Industry rallies in wake of Hurricane Melissa
When the US Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew into the eye of Hurricane Melissa last Monday and Tuesday as it steered a collision course for Jamaica, it showed how critical aircraft are in understanding these catastrophic weather events.
The Category 5 hurricane, which struck Jamaica last Tuesday, is the strongest to hit the island since records began in 1851. Category 5 means sustained winds of over 157mph – Melissa’s reached 185mph.
Although it weakened as it passed over the island, the storm has wreaked havoc. About 77% of Jamaica’s three million residents were without power on Wednesday. Its agricultural heartland, St Elizabeth, is one of the worst affected areas, according to Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister for Local Government.
As the humanitarian response begins, aircraft will again prove critical; this time in delivering the aid required to help Jamaicans and other Caribbean residents survive and rebuild. Business and general aviation aircraft are indispensable in the early days of a relief effort.
As of October 30th, Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport remained the only Jamaican airport open. Although it is only accepting limited commercial and general aviation operations. Norman Manley lies about 525nm (972km) from Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has activated its Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) Database, which lists business aviation community members who are part of disaster-response mobilisation efforts.
Doug Carr, NBAA senior vice president of safety, security, sustainability and international operations, tells us: “After natural disasters, it takes government resources days or even weeks to mobilise long-term support. In that early phase, the need is immediate, and that’s where business aviation can help. We can get experts, medical professionals and engineers in quickly, since our aircraft require less infrastructure and can reach smaller airports.”
Carr says distance from the US and other factors, including uncertainty about the availability of aircraft fuel supplies, make longer-range business and commercial aircraft best suited to initial operations.
“Geographically, there’s an operational obstacle between Jamaica and the US called Cuba,” he explains. “Unless a US operator flies around Cuba, overflight permits and approvals are required.”
Parts of eastern Cuba were impacted by Melissa. It was graded a Category 3 storm when it made landfall on the island, the worst to hit since 2017.
“We also don’t yet know the condition of Jamaica’s airport fuel infrastructure,” Carr continues. “So initially, we’re advising aircraft to carry enough fuel for round trips. Once the fuel situation stabilises, smaller aircraft can participate more easily.”
Disaster response specialist Samaritan’s Purse has already flown 38,000lbs (17,200kg) of supplies, including shelter tarps, solar lights, medical supplies and water filtration systems, onboard its Boeing 757 into Kingston.
Additionally, organisations such as Operation Air Drop, AERObridge and Airlink are accepting donations as they monitor the situation for additional opportunities to help, including airlifting supplies.
AERObridge has 200 Starlink terminals in Orlando, Florida that need an aircraft “ASAP” to fly them to Montego Bay in northwestern Jamaica.
Charley Valera, vice president of Media Relations at AERObridge tells us: “The situation is very fluid. We have an aircraft we are able to use on Sunday, but we need to get these terminals out today, tomorrow at the latest.”
Communications have been severely limited in the aftermath. “These Starlinks will help to restore connectivity,” says Valera. “It is a long flight. A thousand nautical miles round trip, assuming there’s no fuel or no power to pump it. If you can assist us, please reach out.”
Pierre Bernheim, co-founder of newly-launched BlueLight Humanitarian Airlines says Hurricane Melissa is a sobering reminder of the importance of having purpose-built airlift capacity for humanitarian use.
BlueLight aims to begin dedicated humanitarian operations in early 2026 using a fleet of Airbus A340 aircraft. “Events like hurricane Melissa reinforce precisely why BlueLight was created – to provide a dedicated, neutral aviation capability ready to deliver humanitarian assistance.”
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, Bernheim says the focus needs to centre on speed, access and coordination. “In situations like this, the A340-300’s intercontinental range of over 7,000 nautical miles allows us to connect distant regions without refuelling,” he continues. “Also, its high payload capacity, exceeding 50 tonnes of freight, enables the transport of large volumes of aid in a single mission.”
NBAA’s Carr sums up the role business and general aviation plays in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster: “Business and general aviation aircraft are often the first to arrive with critical supplies. Volunteer organisations like Angel Flight in the US exemplify this – pilots load their planes with donated goods and fly them to affected areas with minimal bureaucracy.
“For island nations like Jamaica, aviation is the lifeline until larger, government-led operations, such as ships and barges, arrive. Business aviation fills that initial, crucial gap.”
If you would like to donate or offer your services please see the links below:
Meanwhile, read how the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration routinely flies is Gulfstream G-IV around tropical cyclones to gain life-saving weather information in Corporate Jet Investor magazine.
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