The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) unveiled a first-of-its-kind partnership to pair the assets available through the association’s Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) database with the COVID-19-coordination capabilities of the American Hospital Association (AHA).
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, “Business aviation is uniquely positioned to provide assistance to the citizens, companies and communities grappling with the COVID-19 crisis. Our HERO database will connect supplies and services with hospitals across the country, including those in small towns and rural communities. We thank the American Hospital Association for coordinating with us, to ensure we reach the people most in need.”
“As the women and men in America’s hospitals and health systems heroically fight COVID-19 on behalf of their patients and communities, the hospital field is exploring all options to increase production and distribution of much needed personal protective equipment,” said Michelle Hood, AHA executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Through this unique partnership with NBAA, we will be able to further these efforts to keep our health care professionals safe and protected as they deliver care on the front lines.”
In operation since 2005, the NBAA HERO database aggregates data about the people, aircraft and other resources available for disaster-response mobilization efforts. The HERO database was instrumental in relief efforts for the 2010 Haiti earthquake; Hurricanes Dorian, Michael and Florence; Superstorm Sandy and other crises. The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Red Cross have worked with NBAA to coordinate HERO database assets, as have a host of aviation humanitarian relief groups.
For questions from humanitarian organizations and individuals regarding the HERO database, contact NBAA at hero@nbaa.org. For a list of additional relief organizations focused on humanitarian-assistance initiatives, visit nbaa.org/hero.
