My mom's 90. This Year she decided the rigours of commercial airline travel was no longer a wise way go. Having been a saver all her life the expense of charter did turn her around a bit. Wisdom prevailed over the frugality ingrained by a New England upbringing and charter she did.
When she felt it was time to leave Abaco we called Sky Limo Air Charter, a new service in town, and booked a flight from Treasure Cay to Wilmington, NC. In Fort Lauderdale, where the service is based, we dealt with Gavin Monson who is the Director of Sales.
The service and care, from our initial conversation to the moment when the two pilots delivered mother to my sister in Wilmington, was outstanding. Period.
Always looking for the opportunity in a situation this, charter seemed an excellent way to transport an electric powered stone grinding grain mill back to the States. Transporting grain to Abaco to be ground for bread making proved more complicated than anyone had anticipated. We hadn't used it in years.
Small stone grinding mills are no longer manufactured and are treasured by bread makers back home and totally worthless here. Meticulously packed for travel, the mill and box weighed 65 pounds. I assured my mother there would be no problems.
Little did we know that the United States Department Of Agriculture had over staffed their Fort Pierce Airport Office just in case someone like my mother would attempt to bring in such a machine. Customs was cleared without so much as a blip. Agriculture was a totally different story.
Transported to a special inspection room, the mill was removed from its carton and taken apart. All parts were scrubbed clean and then given some type of a radiation scan. When the officials were certain that there was no possibility of any foot and mouth disease contamination they put the mill back together and repackaged it with great care. The whole procedure took about 45 minutes.
A few of points in conclusion. We need be truly grateful to the US Government for the measures they are taking to protect our health and the economy of our farmers. Pilots Andy and Brian are to be congratulated for going through the whole ordeal without even a hint of complaint regarding the delay. And last, but not least, mother was rested, pampered, well fed, and arrived home in great shape.
In terms of cost a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Treasure Cay, the cost for five passengers is listed at $671.00. The trip is at your schedule, not the airline's. Gavin's number is 954-491-5930 or gmonson@hotmail.com.
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