Thank you Paul and Angel for all that Island Airways contributes to making Beaver Island a better and safer place to live and visit. Discounted tickets, although appreciated, are just a small part of what you do everyday for BI. You are the longest running, most reliable, most flown and only Island based air carrier. You have been there for us through thick and thin. You have made air service your life's mission for the best interest of everyone's pleasure or emergency flying.
I'm hearing that a group of small minded, short sighted people are exploring having a fly by night (literally) emergency air service cross the lake to provide what Joe Moore refers to as part of the "Time to Definitive Care". In an emergency situation, wouldn't you prefer a local, qualified and proven emergency carrier on the Island, ready to go 24/7, rather than to be told, "hang on, don't die, they will send someone here as soon as they can get ahold of a pilot and plane on the other side"? In an emergency, you may be on the "other side" of life before that plane arrives.
If what I'm hearing has any semblance of truth, this is not a business decision but a personal decision that effects everyone of us but especially Paul and Angel who must view it as very personal in light of all they do for the Island.
Take it from one who has flown that midnight express off the Island to Charlevoix for emergency care, Paul and Angel have earned their wings many times over.
Kirk D. McBride
Op-Ed
Moderator: Gillespie