Universal Aviation has set up a Covid-19 standards program for its preferred suppliers across the top 100 destinations where its trip support customers travel.
The initial program covers three core logistical parts of business aviation that physically touch passengers and crew — FBO ground services, inflight catering, and ground transportation.
Greg Evans, chairman of Universal said, “As the only mission management company that also operates and controls our own global divisions in FBO ground services, inflight catering, and ground transportation, we have an intimate and unique understanding of what Covid-19 best practices should be followed by our third-party providers within each of these domains.
“Universal and our preferred providers have a shared responsibility to do everything in our power keep our staff and mutual customers safe from potential exposure to Covid-19, so we felt that implementing this program of standards was an important measure to take.”
The standards for the program are based on Covid-19 health and safety practices outlined by several USA and national authorities and bodies and are similar to what has been implemented within Universal’s own global divisions for FBO ground services, inflight catering, and ground transportation – Universal Aviation, Air Culinaire Worldwide, and Universal-Drivania Chauffeurs, respectively.
So far, more than 80% of Universal’s preferred suppliers across its top 100 destinations have pledged their commitment to follow these standards for all missions managed by Universal. Universal is actively working to bring that to 100 percent by the end of the month.
“Flight departments are starting to think about how their processes will change once they start flying again. Many are asking how they should be pre-screening a range of suppliers,” said Ralph Vasami, CEO of Universal. “This program will help remove that uncertainty from the equation, speed up access to information, and streamline communications—relieving some administrative burden for both our customers and third-party providers.”
Universal’s own global divisions in FBO ground services, inflight catering, and ground transportation divisions are also taking additional measures agains Covid-19.
“Across our Universal Aviation FBO network, we’re rethinking the entire ground experience,” said Adolfo Aragon, senior vice president of Universal Aviation. “Passengers and crew are less interested in facility amenities now, and they are more concerned with ground time velocity and reducing risk of exposure.
“At each of our locations, we’ve been focusing extensively on passenger and crew traffic flow analysis to increase speeds where we can, reduce possible points of contact once they leave the aircraft, and perform before-and-after sterilization of physical touchpoints that we control.”
