b'EMERGENCY OPERATIONSAVL27Since the storm, Farmer has made presentations about the airports response and lessons learned to the AVL board ofThe military airlifted emergency supplies fromdirectors, SEADOG and other aviation groups. Kinsey spoke onthe airport to areas ravaged by the storm.the airports response and the actions taken for its employees at a customer experience symposium earlier this year sponsored by the American Association of Airport Executives and Airports Council International North America.Farmer intends to create an after-action review to help the airport and industry peers learn important lessons from this crisis. However, it will have to wait until after the completion of AVLs new terminal, which will be 1 times larger than the existing facility. To be sure, Hurricane Helene decimated the picturesque Western North Carolina region. Traffic at AVL the month after the stormtraditionally the areas busiest season for tourismdropped by 50%. But Bleiweis is confident tourists will return quickly. Recent growth supports his optimism. The airport hit thea larger terminal with five more gates (bringing the airports total momentous 1 million-passenger milestone in 2018, and thento 12), projects include a new air traffic control tower and 600 surpassed 2 million annual passengers just five years later. Anadditional parking spaces. expansion program is currently underway to accommodate theBased on all the construction, it seems Hurricane Helene is 4 million passengers per year forecasted by 2045. In addition tolargely history for AVL. Its focus is on the future.Are you ready to rise above?Vaughn offers industry-driven programs in engineering, technology, management and aviation, preparing Vaughn students students for high-demand careers in rapidly growing industries. With a 95% job placement rate78% in their fieldwe ensure graduates are prepared to seize these high-paying graduate with career opportunities.*To learn more or schedule a tour, jobs guaranteed. * visit vaughn.edu. RISEABVE*See vaughn.edu for details on the guarantee and outcomes data. ENGINEERING|TECHNOLOGY|MANAGEMENT|AVIATIONAirportImprovement.comMay | June 2025'