PlaneSense has donated 2,000 surgical masks to the Portsmouth Fire Department. The company received the masks from an overseas business partner and wanted to share the much needed supplies with the New Hampshire community in which its headquarters are located. The Portsmouth Fire Department has been collecting masks to aid in protection against the COVID-19 virus and will distribute them as needed to patients, nursing homes and hospitals on the Seacoast.

“New Hampshire is our home,” says George Antoniadis, president and CEO. “We have been seeking ways to support our community during this crisis and we are proud to be able to take part in the Portsmouth Fire Department's mask collection efforts. We hope the donation of the surgical masks will help first responders and healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. We truly appreciate the sacrifices that these individuals are making to treat patients and keep our community safe.”

“We are grateful to Mr. Antoniadis and PlaneSense for the generous donation of much needed, and hard to acquire PPE,” adds Chief Todd Germain, Portsmouth Fire Department. “These masks are an integral part of our policies and procedures designed to keep our staff healthy so they can continue to respond to the emergency needs of our community.”

The masks were gifted to Antoniadis by Zhang Wei, a long-time, respected aviation colleague in China. “Our friends in China undoubtedly understand the crisis we are now facing across the United States,” explains Antoniadis. “I am grateful for the generosity of my fellow business leader and friend to offer these much-needed supplies to PlaneSense so we may be able to share them with our community.”

Antoniadis reserved a supply of masks from the shipment to provide to staff who are not already working remotely at PlaneSense, Inc. and its sister company, Atlas Aircraft Center, Inc. This includes more than 150 pilots who continue to fly clients aboard the company's fractional fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops and PC-24 jets, as well as more than 60 maintenance technicians who service the fleet.

As part of its commitment to the wellbeing of clients and staff during the COVID-19 crisis, PlaneSense has implemented several safety precautions in recent weeks. Aircraft are being extensively cleaned and disinfected between each flight, and passengers are being asked about their prior travel and health status. Efforts have been made to limit the exposure to pilots by avoiding overnight stays in certain areas of the country, as well as reducing their airline travel. While the majority of office staff have moved to remote work until the crisis resolves, the office buildings continue to undergo regular intensive cleaning. PlaneSense is confident that its disinfecting and social distancing protocols have minimised the risk to clients and staff. These measures have been developed in conjunction with an infectious disease specialist PlaneSense has retained to help navigate the company through the pandemic.