July 9, 2025 • 25 mins
Corporate Air opens new Customs and Border Control facility enabling internatioonal flights at Vero beach Regional Airport. Rodger Pridgeon, owner, and Harry Howle, Board member, navigate the conversation.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
EGM Network.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
From Studio A in Sunny Florida. Welcome to Beauty and
the Beach Radio, where it's all about who's beautifying Vero Beach.
Today's show is brought to you by Dale Sawrenson real Estate.
And here's your host and Glamour Girl makeup artist Cindy Guests.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Hey, guys, welcome back to Beauty in the Beach Radio.
We are flying hi today you guys, that's right. You
want to stay on this show to hear all about
what is going on in Vera Beach. For all you
travelers out there, listen up. Your air travel to and
from Vera Beach got a whole lot simpler and a
(00:49):
lot more fun, especially if you like to go to
the Bahamas. Now, I know there's a lot of you
in Vera Beach that like to travel to the Bahamas.
So if you're flying by plane, you're gonna love to
hear what we're going to talk about. And we are
talking about customs and border protection. We have it right here,
brand new facility at our Vera Beach Regional Airport. And
(01:13):
you're like, Okay, Cindy, what's the big deal, Why are
you so excited about that?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Well, here we go.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Having a US customs and border protection at an airport
is important for many reasons.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I'm going to give you three. Are you ready? Number one?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
National security, number two, Public safety, number three economic prosperity.
Are US customs at an airport functions as a crucial
initial safeguard, much like the walls and roof of your home.
It addresses security requirements while also allowing lawful travel and commerce.
(01:51):
Now we have a local business, Corporate Air, to thank
for our new customs facility. Before Corporate Air opened at
last month, international flights were required to make a stop
at another airport for customer clearance customs clearancexcuse me before
arriving at the Vera Beach Regional Airport. Now, why does
(02:12):
this matter? So let me introduce you to my guest
who can answer that question. So, my first guest. He
graduated high school in New York, then college at Riverside
School of Aeronautics. Hired by Chautauqua Airlines as director of maintenance. Okay,
(02:32):
he shorthanded dom I'm like, I think that's director of maintenance.
From nineteen seventy eight to nineteen eighty seven, he opened
Corporate Air in Vera Beach in nineteen eighty six with
the first building hangar on Airport West Drive. He added
fuel sales in nineteen ninety six and completed eight hangars.
You guys, over time, our guest built a new private
(02:55):
jet terminal in twenty eighteen. In his most recent and depth,
he spearheaded the construction of Vera's inaugural US Customs facility
right here in this year twenty twenty five. He's married
to Diana Pridgeon, four children and five grandchildren. Please welcome
(03:16):
for the first time on Beauty in the Beach Radio,
Roger Pridgeon.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
That's a mouthful, that's a lot it is. You did
a good job.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Yeah, and you're so young. Oh, I don't know about that.
Of course.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
The five grandchildren are probably giving you away a little bit,
just a little bit.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
I had him when I started having kids when.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
I was twelve.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
There you go, There you go, Roger. We also have
with us. Thank you for being here. Someone we love.
No stranger to Vera Beach. He's married to Heather. He
went to Florida State University. He lived in Vera Beach,
has lived in Vera Beach since nineteen eighty eight. He
works in insurance risk management with Gotsman and Associates. He
(03:59):
currently is affiliated with Sotheby's International Reality.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Former Mayor of Vera.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Beach uh and currently Rogers serves on your board at
Corporate Air and you may also know him as Mayor
fancy Pants.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Please welcome back to Beating the Beach Radio, Harry.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
How thank you very much, Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
A little pressure because you know, I asked you, Harry,
to wear fancy pants today.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
So what happens?
Speaker 5 (04:26):
I have a plethora.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
They're nice, Thank you.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
I have a plethora of fancy pants.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I really do.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
That's my thing.
Speaker 7 (04:33):
I enjoy it even I have a sandwich at public
it's called Mayor Mayor fancy pants.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
But today I just couldn't pull it off. I just couldn't.
I couldn't pull it off.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
It's only one hundred degrees so hot.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
I thought maybe shorts are going to be more appropriate
with the shorts today.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Okay, well looks great. I love it.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You've got stripes, You've got I think some fish on
there or something fish.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
I've got a little kind of a meant thing going on. Yeah, yeah,
it's nice. I like it.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I like Harry.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Okay, So let's dive right in.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
So you know, I asked earlier, why does this matter
having a why are we so excited about having a
customs facility right here Forry Beach. But before we do,
I want to kind of go back a little bit, Roger.
I want to ask you, if you know, tell me
about your journey with your love with aviation.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
Yes, started at a young age. I loved airplanes. I'd
go outside, you know, we live in a very rural community.
I'd see these eggplanes flying over my head and I
was just fascinated. So as a young child, I would
I would make small airplanes and build them and wind
them up rower bands and fly them, and then remote planes.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
It was.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
It was a passion.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I was not the paper planes that we did in
school sounds like yours.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Was a little more legit, a little.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Bit more legit actually propelled in the area. So I
was mechanically inclined. I loved the maintenance, the the mechanical
So I I got introduced by my mechanical drawing teacher
in high school to go flying. And it was my
first time in an airplane, a private airplane. Look at
me take the controls, and I just was hooked, and
(06:07):
I said, this is what I want to do. I
want to be in some aviation. So I went to
school with aviation technology and got my license with that
and immediately got hired with the airlines and that was
my start, and that's what brought me to Vero Beach
from New York State and at a twenty one years old,
they said here's the airplanes. Here you go, Roger, this
(06:30):
is your time to shine. And I was like, wow,
you guys are letting me do this and I have
no supervision. And after just one year of experience, they
gave me these commuter commuter airplanes to maintain and it
was probably the scariest thing, but probably the best thing
that ever happened to me because it made me know
(06:50):
and learn aviation from the ground up. And I stayed
with them for ten years and they ended up moving
out of the state, and so there was a year
of doing both.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I did both.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
I started my own business and was working two jobs,
my own job and the airlines. And when they left,
I had built my first hangar on Airport West. In
the newspaper article it said first in the West.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Oh. I like that.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Yeah, So that's where it started.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
And it just kind of blossoms from there.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
You know, I know, your new stranger to the Blue
Angels that come every other year here to Vera Beach,
and it's a big deal at our airport. And I
had the pleasure of interviewing one of them, and one
thing that really was so important to them is mentioning
the maintenance crew and how important the whole maintenance part
(07:46):
is to that one aircraft, like the whole team.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So it is a huge deal.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
It's not seen, but it's very important. It's a level
of comfort. When you get an airplane. You have to
know that the people that you're lying on are are
excellent people, very conscientious and caring and devoted and meticulous,
and that those are those are very important factors to
(08:14):
have in the business.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
I would use those characteristics to just describe you.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Roger.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Oh really well, thank you.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Thank you, Harry.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
I want to ask you, since I'm going to tag
on on this with Roger, you know what got you
excited about aviation and being on the board at Corporate air.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Well, first of all, I like everything with a motor
in it. Okay, you're a boy, but yeah, boy.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
Especially plans. I mean, there's nothing like the freedom of flying.
I've always wanted my my license to fly, my pilot's license,
licensed to fly a pilot's license. I've never attained it.
Maybe that's a lifelong drink I can still fulfill. But
it just is intriguing to me. And Roger has put
together such a wonderful facility over there. I mean there's
(09:00):
nothing there's really I'm not kidding, there's really nothing like
it in and around the area. So it's it's a
fantastic facility. I love being a part of it, and
it gets me as close as possible to you know,
bring involved with aviation as I can.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Get, smell the jet fuel.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Gushap.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So, Roger, what does customs and border protection mean for
your corporate air customers? I know we had a chance
to talk off air and you were like, gosh, they
really been asking me to do this.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
What does it mean to your customers?
Speaker 6 (09:36):
Well, it's I've had a lot of question, you know,
a lot of requests over the years. You know, why
don't you bring customers in? You know, we we we
have to stop in Fort Pierras. We we don't like it.
You know, it's it's a very inconvenient, But so I
listened to them and I knew it was a it
was a missing niche in the business because we do
(09:58):
so much, so many different things in the business from
hangars to fuel to maintenance and charter that that was
about the only thing that really would really put the
put the nail in it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (10:13):
Really, it really help us out. So you got to
listen to your customers and provide, you know, if you
can to what there needs. And it it's it was
a it was a win win, and it's it's it's
a it's a thirty percent boost that we're where we
would love to have as a X to A.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
That's significant thirty percent, thirty percent more volume coming to
Very Beach Airport.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
That's right, That's that's what's amazing.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
That's what the Stewart experience, That's what Boca experienced with
the identical same facility.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
That we have.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
I I think I read a quote maybe from you,
but it looks like you had mentioned that for your
corporate air customers and that extra thirty percent that by
having this facility, this customs facility, you're improving their safety,
eliminating low altitude flights, decreasing noise pollution from extra flights
(11:10):
and ultimately enhancing the overall flying experience.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
That's a lot.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
It's it's amazingly convenient when you when you look at
the customer that is flying, that's paying a lot of money.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
There there is a time machine.
Speaker 6 (11:26):
It's an inconvenience for them to stop, unload, be screened,
load back up, income to viral. Not only that, but
it's for a large jet. It's it's it could be
anywhere between three to five thousand dollars depending on the size,
just to run a short distance from Fort Pierce to.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Viral in times money, it's more more, it's time as well,
in addition to the actual fee. Yes to you know,
land somewhere else, jet back, you know, fuel back up
and you know, yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
It is on of course when you're traveling internationally sometimes
is tiring because you're going a long distance. Yeah, and uh,
they just want to get there and what we'll have,
we'll have their cars ready for them. They just get out,
the luggage is put in their cars and they just
get in and go home. So it's it's it's a
major step that's eliminated for that man. The one nice
(12:18):
thing about the customs. It's a user fee facility, meaning
that ah, we hire, we pay the customers agent. We
have a say so if we don't like him, he's
not treating the customers right, we have a say. And
there's horror stories about you know, the rude customs agents,
(12:39):
the agent that that put this guy through hell, and
you know we we're on top of that. We're not
going to allow that to happen.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I love that and.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Uh so that that's a the customer wants that, so
we we are here to please the customer.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
I'm Roger. Give us a bird's eye view. And and here,
I know you've been along the ride for this as well.
Give us a bird's eye view, and Harry jump in
if you can to on maybe all the red tape.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
But I know there had to been a huge process
to make this happen. It didn't happen overnight. I'm sure
you know, started with a thought and then on paper
and then talking to people. And give us that bird's
eye view of the multifaceted process of establishing customs and
border protection right here in our town.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
What what was that process like?
Speaker 8 (13:25):
Well, first you have the.
Speaker 6 (13:26):
Idea, the vision, and the vision was was always strong,
we need to do this. I met Harry uh through
the City Council and of course he came up in
this pink shorts and we saw him coming with his
and he came to my grand opening at the at
the FBO, and.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
I said, who is this guy? What is he wearing?
Speaker 8 (13:49):
Anyway, he's very important. So you can't judge a book
by the cover, but it was, it was. It was
a great, great experience.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
We've we've we've bonded in a in a great way.
And but the whole process started there. We then went
to the City Council to get approval. With the City Council,
Harry wrote a letter to Governor Scott to get that
part going once that's the first thing you've got to
get approval, and so Rick Scott approved, send us a letter.
(14:24):
Then we submit a feasibility study. Was a very lengthy
process to see if it's feasible to have it in
Viral Beach, and it was very feasible. We sent that
to Customs and then once they agreed on it, then
we start with the building plans and the the rigorous
back and forth of making sure that we're in compliance.
(14:47):
And that's that's what was probably the most lengthy process there.
That was probably three three years.
Speaker 7 (14:53):
And if you think that building a home or a
commercial building is difficult when planned with the building department,
all the rules, et cetera, it doesn't hold a candle
to dealing with customs and border patrol and FAA and
all the red tape and the state and federal government laws,
regulations and oversight.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
It's absolutely I would say this is one of the
hardest projects I've ever been a part of.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
I've built ten buildings at the airport, and this, you know,
you look at it, it looks like just a building,
but when you go in and you see the schematics
and all the interior wiring and communication and surveillance, it's
just phenomenal. And then the one room just with all
the radio equipment, it's it's quite a chore.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
So if we could, because this is radio theater of
the mine, if we could, you know, kind of take
people in that front door, just give them a visual
of what's going to happen. They come in and you've
got a little desk set set up there, and I
believe that's where they actually are coming from the back
to pay.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Is that correct? For the service.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Yeah, first state, they'll fly in.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
I'm sorry they're coming in the other way. I came
in the front, we came back.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Yeah, So it starts off as they come into the
red box. Sure, and our linemen will know it's an
international flight. They know where to put them. They park
in the red box. The customs agents will meet them
in the red box and they will bring them in
for processing. So whoever's going to clear, you got to
have your passports. Sometimes they'll make them bring the luggage
in sometimes not. The one big thing concern is international garbage.
(16:28):
I mean they we gotta we got to handle the
garbage and incinerate that, and then they come inside process
them and if they're staying the passengers, will you come
through and clear. Usually the pilot will take care of
any payment that because it's user fee. We do charge
for this, and uh, then they're they're willing to they're
(16:50):
ready to go after that.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
So you you've got you know kind of what it
looks like when you're checking in checking your luggage at
the airport. You've got kind of a conveyor belt. You've
got at the glass side there. I guess we're the
officers on the other side of that, and you've actually
got rooms.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
You've got can I say cells.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Room, yeah, yeah, and a place where they can be
uh searched, private room for search. I'm sure this was
all being compliant, you know. So it was pretty impressive,
very clean, very very clean. And Harry, you you mentioned
something I just want to add to what you were saying,
how hard it was. If you think you know building
(17:36):
a home is hard, try this. You were even saying
when I did the tour, you looked at the handle
that we on the door that we were in another
in year slay in Cindy, you can't even you have
to use a specific handle that's right, like down to
the handles I was.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
I was like, they have to be at a certain
height and and the I don't know if Roger from exaggerating,
but I seen remember a discussion about well, the toilet
handle can't be on this side of the toilet, it
has to be on the other side of the toilet.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Well, now, actually in the holding cell, they're not allowed
to flush the toilet. It's a remote flush because of drugs. Sure,
so they can't even they can't even operate the toilet
that the officer from outside has a button to flush
the toilet.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
That's all. That's the button, I think the officers said
on the tour. All right, you guys now the rest
of the story.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
So I'm here with Roger and I'm here with Harry.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
We're talking about the new customs facility that Corporate Air
has has built for us, and we have to go
to a station breaks to stay with us. We'll be
right back.
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Speaker 3 (21:04):
All right, hey guys, welcome back to Beauty the Beach
Radio City against your housband's all about his beautifying Vera Beach.
We want to thank Dale Sorenson Real Estate for always
making sure that we're on air and we can share
great stories like having a brand new customs facility right
here in Vera Beach. So Dale Swarns in real Estate.
Whether you're buying or selling, definitely reach out to them.
They've been family owned since nineteen seventy eight. You can
(21:26):
find them at seven seven two two three one four
seven one two. You can also find them at Swarnsonrealestate
dot com. Thank you, Dale Sorenson real Estate. We also
want to thank Verietals and more. They always make sure
we have lovely beverages for our guests. So Varietals right
there on Royal Palm Point.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Go see them. They have so many wonderful things there.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Be sure to mention Beauty in the Beach Radio and
you do get a ten percent discount. I am closing
out the show with Roger and Harry. We're talking about
the new US customs facility right in at our Beer
Beach Airport. This does make us very Beach international airport.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Well, it's just an a regional.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
It's definitely an international airport. If I can convince the
city to change the.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Name to international and it's like that, that's like, hey,
what can you do about that?
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Well, you know, we can always have a conversation because
in fact it is, it's an international national airport.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
Yeah, and really the.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
Regional doesn't mean I don't I don't know what the
definition regional really means and what the what the reason
for changing it was.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Okay, guys, I can't believe this. The show has flown. Roger, Harry.
I'm going to give you one minute each. Harry, I'm
going to start with you. We'll finish with Roger final
thoughts about the new customs facility here.
Speaker 7 (22:47):
In vo I became involved with corporate are in either
I believe it's twenty nineteen. I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Roger Prison is probably one of the the most. He
is some of the most foresight of any business owner
I've seen in town. He does terrific things. He's driven,
(23:08):
he wants what's best for the community. I don't know
if you know this, but he does a lot of
philanthrothropic stuff for the city and has for years. I'm
so glad to be involved with it. With the addition
of customs, it's just going to add value added service
to the airport. It's going to attract more people, and
let's be honest, some of these people are going to
have the wherewithal to spend money in our county and
(23:30):
in our city. It's eventually going to be a boost
to our economy. I'm really happy and proud about that.
It was a lot of work and I can't thank
Roger enough for bringing me on board to be a
part of it because it feels really good.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
That's awesome. We need to see you in the skies now. Next,
that's the next step, flight lessons.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
You want to be my co pilot?
Speaker 4 (23:49):
I would really I.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Would love to take flight lessons, absolutely, but I like
to drive.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
Roger, let's finish it out with you.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
What are your final thoughts on this new endeavor that
you have created here with a custom service for our
community real quick.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
It was a long time coming. It was well worth it,
and I don't regret any of the time. And but
it's not just me.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
I had a lot of help.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
It took a whole community to come together, from the
city to the to the airport customs, some political people,
uh my customers there there. It took a lot, but
I don't regret it. I think it's going to bring quality,
quality growth to the airport, to the end to the
city because the type of people that are attracted to
(24:39):
private air travel, and so that's that's important.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
All right, Roger and Harry, thank you so much. You guys,
thank you for being here.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
You got to go check them out over the Vierbeat
Airport Corporate air all right, thanks guys.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
Thanks, thank you. I enjoyed it.
EGM Network.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
From Studio A in Sunny Florida. Welcome to Beauty and
the Beach Radio, where it's all about who's beautifying Vero Beach.
Today's show is brought to you by Dale Sawrenson real Estate.
And here's your host and Glamour Girl makeup artist Cindy Guests.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Hey, guys, welcome back to Beauty in the Beach Radio.
We are flying hi today you guys, that's right. You
want to stay on this show to hear all about
what is going on in Vera Beach. For all you
travelers out there, listen up. Your air travel to and
from Vera Beach got a whole lot simpler and a
(00:49):
lot more fun, especially if you like to go to
the Bahamas. Now, I know there's a lot of you
in Vera Beach that like to travel to the Bahamas.
So if you're flying by plane, you're gonna love to
hear what we're going to talk about. And we are
talking about customs and border protection. We have it right here,
brand new facility at our Vera Beach Regional Airport. And
(01:13):
you're like, Okay, Cindy, what's the big deal, Why are
you so excited about that?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Well, here we go.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Having a US customs and border protection at an airport
is important for many reasons.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I'm going to give you three. Are you ready? Number one?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
National security, number two, Public safety, number three economic prosperity.
Are US customs at an airport functions as a crucial
initial safeguard, much like the walls and roof of your home.
It addresses security requirements while also allowing lawful travel and commerce.
(01:51):
Now we have a local business, Corporate Air, to thank
for our new customs facility. Before Corporate Air opened at
last month, international flights were required to make a stop
at another airport for customer clearance customs clearancexcuse me before
arriving at the Vera Beach Regional Airport. Now, why does
(02:12):
this matter? So let me introduce you to my guest
who can answer that question. So, my first guest. He
graduated high school in New York, then college at Riverside
School of Aeronautics. Hired by Chautauqua Airlines as director of maintenance. Okay,
(02:32):
he shorthanded dom I'm like, I think that's director of maintenance.
From nineteen seventy eight to nineteen eighty seven, he opened
Corporate Air in Vera Beach in nineteen eighty six with
the first building hangar on Airport West Drive. He added
fuel sales in nineteen ninety six and completed eight hangars.
You guys, over time, our guest built a new private
(02:55):
jet terminal in twenty eighteen. In his most recent and depth,
he spearheaded the construction of Vera's inaugural US Customs facility
right here in this year twenty twenty five. He's married
to Diana Pridgeon, four children and five grandchildren. Please welcome
(03:16):
for the first time on Beauty in the Beach Radio,
Roger Pridgeon.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
That's a mouthful, that's a lot it is. You did
a good job.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Yeah, and you're so young. Oh, I don't know about that.
Of course.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
The five grandchildren are probably giving you away a little bit,
just a little bit.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
I had him when I started having kids when.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
I was twelve.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
There you go, There you go, Roger. We also have
with us. Thank you for being here. Someone we love.
No stranger to Vera Beach. He's married to Heather. He
went to Florida State University. He lived in Vera Beach,
has lived in Vera Beach since nineteen eighty eight. He
works in insurance risk management with Gotsman and Associates. He
(03:59):
currently is affiliated with Sotheby's International Reality.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Former Mayor of Vera.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Beach uh and currently Rogers serves on your board at
Corporate Air and you may also know him as Mayor
fancy Pants.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Please welcome back to Beating the Beach Radio, Harry.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
How thank you very much, Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
A little pressure because you know, I asked you, Harry,
to wear fancy pants today.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
So what happens?
Speaker 5 (04:26):
I have a plethora.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
They're nice, Thank you.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
I have a plethora of fancy pants.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I really do.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
That's my thing.
Speaker 7 (04:33):
I enjoy it even I have a sandwich at public
it's called Mayor Mayor fancy pants.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
But today I just couldn't pull it off. I just couldn't.
I couldn't pull it off.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
It's only one hundred degrees so hot.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
I thought maybe shorts are going to be more appropriate
with the shorts today.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Okay, well looks great. I love it.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You've got stripes, You've got I think some fish on
there or something fish.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
I've got a little kind of a meant thing going on. Yeah, yeah,
it's nice. I like it.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I like Harry.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Okay, So let's dive right in.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
So you know, I asked earlier, why does this matter
having a why are we so excited about having a
customs facility right here Forry Beach. But before we do,
I want to kind of go back a little bit, Roger.
I want to ask you, if you know, tell me
about your journey with your love with aviation.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
Yes, started at a young age. I loved airplanes. I'd
go outside, you know, we live in a very rural community.
I'd see these eggplanes flying over my head and I
was just fascinated. So as a young child, I would
I would make small airplanes and build them and wind
them up rower bands and fly them, and then remote planes.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
It was.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
It was a passion.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I was not the paper planes that we did in
school sounds like yours.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Was a little more legit, a little.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Bit more legit actually propelled in the area. So I
was mechanically inclined. I loved the maintenance, the the mechanical
So I I got introduced by my mechanical drawing teacher
in high school to go flying. And it was my
first time in an airplane, a private airplane. Look at
me take the controls, and I just was hooked, and
(06:07):
I said, this is what I want to do. I
want to be in some aviation. So I went to
school with aviation technology and got my license with that
and immediately got hired with the airlines and that was
my start, and that's what brought me to Vero Beach
from New York State and at a twenty one years old,
they said here's the airplanes. Here you go, Roger, this
(06:30):
is your time to shine. And I was like, wow,
you guys are letting me do this and I have
no supervision. And after just one year of experience, they
gave me these commuter commuter airplanes to maintain and it
was probably the scariest thing, but probably the best thing
that ever happened to me because it made me know
(06:50):
and learn aviation from the ground up. And I stayed
with them for ten years and they ended up moving
out of the state, and so there was a year
of doing both.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I did both.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
I started my own business and was working two jobs,
my own job and the airlines. And when they left,
I had built my first hangar on Airport West. In
the newspaper article it said first in the West.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Oh. I like that.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Yeah, So that's where it started.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
And it just kind of blossoms from there.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
You know, I know, your new stranger to the Blue
Angels that come every other year here to Vera Beach,
and it's a big deal at our airport. And I
had the pleasure of interviewing one of them, and one
thing that really was so important to them is mentioning
the maintenance crew and how important the whole maintenance part
(07:46):
is to that one aircraft, like the whole team.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So it is a huge deal.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
It's not seen, but it's very important. It's a level
of comfort. When you get an airplane. You have to
know that the people that you're lying on are are
excellent people, very conscientious and caring and devoted and meticulous,
and that those are those are very important factors to
(08:14):
have in the business.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
I would use those characteristics to just describe you.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Roger.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Oh really well, thank you.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Thank you, Harry.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
I want to ask you, since I'm going to tag
on on this with Roger, you know what got you
excited about aviation and being on the board at Corporate air.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Well, first of all, I like everything with a motor
in it. Okay, you're a boy, but yeah, boy.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
Especially plans. I mean, there's nothing like the freedom of flying.
I've always wanted my my license to fly, my pilot's license,
licensed to fly a pilot's license. I've never attained it.
Maybe that's a lifelong drink I can still fulfill. But
it just is intriguing to me. And Roger has put
together such a wonderful facility over there. I mean there's
(09:00):
nothing there's really I'm not kidding, there's really nothing like
it in and around the area. So it's it's a
fantastic facility. I love being a part of it, and
it gets me as close as possible to you know,
bring involved with aviation as I can.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Get, smell the jet fuel.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Gushap.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So, Roger, what does customs and border protection mean for
your corporate air customers? I know we had a chance
to talk off air and you were like, gosh, they
really been asking me to do this.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
What does it mean to your customers?
Speaker 6 (09:36):
Well, it's I've had a lot of question, you know,
a lot of requests over the years. You know, why
don't you bring customers in? You know, we we we
have to stop in Fort Pierras. We we don't like it.
You know, it's it's a very inconvenient, But so I
listened to them and I knew it was a it
was a missing niche in the business because we do
(09:58):
so much, so many different things in the business from
hangars to fuel to maintenance and charter that that was
about the only thing that really would really put the
put the nail in it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (10:13):
Really, it really help us out. So you got to
listen to your customers and provide, you know, if you
can to what there needs. And it it's it was
a it was a win win, and it's it's it's
a it's a thirty percent boost that we're where we
would love to have as a X to A.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
That's significant thirty percent, thirty percent more volume coming to
Very Beach Airport.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
That's right, That's that's what's amazing.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
That's what the Stewart experience, That's what Boca experienced with
the identical same facility.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
That we have.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
I I think I read a quote maybe from you,
but it looks like you had mentioned that for your
corporate air customers and that extra thirty percent that by
having this facility, this customs facility, you're improving their safety,
eliminating low altitude flights, decreasing noise pollution from extra flights
(11:10):
and ultimately enhancing the overall flying experience.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
That's a lot.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
It's it's amazingly convenient when you when you look at
the customer that is flying, that's paying a lot of money.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
There there is a time machine.
Speaker 6 (11:26):
It's an inconvenience for them to stop, unload, be screened,
load back up, income to viral. Not only that, but
it's for a large jet. It's it's it could be
anywhere between three to five thousand dollars depending on the size,
just to run a short distance from Fort Pierce to.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Viral in times money, it's more more, it's time as well,
in addition to the actual fee. Yes to you know,
land somewhere else, jet back, you know, fuel back up
and you know, yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
It is on of course when you're traveling internationally sometimes
is tiring because you're going a long distance. Yeah, and uh,
they just want to get there and what we'll have,
we'll have their cars ready for them. They just get out,
the luggage is put in their cars and they just
get in and go home. So it's it's it's a
major step that's eliminated for that man. The one nice
(12:18):
thing about the customs. It's a user fee facility, meaning
that ah, we hire, we pay the customers agent. We
have a say so if we don't like him, he's
not treating the customers right, we have a say. And
there's horror stories about you know, the rude customs agents,
(12:39):
the agent that that put this guy through hell, and
you know we we're on top of that. We're not
going to allow that to happen.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I love that and.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Uh so that that's a the customer wants that, so
we we are here to please the customer.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
I'm Roger. Give us a bird's eye view. And and here,
I know you've been along the ride for this as well.
Give us a bird's eye view, and Harry jump in
if you can to on maybe all the red tape.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
But I know there had to been a huge process
to make this happen. It didn't happen overnight. I'm sure
you know, started with a thought and then on paper
and then talking to people. And give us that bird's
eye view of the multifaceted process of establishing customs and
border protection right here in our town.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
What what was that process like?
Speaker 8 (13:25):
Well, first you have the.
Speaker 6 (13:26):
Idea, the vision, and the vision was was always strong,
we need to do this. I met Harry uh through
the City Council and of course he came up in
this pink shorts and we saw him coming with his
and he came to my grand opening at the at
the FBO, and.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
I said, who is this guy? What is he wearing?
Speaker 8 (13:49):
Anyway, he's very important. So you can't judge a book
by the cover, but it was, it was. It was
a great, great experience.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
We've we've we've bonded in a in a great way.
And but the whole process started there. We then went
to the City Council to get approval. With the City Council,
Harry wrote a letter to Governor Scott to get that
part going once that's the first thing you've got to
get approval, and so Rick Scott approved, send us a letter.
(14:24):
Then we submit a feasibility study. Was a very lengthy
process to see if it's feasible to have it in
Viral Beach, and it was very feasible. We sent that
to Customs and then once they agreed on it, then
we start with the building plans and the the rigorous
back and forth of making sure that we're in compliance.
(14:47):
And that's that's what was probably the most lengthy process there.
That was probably three three years.
Speaker 7 (14:53):
And if you think that building a home or a
commercial building is difficult when planned with the building department,
all the rules, et cetera, it doesn't hold a candle
to dealing with customs and border patrol and FAA and
all the red tape and the state and federal government laws,
regulations and oversight.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
It's absolutely I would say this is one of the
hardest projects I've ever been a part of.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
I've built ten buildings at the airport, and this, you know,
you look at it, it looks like just a building,
but when you go in and you see the schematics
and all the interior wiring and communication and surveillance, it's
just phenomenal. And then the one room just with all
the radio equipment, it's it's quite a chore.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
So if we could, because this is radio theater of
the mine, if we could, you know, kind of take
people in that front door, just give them a visual
of what's going to happen. They come in and you've
got a little desk set set up there, and I
believe that's where they actually are coming from the back
to pay.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Is that correct? For the service.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Yeah, first state, they'll fly in.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
I'm sorry they're coming in the other way. I came
in the front, we came back.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Yeah, So it starts off as they come into the
red box. Sure, and our linemen will know it's an
international flight. They know where to put them. They park
in the red box. The customs agents will meet them
in the red box and they will bring them in
for processing. So whoever's going to clear, you got to
have your passports. Sometimes they'll make them bring the luggage
in sometimes not. The one big thing concern is international garbage.
(16:28):
I mean they we gotta we got to handle the
garbage and incinerate that, and then they come inside process
them and if they're staying the passengers, will you come
through and clear. Usually the pilot will take care of
any payment that because it's user fee. We do charge
for this, and uh, then they're they're willing to they're
(16:50):
ready to go after that.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
So you you've got you know kind of what it
looks like when you're checking in checking your luggage at
the airport. You've got kind of a conveyor belt. You've
got at the glass side there. I guess we're the
officers on the other side of that, and you've actually
got rooms.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
You've got can I say cells.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Room, yeah, yeah, and a place where they can be
uh searched, private room for search. I'm sure this was
all being compliant, you know. So it was pretty impressive,
very clean, very very clean. And Harry, you you mentioned
something I just want to add to what you were saying,
how hard it was. If you think you know building
(17:36):
a home is hard, try this. You were even saying
when I did the tour, you looked at the handle
that we on the door that we were in another
in year slay in Cindy, you can't even you have
to use a specific handle that's right, like down to
the handles I was.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
I was like, they have to be at a certain
height and and the I don't know if Roger from exaggerating,
but I seen remember a discussion about well, the toilet
handle can't be on this side of the toilet, it
has to be on the other side of the toilet.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Well, now, actually in the holding cell, they're not allowed
to flush the toilet. It's a remote flush because of drugs. Sure,
so they can't even they can't even operate the toilet
that the officer from outside has a button to flush
the toilet.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
That's all. That's the button, I think the officers said
on the tour. All right, you guys now the rest
of the story.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
So I'm here with Roger and I'm here with Harry.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
We're talking about the new customs facility that Corporate Air
has has built for us, and we have to go
to a station breaks to stay with us. We'll be
right back.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Big news, Treasure.
Speaker 9 (18:58):
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Visit us online at Shannonseepole dot com.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
And Lucycranker dot com.
Speaker 10 (19:27):
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is filled with the largest selection of coastal furniture on
the Treasure Coast. Sofas, love seats, dining sets, bedroom groups
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(19:47):
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(20:08):
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Speaker 1 (20:27):
Blue Dolphin Pools strives to provide quality service with a
well trained staff in the field and in the office.
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Speaker 3 (21:04):
All right, hey guys, welcome back to Beauty the Beach
Radio City against your housband's all about his beautifying Vera Beach.
We want to thank Dale Sorenson Real Estate for always
making sure that we're on air and we can share
great stories like having a brand new customs facility right
here in Vera Beach. So Dale Swarns in real Estate.
Whether you're buying or selling, definitely reach out to them.
They've been family owned since nineteen seventy eight. You can
(21:26):
find them at seven seven two two three one four
seven one two. You can also find them at Swarnsonrealestate
dot com. Thank you, Dale Sorenson real Estate. We also
want to thank Verietals and more. They always make sure
we have lovely beverages for our guests. So Varietals right
there on Royal Palm Point.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Go see them. They have so many wonderful things there.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Be sure to mention Beauty in the Beach Radio and
you do get a ten percent discount. I am closing
out the show with Roger and Harry. We're talking about
the new US customs facility right in at our Beer
Beach Airport. This does make us very Beach international airport.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Well, it's just an a regional.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
It's definitely an international airport. If I can convince the
city to change the.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Name to international and it's like that, that's like, hey,
what can you do about that?
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Well, you know, we can always have a conversation because
in fact it is, it's an international national airport.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
Yeah, and really the.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
Regional doesn't mean I don't I don't know what the
definition regional really means and what the what the reason
for changing it was.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Okay, guys, I can't believe this. The show has flown. Roger, Harry.
I'm going to give you one minute each. Harry, I'm
going to start with you. We'll finish with Roger final
thoughts about the new customs facility here.
Speaker 7 (22:47):
In vo I became involved with corporate are in either
I believe it's twenty nineteen. I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Roger Prison is probably one of the the most. He
is some of the most foresight of any business owner
I've seen in town. He does terrific things. He's driven,
(23:08):
he wants what's best for the community. I don't know
if you know this, but he does a lot of
philanthrothropic stuff for the city and has for years. I'm
so glad to be involved with it. With the addition
of customs, it's just going to add value added service
to the airport. It's going to attract more people, and
let's be honest, some of these people are going to
have the wherewithal to spend money in our county and
(23:30):
in our city. It's eventually going to be a boost
to our economy. I'm really happy and proud about that.
It was a lot of work and I can't thank
Roger enough for bringing me on board to be a
part of it because it feels really good.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
That's awesome. We need to see you in the skies now. Next,
that's the next step, flight lessons.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
You want to be my co pilot?
Speaker 4 (23:49):
I would really I.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Would love to take flight lessons, absolutely, but I like
to drive.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
Roger, let's finish it out with you.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
What are your final thoughts on this new endeavor that
you have created here with a custom service for our
community real quick.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
It was a long time coming. It was well worth it,
and I don't regret any of the time. And but
it's not just me.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
I had a lot of help.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
It took a whole community to come together, from the
city to the to the airport customs, some political people,
uh my customers there there. It took a lot, but
I don't regret it. I think it's going to bring quality,
quality growth to the airport, to the end to the
city because the type of people that are attracted to
(24:39):
private air travel, and so that's that's important.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
All right, Roger and Harry, thank you so much. You guys,
thank you for being here.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
You got to go check them out over the Vierbeat
Airport Corporate air all right, thanks guys.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
Thanks, thank you. I enjoyed it.
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