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COVID-19
transPort of nursing staff by Dassault falCon serviCe. business aviation PlayeD an aCtive anDCruCial role During CoviD-19
No PlaNe No GaiN at ForeFroNt oF PaNdemic activities
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Business aviation’s vital emergency response in times of crisis has been globally witnessed yet again during the recent months as the world battled the coronavirus pandemic
By Ayushee ChAudhAry
Business aviation has often had the crown of luxury
on his head so much so, that it’s other significant roles and accessibility, tend to, get overlooked under that. To do away with that single-layer perspective about BizAv, No Plane No Gain, a joint undertaking of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), was designed to educate the public on the importance of business aviation. The intent is also to draw non-aviation people of influence to the concept that using an aircraft to conduct a company’s business creates more opportunities for growth. It also aims at indicating that if your firm does not operate a plane, it is likely to show less gain in the yearly sales numbers.
The original No Plane, No Gain campaign was started by NBAA and GAMA in 1993, during a slump in activity and was successfully used for several years. The mechanism was brought back in early 2009, and over the years the initiative has continued to capture the essence of business aviation beyond the luxurious side of it.
The central idea behind No Plane No Gain, is also to increase awareness in policy makers and opinion leaders about the fact that business aviation plays a vital role for citizens, companies and communities. In the United States, business aviation generates well over a million jobs, provides a lifeline to communities with little or no commercial airline service, helps thousands of businesses of all sizes to be more productive and efficient and provides emergency and humanitarian services to people in need.
Business aviation serves as a vital emergency response tool in times of crisis and this has been witnessed yet again during the recent months as the world battled the coronavirus pandemic. Listed below are some instances under No Plane, No
Gain that highlighted business avia- airlift mission was carried out by voluntion’s active participation and crucial role during the COVID-19. From business aviation pilots who The Wyoming pilot and businessman teer pilots who delivered face masks to Colorado’s public-use airports. “A successful airlift and collaboraowned private aircraft to manufactur- said flying those in tion by several state organisations to ers, and many others who are a part of the business aviation industry took need of medical care deliver the FEMA provided mask, highlighted the critical role of aviation in active participation through different is a win-win for flight the continued response to the COVIDroles in the hour of crisis. BizAv Pilots leAd the wAy departments. “It helps keep the pilot 19 pandemic,” said CABA Chairman Chris Swathwood. “In all, 22 pilots from the CABA and AFW delivered As the operations for oil and gas paused, and aircraft current, about 4,00,000 masks to nearly 40 ColTom Van Kleef, the Executive Vice President, General Manager and Pilot for and it gives me the orado airports.” “Business aviation pilots are not Oil Mountain Energy based in Casper opportunity to fly usually public faces or figures, and quiet decided to take charge of his company’s Cessna 414 that was standing idle midst the COVID-19 crisis to contribute where into airports that we often list as our volunteer service is quite common. The opportunity to participate in the first airlift that directly serves Colorado’s needed alongside keeping the aircraft alternates, but don’t statewide airport community has drawn in optimum condition. “We still wanted to be productive, normally access,” us all to step forward and help keep our colleagues safe as they serve others even though our business travel was added Kleef. each day,” he added. curtailed,” he said. “Then I found out about Angel Flight West (AFW) through donAte, Produce, distriBute our Twin Cessna Flyer group.” The non- Pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly and profit organisation arranges free, non- Company’s donation of two Gulfstream emergency air travel for children and adults with serious medi- IV business aircraft helped Vincennes University and Purdue cal conditions and other compelling needs. University provide a competitive advantage to aviation main-
And in the last couple of months, Kleef flew a number tenance students pursuing degrees at those institutions during of missions for AFW, including helping in the transport of a the pandemic months. 15-year-old boy from his home in the Kalispell to his heart sur- “The hands-on training using newer aircraft is critical for gery in Denver, a 6-year-old who needed cancer treatment and technicians to feel prepared as they step into the industry,” said many others. Stewart D’Leon, NBAA director, technical operations. “However,
The Wyoming pilot and businessman said flying those in the exciting part about this is having aircraft that are excluneed of medical care is a win-win for flight departments. “It sively used for business aviation. This brings visibility of our helps keep the pilot and aircraft current, and it gives me the industry to current students and allows them to become familopportunity to fly into airports that we often list as our alter- iar with business aircraft at an important time in the developnates, but don’t normally access,” added Kleef. ment of their training.” Savannah, General Aviation-based manufacturer, Gulflifting uP the sPirits with Airlift stream Aerospace donated over 3,500 N95 masks and 3,100 A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Face Mask protection suits to hospitals and health organisations. In partAirlift was hosted by the Colorado Aviation Business Associa- nership with General Dynamics’ sister companies, Gulfstream tion (CABA) and AFW with the assistance of Denver Interna- also pursued Food and Drug Administration approval of tional Airport and the Colorado Division of Aeronautics. The 3D-printed nasal test swabs and is using 3D printers to produce
15,000 the number of flights business aircraft make in a year for humanitarian reasons
Source: NoPlaneNoGain / Twitter
ContRiBution oF Business AviAtion in GRoWtH oF tHe CoMPAnies
s&P 500 ComPanies using business aviation Outperform those that Don’t by 70%
adapters for a Canadian clinical trial that aims to convert exist- King Air manufacturer also donated funds to Meals Up that the ing medical equipment into usable ventilators. company noted will provide more than 5,00,000 meals.
Aircraft manufacturer, Cirrus Aircraft’s supply team analysed the stock and future supply chains of personal protec- innovAtion to the rescue tive equipment (PPE), including gloves, hand sanitizer, and lab An innovative trial programme was also implemented in North gear and delivered these items to local hospitals. The team has Las Vegas, to utilise commercial unmanned aircraft systems continued to review stock and incoming deliveries for dona- (UAS) to deliver COVID-19 test kits to area residents. tion opportunities. Cirrus Aircraft also teamed with Frost River Walmart partnered with Quest Diagnostics and UAS services Trading, a local manufacturer, to produce over 31,000 dispos- provider DroneUp to deliver the kits to residents living within a able face shields for healthcare workers. 1-mile radius of the store on West Craig Road. The packages are
They also developed a prototype and produced 850 hood and suspended below the drone for the brief flight. On arrival, the coupler assemblies for powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) UAS descends to approximately 15 feet over the resident’s yard or when they noticed the demand for PAPR rising. PAPR protect driveway and then lowers the bag via a small winch. Customers healthcare workers from contaminated air with battery-operated perform a self-administered nasal swab and return their sample blowers that provide positive airflow through a filter to a hood. to Quest using an included prepaid shipping label. The kits and
Engine and avionics manufacturer Honeywell has expanded delivery are free for residents participating in the programme. manufacturing operations in some locations and altered capa- “We hope drone delivery of self-collection kits will shape bilities in others to produce millions of N95 masks and safety contactless testing capabilities on a larger scale and continue to glasses. The masks were delivered to the U.S. Department of bolster the innovative ways Walmart plans to use drone delivHealth and Human Services to support ery in the future,” said Walmart Senior emergency-response workers. Vice-President of Customer Products
Charter operator NetJets flew two Tom Ward. Bombardier Global 6000s to China, returning with 5.5 tonnes of medical Walmart partnered nBAA lAunches initiAtive to get equipment. NetJets also partnered with with Quest BizAv BAck to work Ric Edelman, founder of a top independent financial advisory firm, to fly over 7,000 N95 masks from California’s Van Diagnostics and UAS services provider BizAv Back to Work is the association’s expanded, targeted effort to help members and the overall business aviation Nuys Airport to Teterboro Airport in New DroneUp to deliver industry reopen and get back in the Jersey. From there, the masks were delivered to New York City area hospitals. the kits to residents air after the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The California Disaster Airlift living within a 1-mile Helping the business aviation indusResponse Team (CalDART) and San Diego CalDART also made use of the general aviation aircraft to assist in the radius of the store on West Craig Rd. try get back to work is the focus of a new effort launched today by the NBAA. BizAv Back to Work is the association’s COVID-19 response. The packages are expanded, targeted effort to help memAir charter operator Wheels Up recently took delivery of a Beechcraft suspended below the bers and the overall business aviation industry reopen and get back in the King Air 350i with a special livery sup- drone for the brief air after the devastating effects of the porting Feeding America and its efforts to combat growing levels of food inseflight. COVID-19 pandemic. “Business aviation is a forwardcurity across the US throughout the looking industry, characterised by an COVID-19 crisis. innovative spirit and boundless oppor-
The orange paint matches the shade tunities,” said NBAA President and CEO in the Feeding America logo, and ties into the “Meals Up” part- Ed Bolen. “Although COVID-19 has produced daunting chalnership formed earlier this year between Wheels Up and the lenges for our community, it is clear the people and companies hunger relief organisation. Meals Up has raised and inspired in it are resilient, and ready to get back to work. This new initiathe equivalent of more than 47 million meals for Feeding Amer- tive will put the resources in people’s hands to help employers ica over the past six months, according to the company. find dedicated professionals, and help qualified individuals start
The aircraft joins a fleet of distinctively-colored “Wheels Up or resume a business aviation career as quickly as possible.” Cares” aircraft supporting causes including the Tragedy Assis- NBAA wants to help the business aviation community get tance Program for Survivors (in a camouflage livery), the Ameri- back to work as we navigate the devastating effects of the can Heart Association (red) and Breast Cancer Awareness and COVID-19 pandemic by making it easier for job seekers and the Dubin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount employers to connect and by providing content to help prepare Sinai (pink). business aviation professionals to safely get back in the air.
“We kicked off the Meals Up initiative back in March with In recent surveys of NBAA’s membership, a significant numone purpose: to help feed people. We knew then that the next ber of participants have listed job security as among their highest Wheels Up Cares plane would be orange in support of fight- concerns. BizAv Back to Work will focus on speaking to this coning food insecurity and to raise awareness for Feeding Amer- cern by expanding on the association’s existing employment serica’s Hunger Action Month,”said Wheels Up Founder and CEO vices and adding new opportunities and resources.The resources Kenny Dichter. in the form of job opportunities, news updates, articles, etc. are
As with the other Wheels Up Cares aircraft, Textron Aviation aimed at helping both job seekers and employers get back to donated the design and paint for the latest special plane. The work and have been made available on the website. SP
