April 15, 2020
To help its customers and the medical community during the COVID-19 crisis, Michigan-based Avfuel Corp. recently launched two separate initiatives: free training on fueling procedures and manufacture of personal protection equipment (PPE).
Recognizing that the slowdown of flight activity at many airports is an opportunity to conduct training, Avfuel is waiving the initial subscription fee for its FAA-approved Part 139 line fuel safety and supervisory courses through June 30. Customers that sign up during this promotion will have free access to all of the Avfuel Training System’s content for one year.
Fuel safety, customer service and Avfuel programs are always free on the Avfuel Training System, but now several additional training topics – procedures for receiving a load of aviation fuel, fuel storage requirements, misfueling prevention and record keeping best practices – are available at no cost to Avfuel customers.
“We hope this offering helps our partners focus on what’s important right now – health and safety,” said Randy Harrison, quality assurance supervisor for Avfuel. “Even operations seeing a dip in activity can use this time strategically to meet training requirements and come out of the crisis more prepared.”
In a separate initiative, the company’s Avtank division is producing face mask ear hooks and face shield headbands using 3D printers. This PPE is then sanitized, packaged and transported by a Michigan company to local facilities with the greatest need, including the University of Michigan Hospital.
Avfuel estimates it will be able to produce more than 100 PPE items per day once additional 3D printers are online.
Brad Van Camp, technical operations manager for Avfuel, said, “Ann Arbor is a major medical hub fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and, as such, it deeply feels the effects of the PPE shortage. Avfuel wanted to do all it could to support that effort… and will keep up its production [of PPE] until the queue of pending requests hits zero.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.