2

AIR2 Deployed Large Helicopter Fleet to Respond to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

AIR2 | October 9, 2008

Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 19 seconds.

When hurricanes are about to hit, the phones are ringing at AIR2.  Three days before Gustav hit the Gulf Coast, Entergy Services requested 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 of 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, with their 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 9 additional aircraft were mobilized and deployed.  AIR2 is now releasing the helicopters as the work is being completed.

AIR2’s rapid response to the twin hurricane disasters was an instrumental element in the prompt restoration of power to Entergy’s customers.  “We are pleased that AIR2 was able to assist Entergy by quickly deploying this large and broad range of helicopter assets.  We are most grateful to the skilled team of operators who assisted AIR2 in this effort,” stated Tom McShane, AIR2’s President and CEO.

AIR2, LLC, headquartered in Timonium, Maryland is a helicopter line work services contractor to the electric power industry.  AIR2 combines helicopter airborne access with its highly trained line crews to construct and maintain reliable power grids.  For more information about AIR2, visit the company’s website at www.air2.com.
 

 

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Seminole Sheriff Helicopters

Notice a spelling mistake or typo?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Report an error or typo

Have a story idea you would like to suggest?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Suggest a story