Widespread devastation from Tropical Storm Helene stretched over 500 miles inland from the Florida coast, with near-record storm surges, catastrophic flooding, blocked roads, damaged bridges and powerful winds leaving communities across multiple states reeling. The storm’s immense size and speed turned streams and rivers into raging torrents, cutting off entire towns and making traditional ground transportation ineffective. Nearly 4 million people in nine states lost power, and rural areas were hit especially hard.
In North Carolina alone, 28 of the 40 counties under major disaster declarations met the NC Rural Center’s definition of rural, with an average population density of 250 people per square mile or less. These isolated communities, often the hardest to reach and most in need of aid, faced significant barriers to recovery. In these moments, general aviation and regional airports proved invaluable, enabling the swift delivery of essential supplies and critical care to areas cut off by storm damage.
As the president and CEO of NC Rural Center, I am constantly reminded of the resilience and strength of our rural communities. During Tropical Storm Helene, that resilience was tested like never before, with many rural areas left isolated and in dire need of essential resources. I want to call your attention to a piece of our infrastructure that is often overlooked but proved essential during Tropical Storm Helene: general aviation and community airports. These critical resources bridged the gap, ensuring that isolated communities received the urgent care and supplies they needed.
This infrastructure is essential because it allows us to reach remote areas swiftly and support the small businesses, farmers and families who are the backbone of North Carolina’s rural economy. The NC Rural Center’s mission — to empower and uplift these communities — aligns closely with the role general aviation plays, not only in immediate relief efforts but in sustaining the long-term economic health and resilience of rural areas across the state.
Across North Carolina and neighboring states, small regional airports formed a lifeline in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, with Concord-Padgett Regional Airport serving as a base of operations where volunteers coordinated and loaded supplies for transport to the hardest-hit areas. From there, smaller airports, including those in Hickory and Greenville, South Carolina, enabled pilots to reach communities otherwise cut off by the storm. Pilots from Moore County, for example, made repeated trips into Ashe County, where they not only delivered essentials but also provided hands-on assistance to residents left stranded without food, water or power.
General aviation is a vital component of national preparedness, supported by a network of over 5,000 public-use airports nationwide that can transition from routine operations to crisis response at a moment’s notice.
Beyond disaster response, general aviation supports vital medical and public service missions, bringing specialized services to rural and remote communities that often lack quick access to health care. Organizations like Remote Area Medical use general aviation to deliver free medical care to underserved areas. Charitable organizations routinely fly patients from rural areas of the country to specialized treatment often found only in larger cities. Altogether, public benefit flying covered over 4 million miles last year alone.
General aviation also fuels rural economic development by giving small and mid-sized businesses the flexibility to manage supply chains, meet clients and deliver products, all while staying rooted in their hometowns. This capability levels the playing field, enabling rural businesses to compete with those in larger metropolitan areas and expand their economic footprint. About four out of five business aviation flights are through airports with infrequent or no scheduled airline service, or at secondary airports. In North Carolina alone, general aviation airports support an impact of over $6.1 billion annually to the state’s economy and thousands of jobs, fostering vibrant local economies across our state.
In short, general aviation and regional airports are far more than transportation hubs — they’re lifelines. They provide rapid response in emergencies, essential medical and public benefit activities, and economic opportunities that keep businesses and jobs local. The resilience of rural communities depends on this vast network of airports. By supporting and investing in general aviation, we can ensure that these critical resources remain ready and able to serve all Americans, helping them recover, grow and thrive well into the future.
Patrick Woodie is the president and CEO of NC Rural Center.