KENYON: COPING AND CARING IN A CRISIS

Robert A. Jensen

CEO

Kenyon International Emergency Disaster Services

My Upcoming Magazine Article

In the summer of 1995, I joined Airways, the flagship magazine of Airways International Inc., as a Contributing Editor. The job was and a remains a "second gig" for me, and I have been very lucky to serve with what I believe to be the finest staff of writers ever assembled who cover the multi-faceted airline world. This includes the operators, the aircraft, the technology, the manufacturers, the airports and destinations, the people, and the airways. It continues to be a fun and unusual extension of my background as a broadcast news journalist accustomed to writing news copy and reading teleprompters for the better part of 19 years. My entire' to commercial aviation began in the early 1990's with the human drama that was unfolding at Eastern Airlines under former Texas Air Chairman Frank Lorenzo. It became a quest for me to study and understand exactly what drove this man from his meteoric rise as (briefly) owning the world's largest airline empire, to losing control of the very companies he founded. So, it was the human interest aspect of the people and personalities in this great industry that initially attracted me. Very quickly, my focus at the magazine became the no-holds-barred face-to-face interviews with Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of both domestic Low Cost Carriers (LCC's) and the fully-frilled "Legacy Carriers" with First and Coach Class cabin product offerings. I've seen a lot and so have my colleagues. From limo rides to and from the heavily guarded corporate suites, to Press Flights of newly inaugurated airlines and true life stories of adventure and intriugue--it's all been fun and rewarding!

-

The commercial aviation industry has traditionally been viewed (to my amusement) by investors as a sexy and exciting business. Much of this allure conjurs up images of having a "captive audience" aboard each flight where attractive flight attendants serve a dual role of ensuring passenger safety, while alternately providing the public with a sense of identifiable branding an airline endeavors to convey. I have been privileged. It's been very exciting to travel, meet and capture on audio tape some of the industry's most fascinating personalities--much in the same way my BLOG Page feature, "THE INTERVIEW" has functioned. A few of the airlines I've covered are sadly gone, including TWA where a former girlfriend of mine took my advice and left the company as a flight attendant (during it's second trip to bankruptcy court) to earn her Masters Degree in Public Administration. She is now working with a business consulting firm in Washington and we stay in touch. It's nice to hear of happy endings like hers in such a brutally competitive business.

-

After 160 issues, Airways has gained a global reputation for its authoritative and often-provocative articles, insider knowledge, international outlook, and the wide scope of its coverage—always complemented by first-class photography. Our worldwide distribution is by paid subscription and through fine newsstands and specialized outlets.

-

Very soon, Issue Number 162 (August, 2009) will carry my interview with Kenyon International Emergency Services CEO Robert A. Jensen. Kenyon is the only firm of its type offering comprehensive resources and experience for every type of aviation disaster, natural disaster, war or terror. Within 6 pages, Bob and I discuss the lessons lost from the tragedy of TWA Flight 800 (Boeing 747-100; near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996; with loss of all 230 on board) and more recent crashes in the news. What happened? How well was the response handled? What are the considerations in this unusual business of caring for people, businesses and governments affected by a crisis? We deal with all of these questions and much more. This interview was very important to me.

-

As a college Psychology major, my Fieldwork Practicum for two years was undertaken at a 24-Hour Suicide and Crisis Intervention hot line where I received extensive training in helping clients cope with depression, loss, loneliness, anxiety and life-altering events that were often unspeakable. In this magazine interview, Bob Jensen speaks with me about the sensitive and little-know role of Kenyon's services with unusual candor. Ultimately, I felt that with the times each of us are living in, this story needed to be told. I hope it provides you with an interesting "insiders view" of what happens in an emergency response, and perhaps most importantly--what we can do to help prevent more tragedies in the future.