Anthony Marinello brings over 35 years of leadership in law enforcement, aviation operations, and public safety, amassing over 14,000 flight hours and conducting nearly 5,000 rescues.

Today, he leads Tropic Air Charters, a 30‑year‑old U.S. air carrier serving Florida and the Bahamas, and founded Tropic Air Rescue, the only fully certified helicopter rescue membership program in the Bahamas.

Inspired by a pilot’s call about an emergency patient in the Bahamas, Marinello launched Tropic Air Rescue to fill a critical regional gap. It took two years to set up—from acquiring aircraft to securing necessary FAA and Bahamian certifications.

The service operates via a subscription membership model (individual, family, and marine vessels), offering 24/7 emergency helicopter rescue to South Florida hospitals. Members are not required to pay out of pocket—their insurance covers the cost.

Marinello emphasizes the importance of safety, advocating for dual-pilot operations, twin-engine aircraft, and highly experienced crews empowered to halt missions if risks escalate.

He underscores that each rescue is unique and perilous, highlighting the necessity of recognizing one’s limitations: “There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots.” Marinello also reflects that the most difficult decision in his career has been choosing to say “no” to a mission when safety outweighs benefit.

⸻

If you’d like a deeper dive, you can read the full Q&A here: [Q&A with Anthony Marinello, President and Owner of Tropic Air Charters] for more insights.