Troubled American plane maker Boeing has announced it will reopen additional production facilities in addition to the Puget Sound area facilities in Washington state it announced earlier that it would open and said it had also completed its first COVID-19 transport mission, using a 737-700 aircraft from its corporate fleet to bring personal protective equipment (PPE) from China to the United States.
Boeing will reopen its military helicopter production facility outside Philadelphia on Monday (19 April), the company announced Friday (17 April). On 16 April, Boeing announced it would reopen factories in the Puget Sound region of Washington state, where it carries out final assembly of the 737 MAX and 777 commercial jetliners, as well as the KC-46 and P-8 military aircraft. And the company announced Thursday (16 April) that it will also reopen a smaller military aircraft repair facility in Heath, Ohio.
Meanwhile, the company announced it was working with FIRST Robotics founder Dean Kamen and had transported 540,000 medical-grade face masks that will be delivered to healthcare professionals battling COVID-19 in New Hampshire. Kamen, who has a longstanding relationship with Boeing through FIRST Robotics, is also a founder of DEKA Research and Development Corporation. He worked with DEKA to secure the face masks from manufacturers in China and turned to Boeing to facilitate their transport. DEKA is the importer of record for the delivery and provided the masks to New Hampshire for distribution to healthcare professionals in the state.
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“Another life-saving delivery of PPE has arrived in New Hampshire,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Thanks to Dean Kamen for facilitating this deal, and to Boeing for donating the cost of this mission transport. The state will deliver these masks to the greatest areas of need across New Hampshire so those on the frontline have the necessary resources to fight COVID-19.”
Boeing said additional airlift transport missions with the Boeing Dreamlifter and ecoDemonstrator are planned in the future. Boeing is coordinating closely with US government officials on how to best assist areas with the greatest need.
“I want to personally thank Governor Sununu, the entire New Hampshire congressional delegation and Dean Kamen for their leadership in helping secure and distribute this much-needed personal protective equipment for our frontline healthcare workers and first responders here in New Hampshire,” said Dave Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO. “We are honoured to have conducted today’s airlift mission and we look forward to providing continued support in the fight against this pandemic.”
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