Welcome to the Palo Alto Disaster Airlift Response Team

PAO DART is an all-volunteer organization based at the Palo Alto Airport (KPAO) in Palo Alto, California. A member of the state-wide CalDART network, we provide aviation support during disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and other events that can affect regional surface transportation in California and neighboring states. PAO DART transports people and materiel supplied by local, county, and state governments, charities, and other partner organizations to communities cut off from traditional ground transportation or otherwise impacted by emergencies.

More information about the emergencies that have been handled by CalDART in recent years is available on the About page. You can also view our News and Events calendar. We are only as strong as our collection of exceptional volunteers, and we invite you to Join Us as either a pilot or a non-pilot providing ground support. Finally, PAO DART receives no outside funding and is entirely funded by private donations. Every little bit helps, so please Donate.

Annual Exercise August 30, 2026!

Please join us for our annual exercise on 8/30. We will be conducting a joint operation with the Contra Costa DART at the Concord Airport and also with the Palo Alto Office of Emergency Services and Palo Alto Amateur Radio Emergency Service. We welcome all pilots as well as non-pilots who can help in the important capacity of ground support (ramp management, logistics, communications, etc.). Please contact us at info@paloaltodart.org for more information or to volunteer.