Albert Whitted Airport has long been a hub for aviation and relief efforts across Florida and the Caribbean. Last year, the airport that sends aid to others faced its own journey of recovery. One year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the community is back on its feet.
Two major hurricanes hit St. Petersburg within two weeks of each other. Helene rushed in a storm surge across the area, while Milton brought powerful winds that tore the roof off Tropicana Field and sent a crane barreling down the side of a downtown office building.
Airport Businesses
At Albert Whitted Airport, hangars and aircraft were destroyed, and flooding closed the St. Pete Air flight school for three months. The flood affected nearly every aspect of St. Pete Air’s operations. The impact was most evident in the condition of the lobby, with damaged furniture being cleared out and floors ripped up. In true St. Pete-form, clients and friends joined in to help. They arrived with dehumidifiers and generators, and the community was patient and supportive throughout the repairs. Fortunately, the fleet remained unharmed, kept in hangars during Helene and evacuated to Cook County, Georgia, ahead of Milton. The flight school’s main building and attached hangar avoided major structural damage.
However, further down the runway from the flight school, you could see how Milton changed the landscape of Albert Whitted Airport. Entire rows of hangars were down, with a total of 32 units severely damaged. A few aircraft that were never repositioned or couldn’t fly out were buried under the rubble of the hangars they were left in.
October 2024: Two rows of hangars destroyed, with an aircraft trapped among the debris.
October 2025: Aircraft have returned, now parked in tie-down spots where hangars once stood.
One of the businesses affected was It’s Time to Shine, the well-known aircraft detailing shop at KSPG. Despite the water damage, the office might have been the only one in a row of hangars still standing. Quentin Manning, the owner, lost his office in the process of removing the rubble. The space had been an end storage unit converted into a small office—too tight for an aircraft, but just enough for his one-man operation.
Taking Flight Again
After the storms, the City stepped in to assess the site, and businesses and tenants returned. All debris was cleared in time for runway 7-25 to be converted into part of the racetrack for the Grand Prix in February.
There’s a lot to be thankful for in this community. Restoring Albert Whitted Airport took the care and dedication of City staff, businesses, and friends, all of whom stepped up.
Aviation has always played a vital role in disaster response, and Albert Whitted is no exception. Sol Relief, a nonprofit based here, is part of that story. They’ve coordinated hundreds of relief flights. After Helene, Sol Relief raised funds and delivered supplies in Pinellas County in partnership with United Way Suncoast.
These efforts show how airports like Albert Whitted aren’t just local hubs for flight training; they can be lifelines in emergencies. Even when the field itself is damaged, its presence and its people matter.
Today, St. Pete Air has resumed normal operations and continues to grow busier every day. Quentin and his business are back too, already making plans for a new office on the field.
One year after the hurricanes, the spirit of Albert Whitted Airport remains the same. Those who fly here and call this place home have shown remarkable resilience and care for one another. Looking toward future hurricane seasons, one thing is certain: the airport and its community will be ready.