When the Going Gets Tough

Rol Murrow, Chairman of the Board

 

Throughout the history of aviation pilots have always been willing to pitch in during emergencies. Whether a pilot flew someone injured in an accident to a hospital, or joined a group formed to facilitate charitable flights, the aviation community has always risen to the occasion.

 

As World War II approached the Civil Air Patrol was organized, and eventually attracted tens of thousands of volunteers to patrol for enemy submarines, conduct search and rescue, and help out following disasters.  Local groups such as Sheriff's Aero Squadrons also involved volunteer pilots in search and other missions.  In the late 70's and 80's members of groups like LifeLine Pilots and the various Angel Flight groups began to regularly fly patients for care.  These were followed by groups facilitating other special missions, such as LightHawk for environmental flights, and EAA Young Eagles for introductory flights for youth.

 

 

Hurricane Katrina, devastating so many people, motivated many volunteer pilot organizations and hundreds of pilots to help.  And now the Haiti earthquake has brought a new dimension to the desire of pilots to help: the difficulties of international flight and more complex coordination with relief agencies and the countries involved.

 

The missions accomplished in Haiti are exemplary - those who helped inspire all of us to think of how we could be of help too.  Perhaps we would like to fly a mission, or work for our group to help coordinate the pilots with the needs of organizations trying to provide relief.

 

But a problem remains: too often the efforts are organized after the disaster strikes. Individual pilots want to help, but don't know where to turn. The major aviation associations scramble to collect and disseminate information. And the different pilot groups often work independently, too often unaware of what the other groups are doing, or unable to share information and maximize efficiency and safety of flight.

 

Fortunately individuals with groups such as C.A.R.E. and Bahamas Habitat jumped in and worked to coordinate appeals for transportation with groups and individuals who wanted to help.  And dedicated on-site volunteers worked at FBO's in Florida and in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, providing invaluable help and guidance to the pilots and relief agencies arriving every day. 

 

It is time we all, as leaders in Public Benefit Flying, take a moment and think about what we have learned in these situations, and develop better, and better coordinated, plans for responding to emergencies in the future.  The result will be more aid and less waste, and more effective relief for those in need.

 

On Sunday the 31st we made our first trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Haiti. By Divine intervention we ended up in Santiago, Dominican Republic (MDST) for fuel and to stay the night. It was there we connected with Ken George of G.O Ministries (www.go-ministries.org and www.gohelphaiti.org). Ken was running such an efficient operation we decided to spend the rest of the week doing as many short hops (1.0 to 1.5 hrs) from Santiago to various outlying fields in Haiti as we could. We carried food, water, dental supplies, medical supplies, diapers and baby formula, rice, beans, cooking oil, tents and other daily necessities from the warehouse in Santiago into places such as Jacmel (MTJA), Jeremie (MTJE) and Los Cayes (MTCA).

We were certainly not alone in this effort and that is the real story. On any given day, we had at least 10 GA airplanes of various types "flying the hump" over Pico Duarte into Haiti. There were PC-12s, King Airs, Cessna 402s, 206s, 182s and a 175. There was a Baron, a Caravan and a Twin Commanche, two MU-2s and others that flew in and out during the short time we were there. In addition to those flying in country, there were numerous Citations, Challengers, and Lears coordinated by groups like CARE (Corporate Aircraft Responding in Emergencies) that were ferrying goods and people back and forth to the United States. We became an ad-hoc air force with new pilots and aircraft joining in daily and we all enjoyed the camaraderie and the satisfaction of knowing we were making a difference.

With the smaller airplanes bringing relief to the outlying towns and villages, we were able to help those who otherwise would have had to wait days or weeks for relief to arrive overland. The need was so great in Port Au Prince that getting relief to the other parts of the country was being carried out almost entirely by GA aircraft. Some of the aircraft were there at the generosity of a corporate entity but most of the people and airplanes were private citizens just like you who had paid their own expenses to get there and just wanted to help out. Once again, the overwhelming generosity of volunteer pilots and the incredible utility of general aviation shone through.  

I would hope that we will never see another devastating earthquake like the one in Haiti, but history says that we will. Until the next disaster, the Air Care Alliance will continue to work with you and your groups to help improve our responsiveness and capability in these situations. We must be tireless in our efforts to develop procedures and communications that will allow us to be effective when called. Thank you all for continuing to answer the call.

 

Make sure to see Lindy's Haitian Pictorial further below in this newsletter.