Emergency Response
As a national company, Air2 has helicopters located throughout the USA that can be mobilized rapidly to assist in emergency situations. Air2 has assisted the utility industry in hurricane and tornado response, ice storm damage and fire recovery. Each scenario is different, requiring unique skills to help our customers.
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike 2008
Three days before Gustav hit the Gulf Coast, Entergy Services asked Air2 to send 17 helicopters to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Air2 immediately dispatched 4 of its own aircraft with line work crews then, hit the phones contacting its network of helicopter operators to supply the balance. Air2 assembled the entire fleet and had it moving to the Baton Rouge airport staging area within 48 hours from the first call.
Once on site the MD500’s and Jet Rangers conducted damage assessments. Larger aircraft were used for personnel transport while heavy lifting helicopters were used to clear trees from power lines and remove irreparable structures from rights of way. Air2’s MD500’s and its line work crews teamed with the heavy lift helicopters to rebuild powerline structures.
Then came Ike. With Ike on the way some of this fleet was sent to Texas while 11 additional aircraft were mobilized and deployed.
Air2’s rapid response to the twin hurricane disasters was an instrumental element in the prompt restoration of power to Entergy’s customers.
San Diego Fires 2007
San Diego Gas & Electric called upon Air2 to support their efforts during the fires that swept through California. Teamed with other emergency response providers Air2 aided in restoring approximately 200 transmission structures. New poles had to be reset and wire restrung in order to restore power in and around San Diego and Camp Pendleton.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita 2005
Responding to an all-out, send everything you have request, Air2 crews picked up motor homes and supplies from all over the country and mobilized to Baton Rouge, LA and Beaumont, TX to join the massive relief and disaster reconstruction efforts following the devastation in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Services included initial damage assessments, patrols and inspections, cleaning up and clearing out debris, effecting repairs and restoring power to transmission lines critical to the nation’s oil refining capabilities using Air2’s MD500 work crews combined with KMAX medium lift helicopters.
Northeast Ice Storm 2005
Maine was hit in 2005 with an unexpected ice storm that damaged power lines and caused widespread outages. Air2 was called upon to aid in storm damage recovery providing crews to restore power.
Hurricanes, ice storms, tornado or other natural disasters, Air2 crews have the ability, dedication, talent and desire to help good people through bad times.