Pilots

What do Good Morning Vietnam, the first Friday the Thirteenth movie, Tonka toy commercials, and a flight instruction/charter operation on the British Virgin Island of Tortola have in common? Barry Abrams. Owner, operator, and chief pilot of Fly BVI, Abrams is one of those rare individuals who know how to prepare for that special moment when an opportunity presents itself, and then seize it.

In the mid- to late 1960s, he was one of the first two directors of the Armed Forces Vietnam television and radio station in Saigon featuring Adrian Cronauer (later played by Robin Williams in the movie Good Morning Vietnam). After a three-year tour of duty he returned as a civilian for a year as a cameraman for ABC News. His film work took him to Firehouse Films in New York City and a long stint as a commercial and documentary director, including specializing in ads for kids, such as Kenner Toys and McDonalds. Along the way he took a break from the family fare to work as cameraman for the first in the seemingly endless series of Friday the Thirteenth films. So, where does the flying come in? Well, it was there all along, a skill being built, nurtured, and held as an ace in the hole for a future career play. As a boy in Texas, Abrams began learning to fly at the age of 15, earning his private certificate in 1966; and for the kid with boundless energy, it was the one time he had to sit still and not mind it. "I've never been quite sure what I like about aviation, but it's perfect for me. I like learning new things, and every day there's something new."

Flying would resurface in a big way twice in Abrams' life. Once, using his G.I. Bill benefits, he lived for awhile in Hawaii while he worked his way through the ratings earning his multi, instrument, and instructor ratings and his commercial certificate. From there it was back to New York for a few years as an instructor and charter pilot. Gradually the film business took over and aviation receded a bit.

In the late 1970s two new passions entered his life. He met and married his wife, Nikki, and they learned that they loved sailing. In 1980, they bought a boat that they would sail throughout the Northeast for 10 years. It was also in 1980 that they made their first trip to the British Virgin Islands (BVI). They became divers and dive instructors, and returned annually to the islands. "We dreamed about coming to the BVI and running a boat charter; it was our obsession. So finally we just sold everything in New York and moved here. It was surprisingly painless."

For a year they were dive masters, doing three dives a day. Then, a contract charter company offered them what they thought was their big break, their chance to run a crewed charter yacht. Reality set in. "We found out that you start at 5 a.m. and finish at 11 at night. The rest of the time is your own. After five or six cruises, we said, 'Forget about this.'"

It was then that Nikki made the suggestion that would again change their lives. Why shouldn't Barry apply for a trade license as a flight instructor in the BVI? He had the skills; they loved the islands and wanted to stay, so why not?

Barry worked sailing the Galapagos for six months until the trade license was approved, and Fly BVI was born on October 1, 1992. "The government was perfectly happy to have us here; we've had wonderful support from day one." They began instructing and sightseeing rides in a Cessna 172 that ran on auto fuel. Later, as business grew and customers began asking for air taxi and charter service, Abrams realized that they needed to be running a Part 135 operation. "We were awarded an air carrier certificate in May of 1993, but then we ran into Catch-22. The FAA said no Part 135 on auto gas. We had to go out and buy another airplane, also a 172, then a Piper Aztec."

A year later, along with the two 172s and the Aztec, Fly BVI owned and operated a Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander and the operation's pride and joy, a Cessna 404. Nikki runs the office and Barry flies along with contract pilots, ranging from their mid-20s to a retired airline captain. "It's a huge amount of work, but Nikki and I have the attitude for doing hard work. Besides, we're very happy here. We love the climate and the people, and we fly really neat airplanes to beautiful places."

Abrams recalls his first overwater flight to the BVI with Nikki and offers a bit of advice to those who contemplate the trip. "We came down in a Cessna 182, flying the whole trip practically with the life raft stuck under my arm, ready to deploy. The reality was that we were frightened, we worried about fuel stops — everything. Then we realized that it was pretty straightforward. So, do your preflight planning, read all the books, and when you get ready to go, just relax. It'll be a learning experience, and the best thing to learn is to have the attitude for the entire Caribbean, to operate on 'island time.'"

As to how the past became the present and how he sees the future, Abrams says, "We were extremely fortunate. I was ready to leave a business of 20 years. We had some money saved up and we were lucky. But we also had amassed the skills that it would take, and we weren't afraid to try. I don't see us leaving — we're very happy here."