Sheltair Aviation’s FBO at New York JFK Airport is supporting efforts by New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo to airlift hurricane recovery equipment and supplies to Puerto Rico. “Internally, we are calling this ‘Operation Helping Hands’ as we expand our emergency response program to ensure we can assist the efforts of front line rescue and restoration efforts being launched by the governor, government agencies and charitable groups,” said Sheltair chairman, CEO and founder Jerry Holland.

Responding to the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Maria, Sheltair has coordinated with JetBlue and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on an emergency response flight that departed on Friday from the General Aviation Terminal managed by Sheltair. Sheltair donated manpower and equipment to assist with passenger handling and much of the support baggage needed by the emergency response team in Puerto Rico.

Among the items Gov. Cuomo brought along on the airlift were some 34,000 bottles of water, 9,600 ready-to-eat meals, 3,000 canned goods, hundreds of flashlights, blankets and generators. The governor departed the Sheltair facility with a team of rescue experts on the JetBlue-donated flight.