Rochester-based NY Army National Guard aviators head to Florida to assist in hurricane response

At the direction of Gov. Kathy Hochul, the New York Army National Guard deployed two CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters, and 11 soldiers from the Frederick Douglas Greater Rochester International Airport to Jacksonville, Florida, on Wednesday, September 28.

The aircraft and soldiers were sent to assist the Florida National Guard in responding to Hurricane Ian, which hit the state on Wednesday.

The two CH-47s, are assigned to B Company of the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment which is based at Army Aviation Support Facility 3 at the airport. The 11 soldiers included aircrew and maintenance personnel. The CH-47 F can carry 36 people, or over 46,000 pounds of cargo, and fly at 190 miles per hour.

The two aircraft were sent to Florida through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request for assistance from the state of Florida to New York.

The aircraft stayed overnight in Greenville, North Carolina, and arrived in Jacksonville on Thursday, September 29. There, the aircraft and Soldiers came under the control of the Florida National Guard to provide airlift support as required.

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