“I’ve always wanted to help out as much as I can,” says Chris Desjarlais (’21), reflecting on his efforts to help North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene. Desjarlais, a corporate pilot based in Virginia Beach who flies for Jet Air Charter and instructs at Epix Aviation, is preparing for his second mission to deliver desperately needed supplies to storm-hit communities.
His relief flights, originally a small initiative, quickly turned into a full-scale effort with the support of the Embry-Riddle community and beyond. “We’ve got a tight Riddle network here,” Desjarlais explains, noting that Jim Parkman, the owner of Epix and father of Embry-Riddle graduate Skylar Parkman (’19) played a key role in making the mission possible.
The idea for the relief flights came from Mark Hubbert, a dispatcher at Epix. “Mark suggested it, and I jumped on it right away,” Desjarlais says. After posting on Facebook, donations poured in. “We raised over $4,000,” he adds, still amazed at the community’s generosity. What started with plans for a single plane soon grew into a two-plane operation, with Parkman donating one aircraft and another instructor’s family offering a second. Desjarlais piloted a Cessna 172, while Hubbert piloted a Piper Arrow carrying additional supplies.
Shopping for the relief mission involved trips to big box stores like Costco, Walmart and Dollar General. “We bought baby wipes, formula, canned food, peanut butter, hygiene products—anything we thought could help,” Desjarlais explains. They loaded both planes with 535 pounds of supplies, removing seats from the Arrow to maximize space.
Although the team had originally planned to fly directly into Asheville, they had to adjust their route when the heavy air traffic in the region led to the closure of the Asheville airport’s towers. “We wanted to land in Asheville, but the traffic was too heavy, so we rerouted to Greensboro,” Desjarlais says.
Greensboro’s airport had been set up as a collection and distribution point for supplies heading into Asheville and other impacted areas, making it a logical choice for their mission. “Signature FBO was managing the supply collection, so we could still get the supplies where they were most needed,” Desjarlais explains.
Despite a battery issue that delayed the flight until after dark, the team pushed ahead. “We ended up flying at night, so we didn’t see much from the air,” Desjarlais says. But that didn’t diminish the mission’s success, as they successfully delivered the 535 pounds of goods to Greensboro for distribution.
Now, Desjarlais and his team are preparing for their next trip. Donations continue to flow in, and more people from the Epix Aviation community are getting involved. “People from the flight school have donated supplies, and even students are pitching in,” Desjarlais says. “Without the Epix family, this never would’ve happened.”
For Desjarlais, an Eagle Scout with a lifelong commitment to service, the mission holds deep personal significance. “Growing up in Florida, I know what hurricanes can do,” he says. Combining his love for flying with a chance to help those in need has been especially rewarding.
“If I can get in the air and help people at the same time, I’m a happy man,” Desjarlais says, eager to continue his efforts to support the communities affected by Hurricane Helene.