Plane Conversations

As I have been tracking the news on Haiti both from a perspective of what is going on in that country and specifically on how aviation is playing a part in the humanitarian relief operations, my faith inour own country and the people who work in our industry has been strengthened.

The outpouring of support from all areas of General Aviation including private aircraft owners, charter operators, and corporate aircraft owners has been massive. All the way up and down the supply chain everyone is pitching in to support in many ways to help make the logistics of providing relief effective. Several Fixed Based Operations in South Florida have waived handling fees, donated hangar space to store donated supplies to be shipped, and are selling fuel at cost for flights heading to Haiti. There seems to be a lot of cooperation between operators to use aircraft in the most effective way.

AOPA, with more than 500,000 members, has requested that its members donate the cost of a flight to organizations that are providing direct relief. Their proposition is that there is not enough airport capacity in Haiti to handle all of the volunteer flights, so give to the organizations who are handling the major relief effortsto enable them to buy the flights they need in larger aircraft. Great idea!

The following is quoted from an article in Aviation Week by Kerry Lynch: 

NBAA had established a registry for aircraft that could be used for relief missions, and by late last week the number had swelled to 280, including a mix of helicopters, single- and multi-engine pistons, single- and multi-engine turboprops, and jets. In addition, more than 230 private and commercial pilots have lined up on the NBAA volunteer registry to offer their services.

CARE President Marianne Stevenson, who estimated that her organization has been on pace to launch a flight into Haiti every 30 minutes, noted an “amazing amount of support and cooperation.” In an update to NBAA members, Stevenson noted that the community has been able to bring critical personnel into key regions of Haiti. “CARE was the first to establish a chain of supplies and medical personnel into Jacmel and then use caravans and helicopters to bring supplies into Leogane,” she said. Without the help of the community, “it is probable this area would be in dire crisis,” she said.

The aviation community has responded in a big way.  The politicians in Washington, D.C. and the anti-general aviation media need to pay special attention to what is happening. 

This is not rock star aviation or fat cats riding around in big jets. This is a community of individuals, on their own and as a part of their companies, offering their time and aircraft to be a part of saving lives and relieving suffering. It is a spontaneous outpouring of the giving of assets, skill sets and talents, expecting nothing in return.

Many of these individuals and companies donating their aircraft have just come through the worst 18 months of economic downturn this country has seen in decades. but they are giving in a big way when they could easily opt out with the excuse that they don’t have it to give.

Haiti is going to need help in recovering long after the news media goes on to the next story, and general aviation will still be there helping.

As an operator of aircraft I want to say thanks to the other aircraft operators and fixed based operations who are doing their parts. When we combine as an industry, this looks much more like the Berlin Airlift than a few small aircraft flying south to Haiti.

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