Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta recently spoke at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s North American, Central American and Caribbean Directors of Civil Aviation meeting, highlighting the importance of working together in the aftermath of natural disasters.
“The 2017 hurricane season already has devastated too many of our nations,” Huerta said. “As if that wasn’t enough, our friends in Mexico were struck by two deadly earthquakes as well. Some of our attendees here today have family in Mexico City, where the extent of this week’s quake is still being determined. Please know all of our thoughts are with you during this trying time…. We are neighbors. What happens to one of us affects us all.”
Huerta said the FAA will assist the region in its recovery.
Over the past several weeks, the FAA has issued unmanned aircraft authorizations for the areas devastated by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and is expected to issue the same authorizations for areas affected by Hurricane Maria. The drones quickly and safely assess damage.
Mobile air-traffic control towers were transported to Key West and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to manage relief flights.
Inspectors were sent to St. Martin to assess the airport’s readiness to receive non-military relief flights.