Universal Avionics is assisting the local Tucson community in protecting healthcare workers and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is currently providing the non-profit group, Hope Worldwide (Tucson Chapter), with assembly-line space at its Tucson headquarters to manufacture medical face masks and shields.

The Utah State Legislature recently approved a Strategic Workforce Initiative (SWI) grant to Southern Utah University to support the growth of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program, a government-industry-education partnership preparing Utah students for high-growth occupations while serving regional industry workforce needs. The grant totals $386,000 per year for three years, for a total of $1,158,000.

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) releases a statement this week regarding medical transports of patients with suspected or diagnosed coronavirus.

Appareo receives FAA approval for installation of Stratus™ transponders in Part 27 aircraft. The STC-AML includes Airbus Helicopters, Bell Helicopter, Leonardo and Robinson Helicopter. The H-variant models, named Stratus ES-H and Stratus ESG-H, are now available through the Authorized Appareo Dealer Network and retail for the same price as the Part 23 transponders.

Metro announces the delivery of the final EC135 aircraft for the UT Health East Texas Air 1 air medical program, representing the final of three rebranded aircraft upgraded with SPIFR certifications. Headquartered in Tyler, TX, the program will soon boast six precision GPS procedures at various hospitals and bases.  

Bristow Americas’ Search and Rescue (SAR) teams successfully transport acutely-ill offshore workers in the oil and gas industry with suspected cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), using specially configured and equipped search-and-rescue aircraft supporting operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

Duncan Aviation implements an aircraft disinfection service that it is providing for operators who have scheduled into the company’s main MRO facilities in Battle Creek, MI; Lincoln, NE; and Provo, UT. All aircraft are disinfected upon arrival and before Duncan Aviation’s technicians begin work on them. They are disinfected again right before delivery back to the operator and departure from the Duncan Aviation location.

TRAXXALL, business aviation’s trusted maintenance management partner, announces that Michael Fantaski has joined the TRAXXALL team as regional sales director. Based in Las Vegas, Fantaski's territory includes Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii.

Concorde Battery Corporation sadly announces the passing of Don Grunke. Grunke was a friend to all and a stranger to none. He worked as an application engineer for Concorde Battery.

Boost Human External Cargo Systems (Boost Systems – www.boostsystems.ca), a provider of human external cargo (HEC) systems and services for the rescue, utility, public safety and defense sectors, receives supplemental type certification validation (STC# VST0947) for both its Airbus AS350-AS355 and Bell 407 HEC systems (including personnel carrying device system, or PCDS) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).