April 16, 2020
Cirrus Aircraft’s sense of community has led the company to coordinate a number of initiatives to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
“As the current global crisis causes us to pause and reflect on what’s essential, our team began working on ways we could support the frontline healthcare workers in our communities,” said a company release.
Cirrus Aircraft began looking for steps they could take immediately. Their supply team analyzed current stock and future supply chains of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, hand sanitizer and lab gear. These items were delivered to local hospitals in Duluth, MN, and the team continues to review stock and incoming deliveries for donation opportunities.
Cirrus Aircraft also teamed with Frost River Trading, a local manufacturer, to produce over 31,000 disposable face shields for healthcare workers.
Photo credit: Cirrus Aircraft
The team didn’t stop there. They recognized a demand for powered air purifying respirators (PAPR), which protect healthcare workers from contaminated air with battery-operated blowers that provide positive airflow through a filter to a hood. Together, they developed a prototype and produced 850 hood and coupler assemblies for PAPRs the next week.
Cirrus Aircraft and Frost River Trading also created replacement blower assemblies using 3D printing, made at a fraction of the cost of typically. sourced units. This design will be tested in the coming weeks. If approved, Cirrus Aircraft will manufacture nearly 200 blower assemblies.
The company release pointed to the Cirrus Aircraft community, saying, “It expands beyond our walls and includes our team, partners, owners, operators and local communities. And now, more than ever, we are in this together.”