CHICAGO, April 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today 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. Working in partnership with
FIRST® Robotics Founder Dean
Kamen, the company 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.
"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 has been a long-time partner of FIRST Robotics
and I'm proud that I can again partner with the Boeing team to meet
the needs of our frontline healthcare professionals fighting
COVID-19," said Kamen. "Now more than ever, help from companies
like Boeing is critical so we can continue to make sure protective
equipment gets to the people who need it most."
Boeing continues to support local communities and the heroic
healthcare professionals working tirelessly to stop the spread of
COVID-19. Additional airlift transport missions with the Boeing
Dreamlifter and ecoDemonstrator are planned in the future. Boeing
is coordinating closely with U.S. 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 honored to have
conducted today's airlift mission and we look forward to providing
continued support in the fight against this pandemic."
Contact
Boeing Communications
media@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing