The benefits of private aviation are also acclaimed by the medical sector, through a professional approach to readily available access to lifesaving and time-sensitive air transportation. This includes fire, rescue, and medical evacuation services. The communities of St. Helena island – surrounded by thousands of miles of the South Atlantic Ocean – celebrate their access to critical medical transport and supply freight which they receive in a matter of hours, in comparison to days or even months.
In a TV documentary regarding the importance of the island’s airport, a resident on St. Helena Island, Patrice Yol, whose son had Respiratory Distress Syndrome and was on a medevac flight from St. Helena Island to Cape Town had this to say. “If it wasn’t for the airport, then I really doubt that Eli would have made it. It would have been a long wait for the RMS to come down, like another month, and then a week’s travel to Cape Town. He probably wouldn’t have made it, waiting for a month for the ship to actually get there. So no, without the airport, I don’t think Eli would have survived.” In addition to providing economic value to underserved communities, business aviation is a crucial tool for doctors in their attempts to save the lives of patients with time-sensitive requests.
Built on the strong stereotype of opulence and splurge, the business aviation sector can easily be perceived, at first glance, as a premium with benefits reserved only for the wealthy. However, reality presents a different image.
In the words of Vytis Zalimas, the CEO of Jet Maintenance Solutions, “Having a strong effect on the economic development of underserviced communities, and significantly stimulating local, state, and national economies, private aviation benefits a wide range of people. It is imperative to highlight the sector’s contribution during medevac, rescue, and other evacuation flights for supporting communities and individuals in desperate times of need. As a leading MRO provider for business aviation, JetMS strongly believes in the case presented by the private aviation sector. Our team practices precision, extra care, and attention to detail in every project we tackle, to ensure the smooth, safe and timely operation of the private segment of the industry aiding the global economy and people in need.”