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About

“If you are in trouble anywhere in the world, an airplane can fly over and drop flowers, but a helicopter can land and save your life.”
IGOR SIKORSKY

Mission & Values

Tropic Air Rescue is a membership-based critical care air ambulance service using Sikorsky S-76 helicopters and certified critical care paramedics/nurses. The program aims to remove service delivery obstacles and drastically enhance patient outcomes.

Safety

A culture of safety and security that pervades the entire organization.   

Diligence

All members of the team are committed to careful preparation, planning and implementation for successful missions. 

Excellence

All employees are encouraged and expected to bring strong leadership, and a commitment to excellence in everything that they do.  

Fleet

Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76B has a commendable safety record spanning over four decades of service. The aircraft’s safety success is mostly credited to its innovative twin-turbine design, advanced avionics/navigation equipment that surpass that of other civilian models. 
Lifesaving Equipment
Onboard medical equipment includes a defibrillator, heart monitor, on-board oxygen, whole blood, and more.  

Sikorsky S76 Aircraft Stats

Engines

Twin turboshaft engines

Max Speed

155 kts (178 mph, 287 km/h)

Seats

Crew: 2; Passengers: 6

Range

411 nmi (473 mi, 761 km)

Service Ceiling

15,000 ft.

Crew

Each flight performed by 2 highly experienced pilots and 2 certified critical care nurses/paramedics

Leadership

Anthony S. Marinello

President

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Dr. Mauricio Lynn, MD

Medical Director

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Edward Gorecki

Executive Vice President

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Robbie J. Meek

Chief Operating Officer

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Story

A lifetime commitment to service combined with an entrepreneurial spirit led this first-of-its-kind program for the Bahamas.  

1988

The State of New Jersey launched a state-wide helicopter medical response service with the New Jersey State Police, where Anthony Marinello served as a N.J. State Trooper/ air medical helicopter pilot. He conducted the first medevac of the newly formed program. He retired from the N.J. State Police in 2006, serving 28 years in the State police, 21 years as a helicopter pilot.

1993

Tropic Air Charters Inc. established as a leading fixed-wing air carrier in Florida and the Bahamas.  

2021

Mr. Marinello completed the purchase of Tropic Air Charters Inc. Mr. Marinello noticed a lack of emergency evacuation services in the region.

2022

Tropic Air Charters purchased 2 Sikorsky S76B medical helicopters.

2023

Tropic Air Rescue is founded as a membership-based helicopter air medical program covering Florida and the Bahamas with full FAA helicopter air ambulance approvals. Upon issuance of this designation, Tropic Air Rescue became the first FAA Certified Helicopter Air Ambulance dedicated to serving the Bahamas.

Anthony S. Marinello

President
After serving 28 years in the N.J. State Police (21 years as a rescue helicopter pilot), Tony served in various aviation leadership roles (Newark Police Dept., CAE, HeliFlite, etc.). Tony purchased Tropic Air Charters in 2021, and founded Tropic Air Rescue in 2023.

Dr. Mauricio Lynn, MD

Medical Director
Dr. Lynn is a trauma surgeon, affiliated with multiple hospitals in South Florida including Jackson Health System-Miami and University of Miami Hospital and Clinics-UHealth Tower. He received his medical degree from Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Edward Gorecki

Esecutive Vice President
Edward continues to serve as an E.V.P. (sales, service, and operations), Tropic Air Charters, providing passenger and cargo flights between Florida and The Bahamas. He brings a varied sales leadership background in aviation (Bombardier, etc.), medical devices (Boston Scientific) and disease management (Johnson & Johnson).

Robbie J. Meek

Chief Operating Officer

Robbie J. Meek is Chief Operating Officer for Tropic Air Rescue. Mr. Meek comes to our program with strong entrenchment in prehospital and critical care transport professions. Mr. Meek has over 20 years of active clinical experience in prehospital medicine, critical care medicine, and deployed austere medicine, while simultaneously remaining an active educator for prehospital and critical care transport specialists. Mr. Meek has led and held key roles in several air medical systems in both rotary wing,fixed wing, and ground service models. Mr. Meek was also the Founding Director of the Florida International University Disaster Medicine Program. Prior to that appointment Mr. Meek served on the US Air Force’s elite Critical Care Air Transport (CCATT) Team