Archive for January, 2010

JSSI Makes Strong Commitment to Haiti Relief Efforts

Waiving Flight Hour Payments For Donated Aircraft

Chicago, IL – January 20, 2010 – Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), the world’s largest, independent provider of hourly cost maintenance programs for the business aviation industry, has responded to the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12th with an outpouring of donations and support for relief efforts.

Key JSSI personnel contacted the Corporate Aircraft Responding in Emergencies (CARE) network that is working with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to facilitate the donation of more than $1 million worth of business aircraft flight hours to transport supplies, equipment, medical personnel and volunteers to earthquake stricken areas in Haiti. JSSI management began their commitment by purchasing 20,000 lbs of critical supplies last weekend and assisted the CARE volunteers with loading and preparing the donated aircraft for departure from Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). They will continue to provide support to CARE by assigning JSSI Technical Service Representatives to assist with aircraft loading and other tasks as needed at the FXE airport.

As an extra incentive to JSSI clients, they are waiving the requirement to pay for those flight hours flown by JSSI-covered aircraft in support of the Haiti relief effort.  Aircraft owners and operators wishing to donate their aircraft for relief flights may do so through the special NBAA Haiti resources website http://www.nbaa.org/haiti. JSSI Client Service Account Managers will be happy to assist current clients that are planning on or have already donated aircraft flight time.

“Our hearts go out to these people who have lost their families and whose homes and villages have been destroyed, “commented Lou Seno, President and CEO of JSSI.  “Our goal is to make a real impact, and these donated flights from NBAA members via the CARE network are saving lives right now, with every load of supplies that comes into Haiti. The business aviation community is full of good people that want to make a difference, and, even after a tough year like 2009, we are strong and nimble enough to make a significant impact on the Haiti relief efforts,” stated Seno.

JSSI Haiti Relief Project

Letter to Clients

January 19, 2010

Dear JSSI Client,

As President and CEO of JSSI, I am writing to ask you to consider offering your JSSI-covered aircraft to assist in the Haiti relief effort being spearheaded by the NBAA (http://www.nbaa.org/haiti) and coordinated through the Corporate Aircraft Responding to Emergencies (CARE) network.

JSSI is actively supporting the efforts of CARE by providing needed supplies to fill donated business aircraft departing multiple times per day from the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) for remote parts of Haiti. As you know, the need in Haiti is dire, and we are proud to stand with NBAA, its members and our clients to support this worthy cause. To provide a small incentive, JSSI will waive the requirement to pay for those flight hours flown by your JSSI-covered aircraft in support of the relief effort. We ask only that you contact your JSSI Client Services Account Manager or Coordinator to inform them of your trip and the hours and cycles utilized.

I want you to know that JSSI is doing all it can to have a significant impact on the Haiti relief effort. Members of the JSSI Technical Services Team have volunteered to assist with the staging and loading of supplies which is ongoing in Florida, and JSSI employees and ownership are providing personal financial support to the cause. Please visit the JSSI website at www.jetsupport.com to learn how you can join with JSSI to help the people of Haiti. Together, we will save lives!

As a final note, throughout much of 2009, our industry was maligned by both the media and our government leaders. Now we have a tremendous opportunity to show the world that business aviation is responsive and leading the way in its efforts to respond to crisis and truly make a difference.

Sincerely,

Louis C. Seno
President and CEO

Letter to JSSI Employees

January 19, 2010

Dear JSSI colleagues,

This is a follow-up to our letter to you on Friday regarding the crisis in Haiti, which we published in the form of a Special Edition of The JSSI Buzz. It is amazing what we have achieved already, but there is so much yet to be done. And time is not on our side!

You will be proud to learn of the committed work of JSSI people over the weekend, which resulted in business aviation aircraft, loaded with critical medical supplies, water and food, flying into areas of Haiti that needed them the most. Under the leadership of Elizabeth Rogers, we were able to cut through confusion and red tape to work with an organization called CARE, which stands for Corporate Aircraft Responding in Emergencies. CARE was created after the Katrina Hurricane and is logistically coordinating the donations of NBAA members of over 300,000 flight hours to provide aid to Haiti. We have supported the cause by providing needed supplies to fill the aircraft with the necessary cargo. Over the weekend, Joe DaGrosa, Jim Levy and Jim’s business partner, Dave Cleary, personally purchased approximately 20,000 pounds of supplies, including water, soy milk, baby formula, ace bandages, diapers and other critical items. They coordinated with the folks at CARE and Windsor Jet, at the Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) Airport, to connect the needed supplies with the available aircraft. The flights JSSI supported went to areas of Haiti that were receiving little or no aid in the Jacmel region. We truly are making a difference! Please see the photos attached to this e-mail, which depict the supplies that we provided and some of the volunteers in Fort Lauderdale.

Many of you have inquired about how you can best make your donations. Please make checks payable to JSSI and refer to the JSSI Haitian Relief Project in the memo line. We will make certain that you receive necessary paperwork to support the tax deductibility of your gift. We have learned of the work of an organization called Partners In Health (PIH) that we intend to support with your donations. Please check out their website at http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti to learn about the amazing work they have been doing in Haiti, as well as other impoverished nations, to provide critical medical care. Your donations will go to this noble cause. PIH has been actively supporting Haiti for over 20 years and receives tremendously high marks as a charity, with over 94% of their funds going to support the programs they offer, and only 6% utilized for administration and other expenses of their organization. We feel confident that every dollar you donate will be put to significant use, and quickly, to help alleviate suffering in Haiti.

In the days to come, please keep an eye on the JSSI website to get current information on JSSI’s charitable efforts, including results of your donations, JSSI’s provision of personnel to assist CARE with their efforts at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, and our decision to offer free flight hours to support our clients who provide their aircraft to assist the cause.

Thank you in advance for whatever you can do to support this worthy endeavor.

Sincerely,
Bob Book, Chairman
Joe DaGrosa, Vice Chairman
Lou Seno, CEO
January 15th 2010

Letter to JSSI Employees

Dear JSSI colleagues,

By now, you have learned of the dire and tragic situation in the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Haiti. JSSI, its friends, as well as the entire business aviation industry, have an opportunity now to make a difference. We believe in the adage that “by doing good we also do well” and are taking swift action to mobilize the resources necessary to assist the Haitian people in this critical time of need.
One way we can help is financially. Bob Book and Joe DaGrosa have committed a personal donation of $25,000. We ask each of you to seriously consider a donation to the best of your ability. Please make your checks payable to JSSI, referring to The JSSI Haitian Relief Project in the memo line of your check, and deliver your donations by Friday, January 22nd to Ashley Myers.

We are currently in communication with organizations such as The Red Cross and The Salvation Army to make certain that all our efforts are well-coordinated and effective. In addition, we are reaching out to the NBAA Leadership, our JSSI Board Members, vendors and customers, in order to have the biggest, most powerful impact we can have on this devastating situation. Please let us know if you have any additional ideas for ways that JSSI and its friends can make a difference. Through imaginative, proactive leadership, as well as the individual efforts of each of us, no matter how significant, we are certain to have an impact.

We will keep you informed as we learn the specific relief that JSSI and its friends may provide. For example, we may be successful in mobilizing those with aircraft to assist in airlift efforts or transportation of necessary personnel and aid. We will also look to our friends, such as SMobile, to provide possible assistance in alleviating the communications deficiencies currently being experienced. Ultimately, if we all bring our best creativity and intellect to this enormous problem, there is no limit on what we can achieve together. We ask that you seriously consider the message and request outlined in this letter and that you contact any of usdirectly with your questions and ideas.

Sincerely,
Bob Book, Chairman
Joe DaGrosa, Vice Chairman
Lou Seno, CEO

JSSI adds Phillip Dickerson as Southeast U.S. Business Development Director

Chicago, IL – December 28, 2009 – Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), the world’s largest, independent provider of hourly cost maintenance programs for the business aviation industry, announced the appointment of Phillip Dickerson as Director, Business Development for the Southeast U.S. Region.

Dickerson brings to JSSI more than thirteen years of experience in banking and equipment finance.  In his previous role as Vice President, Senior Account Manager with GE Capital Solutions, Dickerson developed GE’s light turbine corporate aircraft market in the southeastern United States. Prior to his position with GE Capital, Dickerson had a successful career with Synovus Capital Finance, where he started as a Management Associate and worked his way up to Vice President, Regional Sales Manager. He was consistently a top producer at Synovus, financing various equipment, including corporate aircraft, as well as medical, printing, computer and manufacturing equipment.  Most recently before joining JSSI, Dickerson was Senior Account Manager with Qualico Steel, Inc..

“Phillip’s extensive equipment financing background makes him a great fit for JSSI. His knowledge of asset management and all the challenges that come along with it make him an invaluable resource for our clients and potential clients in the Southeast U.S. Region,” commented Lou Seno, President and CEO of JSSI.

“I’m excited to be on board with a company that has such a great reputation within the business aviation industry,” added Dickerson. “These times are challenging for aircraft owners, and JSSI programs provide an exceptional tool for managing valuable assets.”

Phillip Dickerson is a graduate of Troy University with a major in Accounting and is an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society and Children’s Miracle Network.

About Jet Support Services, Inc.

Founded in 1989, JSSI is the only independent provider of hourly cost maintenance programs for aircraft engines and airframes. JSSI provides its customers with comprehensive, flexible and affordable financial tools for managing the often unpredictable costs of operating and maintaining nearly all types of turbine-powered aircraft, including jets, turbo-props and turbine powered helicopters. JSSI serves customers globally and manages maintenance services through its worldwide infrastructure of certified technical service representatives.  For more information please visit www.jetsupport.com.