
Oct. 7, 2024
In times of crisis, business aviation is uniquely able to reach remote areas to deliver food, water and other essentials in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Such is the case for Patriot Valley Manufacturing owner Josh Kunz, who has joined countless other small business owners in using their company’s aircraft to rush critically needed supplies to locations impacted by Hurricane Helene.
In a span of just two days, Kunz flew the Mooney 305 Rocket he typically uses for business from his Pottstown, PA home base for successive relief missions in support of Dan’s Hurricane Pals and Operation Airdrop – two grassroots organizations coordinating hurricane-relief flights into Asheville, N.C., and other devastated areas.
On each flight, Kunz brought in about 450 pounds of supplies, including medicines, bleach, water purification equipment and other cleaning supplies – in some cases taking the back seat out of the plane, so he could deliver a maximum payload to those in need.
“People can go without water, critical medications and baby formula for one-to-three days max,” Kunz said in explaining why he decided to take 19 gallons of bleach to purify thousands of gallons of potable water.
“We had can openers on one of these missions,” he said. “A lot of people are donating canned goods, and you have to be able to open them.”
A trained mechanical engineer, Kunz typically uses the Mooney to deliver the delicate, high-value parts his company makes directly to his customers, rather than risk damaging them through air-freight or ground shipping. A recent parcel carried a part for a complex spinal procedure.
Like all aviators, Kunz has been eager to share with other pilots some key take-aways about flying relief missions into Helene-ravaged areas. For example, he noted that conditions are extremely difficult in some locations, with no passable roads
“Get the NOTAMs before you take off,” Kunz added. “The NOTAM system is going to be the difference between you being denied or making your mission happen, so be sure to read and understand them. That’s my biggest piece of advice.”
NBAA’s Alex Gertsen (left) assists Josh Kunz (right) with relief supplies.