General Aviation Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ian

Category 4 Hurricane Ian swept through Florida in late September, dealing its worst blow to southwest Florida, specifically in and around Fort Myers, where wind speeds exceeded 140 MPH and preliminary storm surge levels exceeded 10 feet. Landfall was originally anticipated near Tampa, but a relatively short-notice right-hand turn brought landfall further south. Airports as far away as Fort Lauderdale experienced tornadic activity as the result of the massive storm, resulting in hangar and aircraft losses on the east coast of Florida.

How did GA airports in the hardest-hit cities fare during the storm? What can be learned about best practices for storm preparation and recovery, and which lessons can be transferred to other regions to prepare and respond to other natural disasters or storms?

North Perry Airport (HWO) in Pembroke Pines near Fort Lauderdale, for example, reportedly suffered multiple airplane losses and building damage during a tornado spawned by Hurricane Ian.

Naples Airport (APF) suffered damage to runway lighting and signage due to wind and flooding but reopened just two days after the storm under the Prior Permission Required model for dawn to dusk operations only. By Saturday, October 1, the airport returned to normal operations with limited hours between 7 AM and 7:30 PM. The airport also restricted flight training activities to allow for recovery efforts.

Page Field (FMY) in Fort Myers took a direct impact from Ian’s severe winds and pummeling rains. While Base Operations’ FBO building fared well overall, it faced water intrusion in multiple areas. Some t-hangars and outbuildings incurred significant roof and structural damage. In addition, mechanical systems, including rooftop air conditioning units took a beating. Despite the circumstances, airport staff remained on-site through the storm and were able to get Page Field up and running by 10:30 a.m. the day after it passed to prioritize access for official humanitarian aid and emergency service operations. A limited reopening to general aviation customers was established on October 4, and full airport operations resumed on October 10.

The surrounding island communities of Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, and Pine Island had major damage to their infrastructures, including power, water, and roadways which made them largely inaccessible, with the exception of air operations. Initial aid focused on intensive search and rescue missions to the barrier islands. This was followed by evacuating residents, hospitals, and care facilities facing flooding and unlivable conditions, along with delivering supplies to surrounding communities.

Companies such as grocery stores, pharmacies, cellular providers, and home improvement suppliers also began their disaster response by air. One grocery chain credited the quick reopening of the airport with being able to get their team on the ground to assess damage, open store doors, and inventory supplies to ensure that they could continue serving impacted communities in their most dire time of need. The Cajun Navy established a donation supply network at Page Field, with piles of goods arriving by air, transported by ground, and often delivered by boat.

APN Global talked with southwest Florida airport representatives and stakeholders and while formal debriefs from the storm are still underway at most airports, some key lessons are already clear:

Be prepared to move your aircraft to a safer location, even if you think you’re outside or only on the edge of a storm cone. The Fort Myers area was originally on the very edge of the predicted cone for Hurricane Ian, so many aircraft owners and operators in the area thought they’d be safe remaining at their home airport.

When in doubt, evacuating an aircraft to a safer location is ideal. The sheer size and unpredictability of Ian demonstrated the need to evacuate early, potentially from multiple regions in the state, and to a farther distance than perhaps would be considered in other storms.

Ian made landfall late morning on Wednesday, September 28, but by Tuesday afternoon, evacuation flight routes to the east coast of Florida were impacted by severe thunderstorms and tornadic activity. Aircraft owners and operators really needed to evacuate the area on or before Monday.

Ian’s unpredictable path made the entire state of Florida, except perhaps the far western portions of the panhandle, inappropriate evacuation destinations. For small single-engine aircraft, evacuating such a distance would likely require several flight hours and at least one fuel stop. Meanwhile, owners and operators who live in the region were also preparing their own homes and businesses for the storm.

Remember that initial airport operations following a storm will be focused on first responder activity and community recovery. Even if your airport, hangar, and aircraft are not damaged, operations might be restricted for some period of time.

There are some bright spots for general aviation following the tragic hurricane as GA airports became hubs of activity for recovery efforts.

Erin Croop, Marketing Coordinator at Base Operations – FMY, credits airports’ role in storm recovery.

“Airports are integral to community relief and recovery efforts after major disasters,” Croop said. “We are fortunate to have a strong air transportation network in our region with teams that work together from FMY, RSW, PGD, and APF. The number of assets and operations that these airports were able to accommodate was key to expedited emergency response efforts.”