Colorado Aviation Groups Conducting Statewide FEMA Face Mask Airlift

Denver  – The Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) and Angel Flight West (AFW), with the assistance of Denver International Airport and the Colorado Division of Aeronautics, will host a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mask Airlift on Saturday, Aug. 8, from Signature Flight Support at Centennial Airport located in Englewood.

The airlift mission will be carried out by volunteer pilots, and will deliver over 300,000 masks to airports around the state. Masks were provided by FEMA to Denver International Airport for distribution to Colorado’s public-use airports. The masks will be used by airport staff, tenants, pilots, and passengers, to help in stopping the spread of COVID-19. 

“This is a unique opportunity for general aviation pilots to come together in a coordinated response to this pandemic” said Chris Swathwood, chairman of CABA. “We hope it will also help to highlight the critical role aviation plays in our state during times of need, as well as the important role Colorado’s smaller airports play in their local communities.”

“Since the end of March, our volunteer pilots, in collaboration with the Colorado Hospital Association, have been flying PPE to hospitals all over the state,” said Cheri Cimmarrusti, AFW’s associate executive director.  “Now we're proud to continue our work by partnering with CABA, and other aviation organizations to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by providing PPE to Colorado’s airports.”

Volunteers will be on hand at Signature Flight Support on Friday morning, Aug. 7, to sort the packages of masks for delivery to the individual airports. Then early Saturday morning, pilots donating both their time and aircraft will make the flight to over 30 Colorado airports to deliver the FEMA provided masks as part of the COVID-19 response.  

For more information, contact Kelly Sloan, 970-424-6615 email: [email protected]