Disaster Response

In 2017, the HMB Airport Pilots Association formed an operational DART team (Disaster Airlift Response Team) and joined a growing network of mutual support teams created by CalPilots. As part of a bigger network of pilots and airports, our local airport is able to quickly rally a bigger base of airlift capabilities and ground support in the event of a disaster with the help of the statewide CalDART network and our own local pilots.

CalDART, The California state-wide DART Network, is building a network of local Disaster Airlift Response Teams (DARTs) to improve California’s disaster resilience in the face of earthquakes, floods and similar events which impair regional surface transportation. DARTs utilize a common operating model and are located at airports around the state.  On the Coastside, the HMB DART is a member of the CEC (Coastside Emergency Corps) and participates in the Coastside Emergency Action Program, working with San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services, Red Cross, HMB Amateur Radio Club, CERT, Coastside Hope, City of Half Moon Bay, CalFire, Medical Reserve Corps, County Health Services, AMR and more. 

By participating in regular exercises within our immediate community partners and our neighboring airports, we provide a critical transportation link in the event the Coastside is cut-off in a disaster. 

Examples of General Aviation aircraft assistance in recent disasters: 

• Volunteer Airlift during Loma Prieta (where Reid Hillview Airport played an important role):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSpT0p4XY_A

• September 2024 airlift voluteer efforts for Hurricane Helene:

  1. Early intro from AOPA: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2024/october/09/volunteer-airlift-in-the-carolinas

  2. Operation Airdrop executed 673 flights delivering 402,000 lbs of supplies https://www.operation-airdrop.com/hurricane-helene 

  3. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3192633/how-private-sector-led-frontline-response-helene-clean-up/ 

• March 2019 Airlift during Nebraska Flooding: https://www.faithwire.com/2019/03/20/angels-of-the-sky-private-citizens-rally-to-help-flooded-nebraska-city/

• January 2018 Santa Barbara Airlift:  https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/january/24/pilots-band-together-for-santa-barbara-airlift

Local DART activities:

• Yearly support /participation in the Coastside CERT led Great Shakeout exercises

• Support for select CalDART Operator Exercises

• Support provided for local aerial search efforts for the Marine Mammal Institute and other volunteer ocean searches.

More about DART:

• AOPA article about DART: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/january/18/california-pilots-organizing-disaster-airlift-teams

• CalDart Homepage: https://caldart.org/