GENERAL AVIATION TO THE RESCUE Continued from page 17 BANYAN AIR SERVICE – FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA Elsewhere, other NATA members including Banyan Air Service at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) were mobilizing Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria relief efforts of their own. “As Hurricane Irma was approaching, we saw a mass exo- dus out of South Florida like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” said Jon Tonko, Director of Customer Support at Banyan Air Service. “I’ve been with Banyan for 14 years, so I was here for Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma back in 2005. This was our first real brush with a hurricane since that time. The big shocker this time was how many people left the area: it was literally a mass exodus, so our efforts began well before the hurricane itself. I don’t know how many thousands of people left out of the facility, but our fuel provider AvFuel and our fuel hauler JetStar did a fantastic job of getting us our fuel. As other nearby airports and FBOs—and even other FBOs on our field—were running out, we still had reserves.” Fort Lauderdale was spared a direct hit, and Banyan Air Service was able to resume full operations within three days. At the direction of Banyan Air Service founder Don Campion, the team immediately shifted gears to participate in relief efforts to the areas more directly impacted, in col- laboration with a network of nonprofit organizations includ- ing AERObridge, Samaritan’s Purse and Patient AirLift Services (PALS). “Bottom line is: the owner of the company, Don Campion, he’s a giver,” Tonko said. “That’s how he lives his life. When somebody needs something, he’s always the first to step up 18 Banyan’s lobby at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport was full to capacity as customers were departing prior to Hurricane Irma’s arrival. and volunteer our services and our facilities. We handled at least 200 aircraft during that period, probably around 750 to 1,000 flights on top of our normal business. Needless to say, it was a little busy around here!” Robin Eissler, a board member at PALS and the founder of its Sky Hope Network program, became a close partner during that time. “In the event of a disaster, we activate the Sky Hope Network, which uses donated aviation assets and coordinates with partner FBOs, like Banyan Air Service, to respond to emergencies, including hurricanes and other natural disasters,” Eissler explained. “In 2017, we coordi- nated hundreds of flights in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and Dominica after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria—carry- ing supplies, bringing in relief teams and flying out evacuees. Often, we’re one of the first responders, up and flying before a lot of the government agencies. Our first step is evaluating the needs, making sure it’s something that requires an air response. Due to the nature of these hurricanes, a lot of them became air response issues because of flooding that had taken out roads, and because a lot of the areas most affected were island communities or otherwise isolated areas.” The PALS’ Sky Hope Network pushed more than 100 flights through Banyan Air Services after the 2017 hurricanes, each loaded up with supplies and returning with evacuees. “We had donations from Fortune 500 companies all the way down to owner pilots and Part 135 operators donating flights—and even people purchasing 135 flights and donating them,” Eissler said. “Every type of aviation asset was used. Aviation Business Journal | 3rd Quarter 2018
