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The Unsung Heroes Helping in Haiti

30 days, 597 flights, 2985 passengers, 895,000 pounds of supplies.

These numbers illustrate what dozens of volunteers from the business aviation industry accomplished in very short order after learning about the devastation in Haiti.  They do not begin to tell the story of how many earthquake victims  benefited from these efforts on the ground however.  The surgeons, IV fluid, baby formula, rice and water that tireless pilots shuttled down to Haiti in the last month have undoubtedly kept more people alive than we will ever know – not to mention the hundreds of victims in desperate need of serious medical attention that were on the return flights back to the States.

 My involvement with C.A.R.E. (Corporate Aviation Responding in Emergencies) running relief flights to Haiti over the last month has left me deeply proud to be part of an industry that made such a difference to so many people affected by this disaster.

Let me tell you why.

Large relief organizations were sending supplies on big planes into big airports where they could be distributed to the hundreds of thousands of people who had gathered there to wait in desperation.  As we all saw on the news, roads were damaged, fuel was limited and it was frustratingly difficult to get these supplies distributed to outlying areas where the population was also without food, medical attention or potable water.  Thanks to the smaller and nimble aircraft donated by dozens of generous large corporations, small businesses and private individuals, the volunteers at CARE were able to match planes with landing slots, medical teams in need of transport and critical supplies.  These aircraft took smaller loads into remote areas where they were able to land on smaller airstrips – even a patch of undamaged road.  And they were able to get to these places quickly.

Within three days of the quake a small supply channel was established thanks to donations from JSSI, Clean the World, Compassion Alliance, Community Christian Church, RMI (Reciprocal Ministries International), In the Fathers Hands, Hands and Feet, SOS Haiti, Christ Community Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Love Beyond Borders, GO Ministries, and others.  Regular flights started shuttling back and forth between areas around Jacmel and Leogane and to warehouses in Santiago and Nassau run by Bahamas Habitat and others.  Relationships were established with small relief organizations on the ground like Joy In Hope, Christianville, and GO Ministries which had representatives to disperse supplies to victims as soon as the planes were on the ground. Helicopters were running missions from the warehouses in Santiago and Nassau into even more remote areas of Haiti that even the smaller jets weren’t able to reach.

 We were reaching people that had no other access to relief.

Our industry has received some bad press over the last year but it is these very same companies and individuals that are truly unsung heroes to countless people on the ground in Haiti that received help because of them.  Flight crews and aircraft that have oft been dubbed unnecessary or excessive were able to reach remote areas where no commercial or large military aircraft could land.  They could move quickly and efficiently with a minimum of overhead or delay to transport people and supplies exactly where they were needed by bypassing clogged and damaged roads and overcrowded airports.

This operation would not have been possible without the generous financial, logistic, aircraft and personnel resources donated by the following companies: Windsor Jet, Banyan Air Services, L3 Communications, Jet Quest, Strategy Aero, Unilife, Central Flying Service, Baxter Healthcare, Tradewind Aviation, Chelsea Aviation Group, Private Air, and more. If you know of other companies in the business or general aviation industry that contributed to this effort or companies and individuals that flew missions please let us know.  We would like to recognize their efforts with the other generous contributors we’ve mentioned here.

In closing, it’s important to remember that although we have done a tremendous amount of good to alleviate the suffering which occurred immediately following this disaster, the country will need help for months, even years to come. If you are interested in making a donation to the continuing efforts please contact one of the many organizations with long term relief plans in the region including the following:

Joy In Hope – Clean the World – Compassion Alliance – Partners in Health – RMI (Reciprocal Ministries International) – In the Fathers Hands – Hands and Feet – Go Ministries – American Red Cross – Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

– Elizabeth Rogers,  Vice President, Operations

Business Aviation’s Haiti Relief Efforts

Executive Toys? Think Again! While business aviation has been getting bad press on a number of levels, JetQuest VP Robin Eissler has been quitely using it to save lives… - World Aircraft Sales Magazine

Chicago-Based Jet Support Services Goes Many Extra Miles on Haiti Relief: Just hours after the Haiti earthquake, Chicago-based Jet Support Services, Inc., (JSSI) offered some $25,000 for relief efforts… - National Business Aviation Association

JSSI Commits to Haiti Relief Efforts: JSSI management began their commitment by purchasing 20,000 lbs of critical supplies last weekend and assisted the CARE volunteers with loading and preparing the donated aircraft for departure from Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE)… – Bart International

JSSI Helps Speed Bizav Aid for Haiti Relief Efforts: For aircraft covered by its hourly cost maintenance programs, JSSI is waiving the normal hourly payment when those aircraft are used in the Haiti relief effort… – AINonline

Business Aviation’s Efforts in Haiti – Follow Up: Key Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) personnel contacted the Corporate Aircraft Responding in Emergencies (CARE) network that is working with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to facilitate the donation of more than $1 million worth of business aircraft flight hours to transport supplies, equipment, medical personnel and volunteers to earthquake stricken areas in Haiti… – FlyCorporate Online

Haiti’s Rescue Mission: The generosity of private aircraft owners and corporate operators is a true symbol of the American spirit, always willing to help those in need, even in the midst of today’s challenging economic times… - Haute Living

Haiti Crisis – Business Aviation Response: Internet entrepreneur Jeremy Johnson’s  offer of help for Haiti Relief was no token geture. The Utah-based owner of NBAA Member Company iWorks donated two of his company’s business aircraft – a Cessna Citation X airplane and an EC-130 turbine helicopter – to deliver food and medical help… -  National Business Aviation 

Watch “CARE extends reach to Haiti”  The call to action that launches a corporate aircraft – or a fleet of them – on potentially lifesaving flights to or from earthquake-ravaged Haiti usually comes in the form of a simple text message from CARE. – Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

Watch “Haiti Relief Clips”  C.A.R.E. Operation Haiti has included over 500 flights with 2,400 passengers and 700,000 lbs of critical supplies. Their passengers have included medical personnel, relief workers, newly adopted children, injured patients and missionaries. - Robert Caplin

Watch “In Haiti, Help From Above” As wide-scale challenges of aid distribution persist, owners of private aircraft are delivering small-scale assistance.  - The New York Times