If you thought last year’s hurricane season was as bad as it could get, brace yourself. The Atlantic is again sharpening its claws, and according to the number-crunchers at Colorado State University, we’re in for another season that will make weather presenters sweat under the collar. Four major hurricanes and nine in total are expected, which is good news for precisely no one except, perhaps, the people at Chapman Freeborn, who specialise in getting you and your loved ones out of trouble when Mother Nature gets in a mood.
Chapman Freeborn, part of the Avia Solutions Group, is no ordinary aviation outfit for unfamiliar people. They are the aviation world’s equivalent of the fire brigade, except they have jet engines instead of hoses. Instead of water, they deliver evacuation teams, medical specialists, and aid workers, and when the occasion demands, a planeload of frazzled tourists who thought “Caribbean in August” sounded like a good idea.
Aniko Mersek, the company’s Senior Vice President of Sales for the Americas, says the Atlantic’s annual temper tantrum is no small logistical challenge. “Over this period, we have been able to deploy many time-sensitive charters for evacuation and aid all over the globe,” she notes with the calmness of someone who’s probably ordered more aircraft at short notice than most of us have ordered takeaway pizzas.
Flying People Out and Experts In
When a hurricane hits, the chaos is as predictable as it is destructive: airports threatened, roads flooded, railways crippled, and communities cut off. The winds tear at roofs, the seas swell over shorelines, and the power vanishes just when you were hoping to put the kettle on. That’s where aviation comes into its own.
Aniko Mersek
“Our passenger division focuses on getting people out of harm’s way and to safety as quickly as possible, along with bringing in specialists who may be needed,” Mersek explains. “A client might use us to evacuate tourists stranded on a Caribbean island, or we might be employed by a government agency to bring in search and rescue teams, engineers and medical workers.”
Sometimes the missions are dual-purpose, flying out residents and flying in teams that will quite literally start picking up the pieces. “Flexibility and immediate response is key during these complex emergency charters,” Mersek adds. “It’s our job as aviation advisors and mission planners to ensure our charter solutions are aligned with the often complex logistical needs of our partners.”
That “partner” list is no small phonebook. It includes FEMA, corporate risk teams, security providers and humanitarian agencies – all relationships built on speed, trust and a mutual understanding that niceties can wait when a storm is closing in.
Hurricane Readiness is Not a Guessing Game
Come hurricane season, Chapman Freeborn shifts into a higher gear. They don’t just wait for the phone to ring, they strategically position aircraft, crews and ground teams so they can be airborne within hours. “In many cases, we are able to confirm a request in a couple of hours or less,” Mersek notes, which, in the aviation world, is tantamount to magic.
Each year, they pore over risk maps, comb through weather data, and strengthen supplier agreements, ensuring a 24/7 coverage net. They also closely monitor emerging storms, tracking their path, speed, and likely impact zones, ensuring a response can be triggered before the first gust rattles a palm tree.
This year, the tech upgrade fairy has been generous. The company has integrated faster aircraft availability mapping tools and real-time weather overlays into its operations system. Translation: They can now make routing decisions in minutes, not hours, which, in a disaster scenario, can be the difference between an on-time rescue and a missed window.
Lessons From Hurricanes Past
It’s not theory; they’ve been there before. In 2022, Hurricane Ian – the fifth-strongest to ever make landfall in the US – slammed into Florida with the kind of force that redefined “bad day.” Airports were on the verge of closure, the airspace was getting busier than Boxing Day sales, and the clock was ticking. Chapman Freeborn managed to get executives, diplomats, and medical patients out in time.
“We had to coordinate landing slots, customs, and handling services, and do this all in record time,” Mersek recalls. It’s no small feat when the weather seems to be trying to prevent you from succeeding.
Speed Versus Safety – The Eternal Balancing Act
One of the biggest challenges is timing. Move too slowly, and the airport might be closed before you arrive. Move too quickly without proper clearance, and you risk adding to the chaos. “Safety is our prime concern,” says Mersek firmly. “It’s about acting quickly and decisively but never at the expense of those on board.”
The job isn’t just about aircraft and fuel. There’s the human factor, the pressure, the urgency, the need for clear heads when everyone else is losing theirs. Chapman Freeborn’s Passenger team trains for that mental readiness, holding regular drills and leaning on experienced leadership to keep calm in the cockpit and the control room.
Why Air Charters Matter More Than Ever
With climate patterns shifting and storms showing no sign of becoming less ferocious, the need for rapid, reliable air evacuation is growing. In hurricane-prone regions, being able to leave – or receive critical help – in hours rather than days- can save lives and reduce suffering.
Chapman Freeborn’s approach—blending half a century of know-how with cutting-edge operational tools reminds us that even in the most chaotic circumstances, there’s still room for precision, professionalism, and, crucially, humanity.
As the 2025 season looms, the company’s readiness isn’t just about having planes on standby; it’s about a culture that assumes the worst so they can deliver the best when the worst arrives.
By Soo James
