Page 21 - TNT Dec 2017

interior. The duo then loaded a batch of handheld satellite equipment before flying to Georgia (PDK) to pick up 10 satellite dishes and corresponding equipment. From there, it was off to meet Rescue Global (NGO) on the ground in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“You cannot do these flights unless you have a contact in the specific place you are bringing your aircraft or it can get real uncomfortable,” explained Howley. “But Rescue Global was a huge help in the logistics of the operation.”
After spending the night in San Juan, Joe and Brian completed the flight to St. Thomas where they delivered the equipment to another NGO, Global DIRT. Upon landing, they were greeted by an awful sight.
“It looked as if a nuclear bomb went off,” recalled Lisoski. “Irma absolutely decimated the area. There was just one controller working four frequencies from a damaged control tower.”
As they dropped off the equipment, they became aware of an older gentleman in St. John who needed to go to San Juan to receive medical care. They successfully transported the man then quickly headed back to New York, well aware another hurricane was on its way.
“When these things happen, it is a short-term, needs-to- be-done-now event,” said Howley. “In this case, you cannot save people if they cannot communicate. So, it was very satisfying trip where we were able to see the results of what we were doing right away.”
Less than 24 hours after Joe and Brian departed San Juan, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.
Hurricane Maria
In just one day, on Sept. 18, Hurricane Maria rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to Category 5. Two days later, it was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Puerto Rico since 1928. Maria devastated the country along with parts of the Virgin Islands and Dominica.
Through partnerships made during Irma with global relief agencies and clients, PALS Sky Hope jumped into action yet again. A supply warehouse was set up at Banyan Air Service in Fort Lauderdale and around 150 flights were completed to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix and Dominica. Each island’s missions were coordinated through contacts focused on the particular area.
For Puerto Rico, United Airlines pilot Miguel Estremera helped coordinate most PALS’ missions to the country. Miguel had a personal connection with the air traffic controllers and one of the first flights was to supply the ATC controllers themselves with much needed food, supplies and generators for their families and control center. To help with this mission, the PALS team reached out to owner-pilot Paul Weismann.
Paul, an investment portfolio manager and ATP pilot in Connecticut, had flown several medical transport missions for PALS the past two years; this would be his first disaster-relief
December 2017
Citation V owner-pilot Paul Weismann (right) and United Airlines pilot Miguel Estremera en route to Puerto Rico bringing relief supplies following Hurricane Maria.
flight. But all it took was the late-night phone call and Paul was in his Citation V the next morning departed for Puerto Rico. Miguel flew with him.
“We loaded the airplane as full as we could and then waited to get an oceanic clearance. That took a while; the airways were closed because Maria was still out there,” said Weismann. “Once we were able to get a route, it was almost four hours direct to Puerto Rico.”
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