors see FEMA's Hurricane Rumor Response.
Hurricane Aviation Best Practices
- The FAA has embedded personnel at Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) in affected states to assist with airspace coordination, ensuring the safety of flight and priority access for emergency services.
- The volume of activity in the traffic patterns and ramp areas of these airports is very high due to a combination of fixed-wing, helicopter and drone operators. Please exercise extreme caution and always follow right-of-way rules due to the possible space constraints. For a review of procedures and operations at non-towered airports, please review FAA Advisory Circular 90-66B, Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations.
- Pilots planning to make a supply drop are encouraged to first coordinate with local community-based organizations that understand the airports’ ability and capacity to receive airdrops.
- Consider tankering fuel through impacted airports to reduce the demand for fuel at these locations.
- If you are flying a drone to support recovery efforts, ensure you are flying under Part 107 or the statutory requirements for public aircraft. Crewed aircraft always have the right-of-way and most likely will not see your drone. Mountainous terrain makes see-and-avoid even harder.
- If you are a helicopter pilot, consider a safety refresher by watching a rotorcraft collective video on YouTube, including this video on sharing low-altitude airspace with drones.
Please be sure to follow our social media channels for further updates on recovery efforts at www.faa.gov/social.