By Air, Jeff Hudak '10 Aids in Hurricane Relief
Three days and 26.3 hours of flying. Seven loads of supplies weighing 2,700 pounds.
Jeff Hudak '10 has been putting his skill as a pilot to benevolent use this week, delivering relief supplies to those affected by Hurricane Michael. As part of "Operation Airdrop." the Christ School alumnus has seen unimaginable scenes of devastation in the Florida panhandle. The death toll from Michael had risen to 33 as of Thursday.
Hudak is licensed to fly commercial multi-engine and single-engine planes. He also has an instrument rating, which allows pilots to fly in weather with reduced visibility (rain, low clouds, and heavy haze). After serving as a flight instructor in Raleigh, Hudak moved to West Palm Beach, Fla., in July. He starts his formal training to fly for a commercial airline next week.
Question: What led you to be a pilot, were you always interested in flying?
Answer: I wanted to do the military for a while and lost interest in that. I was studying physics at Appalachian State, but I didn't want to be in a lab. I mentioned being a pilot to my professor and they said that would be a great career for me. So once I decided to go that route, I found a flight school where I could get all the ratings I needed. It's very much a full-time job. A day for me can go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Question: How did you get involved in Operation Airdrop?
Answer: They needed a multi-engine pilot and I thought it was a great opportunity to help people. It was awesome. We were based out of Gainesville, so all the supplies were there, and we took them to different locations around the panhandle. I've gotten some good pictures (that Hudak has been sharing on his Instagram page). One moment I remember in particular was around the Calhoun County area. There was an area full of trees where about half of them were knocked over. It looked like a bomb went off.
Question: How did Christ School prepare you for the future?
Answer: The thing I noticed the most was the lifestyle. Christ School really instilled discipline. That regiment was fantastic, especially when I got in college and I was around guys who had no direction. Christ School gives it to you, and really got me started on figuring out what I wanted to do.
