Hurricane season has just begun, with US Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico particularly vulnerable. Noemi Corporan, FBO Manager at our San Juan facility, tells us what a day in the life of an FBO Manager is like during such unpredictable times.

Noemi, how did you come to Jet Aviation? When did you start?

I joined Jet Aviation in 2019, but have been in the aviation industry since 1993.

Please describe a typical day for you at Jet Aviation San Juan

I typically arrive between 8 and 9 a.m., depending on the operation movements that day. First, I walk around the field to make sure everything is in order after which I verify the operations of the day with the team to make sure all services are ready. Then I might assist with transporting pilots from the hotel to the field and vice versa. Once immediate concerns are addressed, I verify invoices from the previous day are in order, answer emails, participate in scheduled meetings and conference calls, and otherwise connect with passengers to make sure that they are comfortable.

What do you enjoy most about the job? Please explain

The most enjoyable part of the job is seeing the happy faces of customers when they know and appreciate that everything is being taken care of for them. One particular instance that stands out in my mind was when we helped a number of personnel coming in from various international airports who were having difficulties finding international flights home. Seeing their reactions after we found viable flight plans for them and could provide them confirmation codes was so rewarding. They were so visibly relieved and pleased, often reacting with an, "Oh my goodness, thank you so much!" or "You have no idea how happy this is going to make my family!"

“The most enjoyable part of the job is seeing the happy faces of customers when they know and appreciate that everything is being taken care of for them.”

What typical challenges do you face on the job? 

The everyday challenge is making sure the entire department is fully operational and synchronized at least 15 minutes before an aircraft lands or takes off. We always try to have everything set up 35 minutes before takeoff or landing to ensure all personnel are ready before our customer arrives.

With hurricane season upon you, what do you worry about most? How do you prepare for a hurricane? What do you tell your customers?

It's important to maintain constant communication with our customers so that they remain informed about flight plans, particularly if they need to change. This ensures they always know exactly what is going on. We also keep the FBO stocked with necessities such as water, sandbags, and chargers should a hurricane touch down.

Are there any remarkable stories or incidents you can share?

In 2017, there were two hurricanes that hit San Juan, Irma and Maria. The first, Hurricane Irma, helped prepare us for Hurricane Maria. We knew better what to expect and were able to stock up on supplies and food. One family came to our airport from the other side of the island with three children, a two-month-old, a five-year-old, and an eight-year-old. They came to San Juan in hopes of getting a flight to anywhere in the US. They stayed at the FBO for 48 hours on the chance that they could get out. Depending on the day, we had approximately 100-200 people staying at the FBO waiting for flights. We remained open 24/7 for four weeks, helping passengers get flights off the island. Knock wood, but this hurricane season has not been as bad.

What advice would you give a new employee/trainee doing your job?

My advice for a new employee doing my job would be to recognize the strengths of each team member and to take them into account when assigning tasks and sending them off to do their jobs. It is our job to serve the customer and bring them the best of the best.