Options Amid Chaos: An Architect’s Story from Post-Maria Puerto Rico – Part II
San Juan’s largest airport, Luis Muñoz Marín International, opened two days after Maria on September 22 using backup power. Controllers operated under see and be seen rules because radar systems were out. Pilots arrived and departed the airport by watching for each other’s planes and staying out of each other’s way. San Juan’s executive airport also reopened, handling a steady flow of arrivals and departures. Gonzalo Ferrer noticed something different about the air traffic. “We were getting gas for our cars, with a 10 gallon limit, at a marina near San Juan’s private airport,” Mr. Ferrer said. “The numbers and kinds of planes taking off were incredible. Not single-engine planes either: these were turbine-powered, like Challengers, Falcons, King Airs, all kinds of fancy private planes.” One of those jets could have belonged to Tampa cardiologist Kiran Patel. He dispatched his plane carrying over 6,000 pounds of supplies. Dr. Patel’s story, …
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