Dec. 28, 2020
Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. recently announced it would donate feasibility and consulting services to general aircraft operators supporting humanitarian missions supporting delivering COVID-19 vaccines.
Fees for trip feasibility assessments, research and consultation services will be waived flights classified as a humanitarian, and delivering vaccines, through at least June 30, 2021. These fees will be waived even if the trip doesn’t occur.
“Like everyone else in this industry and around the globe, this [virus] came out of the blue and the next thing you know, it’s a global pandemic,” said Robert Moya, Universal’s senior operations manager of trip support services. “We knew we wanted to give back so we asked ourselves, ‘How can we use our expertise to help the cause?’”
When the pandemic first hit, Universal assisted general aircraft operators conducting PPE and test kits delivery, as well as repatriation flights.
Operators conducting vaccine delivery flights must navigate ever-changing local, regional and national travel restrictions, documentation requirements and local health and safety requirements. Some of the vaccines currently approved or seeking government approval require transportation at extremely cold temperatures, which means aircraft operators might also have to navigate hazardous materials regulations.
“We felt it’s more important to do this research for the industry’s gain and humanity’s gain and not Universal’s,” said Moya.
“It’s comforting to see how the industry pulls together and uses our collective resources to make a difference,” Moya added, sharing that many Universal customers are donating their aircraft and crewmembers’ time in the global COVID-19 relief effort.