Universal Weather and Aviation will be donating feasibility and consulting services to general aviation operators wanting to use their aircraft to support humanitarian missions delivering COVID-19 vaccines.

Through to at least 30 June 2021, Universal Trip Support will be waiving its fees on trip feasibility assessments, research, and consultation services for any private aircraft mission classified as a humanitarian COVID-19 vaccine delivery flight, even if the trip ends up not happening.

“In the early months of the pandemic, the world needed PPE, masks and tests. Many flight departments answered the call for help, and we were proud to donate our services in support of so many of those missions,” says Universal chairman Greg Evans. “Now that we have several approved vaccines, the business aviation industry will undoubtedly play an important role in helping deliver them where they are needed most. We want to use our expertise in global aviation restrictions and logistics to help ensure these life-saving missions can happen and are a success.”

Universal Trip Support will perform scenario-specific research and consulting to help private operators understand things like mission feasibility, what the current operating restrictions are and the best options to navigate through them, documentation requirements, crew/pax requirements, what to expect on arrival, the questions authorities will ask and local health and safety requirements, at no cost.

Private operators attempting a humanitarian flight delivering COVID-19 vaccines are encouraged to contact their Universal Trip Support team or account manager, or request support online. Also available to all operators at no cost is Universal’s COVID-19 website, which is updated frequently with the latest global operating restrictions.

“Our business aviation community has made a tremendous difference already,” adds Evans. “Now we have a chance to make history by playing our role in helping to end this pandemic.”