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3rd Quarter 2009 Volume 01 - No. 5 |
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ARRINDELL AVIATION 20 YEARS |
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 A
pillar in St. Maarten’s aviation industry, Frank Arrindell has seen it
all in his 47 years at Princess Juliana International Airport. Three
consecutive bankruptcies of airlines he was involved in prompted him to
start Arrindell Aviation Services 20 years ago and now, at the dawn of
the company’s 20th anniversary this coming November 11th, looking back
at what he calls “a road paved with challenges,” he admits he has had
fun. “I had fun. We enjoyed what we did,” he said during a recent
interview.
He is aware of his reputation of being “difficult to deal with,” and can
even joke about it, but stresses that as far as he is concerned, that
“difficulty” is one of his strongest traits, which has helped propel his
company into the second largest employer at the airport, after the
Airport Operating Company (PJIAE). “We have touched lives here, and
there is nothing more significant than that. People call me tough, but
nice guys don’t win any battles,” he said sternly.
Mr. Arrindell started his career in July 1964 at Pan American World
Airways, after which he served as Resident manager at LIAT, before he
moved on to Eastern Airlines as Regional Manager. When the company went
belly-up in 1989, that signaled a new beginning for Mr. Arrindell; he
started his own company.
He reminisces: “We’ve had ups and downs. Desert Storm; September 11;
there were hurricanes left right and center. At times I actually felt
like giving up, like throwing in the towel. Also because contrary to
what people think, this is not a hugely profitable business. Yes, we’ve
done well for ourselves, but this company is more like a machine to
provide livelihood for people,” he said.
With close to 100 employees, “Arrindell Aviation” is the largest private
employer, handling the bigger airlines like Air France/KLM and American
Airlines. “We make a good living, but that is primarily because I have
been very fortunate enough to have been associated with some very good
people; people that enable me to work remotely from Atlanta,” said Mr.
Arrindell, mentioning John Tomlinson and current Manager Roy Mingo.
Characteristically critical of some elements in the aviation/tourism
environment today, the aviation veteran is full of compliments for PJIAE.
“Our success is in part due to the support from PJIAE,” he says.
Honestly revealing the he still has to fully come to grasps with the new
terminal building, he called on all users to take the leap into the new
era it represents.
“I will admit that I still have not let go of the old building. I have
worked there since 1962; that’s 47 years! So I am still grappling with
trying to put what it was like in the past. We used to have so much fun.
You were out the back door quickly, it was much easier to function in,
with less people and less cost,” he said, his voice laced with
nostalgia.
He said that compared to back then, the logistics that have to be
considered now make costs high and business therefore less profitable.
“I would have liked to stay in the old days, but frankly you have to
move on. I am getting used to the new building. PJIAE has handled it
well and we assist because we must move on to the next level. This is a
really nice facility. I travel the world and from what I have seen, our
airport can hold its own against all other world-class facilities out
there. We should be proud of it,” he said.
Mr. Arrindell said it is time everybody else who makes their living from
working at the airport recognizes that they too have to move up to the
higher level as well. “Some of us have not moved to that next level yet.
They still have the old mentality and they forget that this is the first
point of entry for our visitors. When you arrive and you enter the
building and you see their faces, you want to turn around and leave the
island right away. And no matter how good a time you have got, when you
leave our island after a couple of days, you encounter the most
unfriendly faces you have ever seen. It takes away from the classiness
of the building,” he said. In his opinion a lot of effort and time
should be placed in improving customer service and friendliness. “You
can spend all kinds of money to build facilities and bring people down
here, but if you don’t address these shortcomings, it’s wasted money.”
Eager to move on from that lesser note, he didn’t have to think long and
deep when asked what was his most memorable experience working at PJIA.
A gifted storyteller who has obviously been through his share of
interviews, he turned on the suspense to recount the time he was walking
through the former terminal building.
 “I saw this little old lady sitting in a wheelchair; her head a bit
leaned to the side. It looked like she was tired and maybe a bit sick. I
knew right away that I knew her, but I wasn’t sure. So I walked over to
her to ask if she needed assistance and then it hit me,” he said, not
ready to call names yet. “I asked ‘aren’t you ….,’ but she quickly told
me to ‘shhhh… hush. I don’t want anyone to know I am here’. She was on a
BWIA flight that got cancelled, so we ended up talking and even
corresponding after that.”
Obviously still undone by the enormity of that chance encounter from way
back, Mr. Arrindell paused again. “I have met all kinds of people
through my career. I have met Jacky Onassis and Henry Kissinger and even
driven the Prime Minister of Israel over the ramp to his private jet.
There is no one who knows more people on this earth than Roy Mingo and
I, but meeting Mother Theresa right there in our terminal building
really made an impression on me. It blew my mind,” he said.
Turning his attention to the impending 20th anniversary, he said he will
be happy to give back on that day. “We want to give recognition to the
people who have been there throughout the years,” he said. He mentioned
specifically former Lt. Governor Ralph Richardson who signed his
business license 20 years ago. “We also want to create a buzz around our
milestone and use it in this time of recession and business being bad to
create some awareness about our island and our company. The opportunity
is there,” he said.
On November 6, Arrindell Aviation invited guests from the St. Maarten
community and FBO clients to a gala fundraiser and the culmination of
the Princess Juliana International Airport FBO’s 20th anniversary
celebration. The fundraiser also launched Arrindell Aviation founder and
president Frank Arrindell’s Aspire organization (Arrindell supporting,
promoting,
inspiring and rewarding youth in education). An auction raised money for
the Unity Foundation with items like a Napa Valley wine country
experience; Nascar racing package; shopping getaway at Bloomingdale’s; a
Carnival cruise; and a Fashion Week experience in New York City.
“It was the 20th anniversary of the company; the anniversary year of one
of our biggest clients –KLM-; I just celebrated my 66th birthday; I just
welcomed my first grandchild into this world and I am celebrating my
wedding anniversary. I felt like throwing a party!”
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