Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Letter to Airports on Vaccine Distribution Considerations
December 11, 2020
This afternoon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) distributed and released a letter to Part 139 commercial service airports that outlines items of consideration for any airport scheduled to receive large quantities of a COVID-19 vaccine or serving as an alternate/divert airport. The letter does not outline any mandates or requirements for airports; it is intended to help educate airports on vaccine distribution issues of which airports should be aware. This is part of a broader effort of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prepare the transportation industry ahead of the federal government's expected approval of certain COVID-19 vaccines in the immediate future.
Vaccine Logistics Preparedness for Airports. In today's letter, FAA outlined a series of planning considerations to assist airports in preparing to facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of COVID-19 vaccines. The considerations for airport operators include the following:
Opting to have extra aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) coverage available for flights transporting vaccines; If applicable, maintaining additional equipment and personnel available to assist with timely snow removal operations for these flights; Ensuring that adequate parking areas are available to support the type(s) and numbers of aircraft involved, including coordination with other users on the airport; Coordinating with local ATC facilities before and during any vaccine transport flight's movement on the airfield; Coordinating with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and/or local law enforcement, as necessary, for awareness of credible threats to shipments, extra security needs, traffic control measures, among other things; Providing priority access to the airfield for freight vehicles to safely move vaccine shipments off-airport; Providing a media meeting area where updates can be provided to news personnel; Assessing staffing needs to handle shipments, such as 'Follow-Me' vehicles; and Developing contingency plans in case the shipment cannot proceed according to the anticipated schedule, such as back-up vaccine storage locations.
AAAE urges airports to view the letter for full details regarding these planning considerations, although FAA emphasized that this list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Preparing Industry Ahead of Vaccine Approvals. The letter today is part of a broader effort to prepare the transportation industry for the logistics of a major vaccine distribution effort that will be needed once the COVID-19 vaccines receive their expected emergency use authorization. FAA has established an internal vaccine logistics group to help identify issues and prepare industry for this unprecedent endeavor. Yesterday FAA issued Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 20017, 'Transportation of COVID-19 Vaccines Requiring Large Quantities of Dry Ice,' which provides air carriers and operators with information on the safety issues associated with the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines by air. Such transportation may require larger than typical quantities of dry ice for preservation.
In addition, the federal government continues to develop recommendations on which groups should be eligible for priority receipt of the vaccine while there is limited supply. This week AAAE, in collaboration with other industry stakeholders, directed a coalition letter to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, urging the committee to prioritize frontline aviation workers in the next phase of vaccine allocation (Phase 1b) after health workers and residents in long term facilities.
Upcoming AAAE Vaccine-Related Discussions for Airports. To help facilitate discussion on this topic, AAAE is hosting two meetings next week with our members that we would encourage you to attend if you would like additional information:
This afternoon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) distributed and released a letter to Part 139 commercial service airports that outlines items of consideration for any airport scheduled to receive large quantities of a COVID-19 vaccine or serving as an alternate/divert airport. The letter does not outline any mandates or requirements for airports; it is intended to help educate airports on vaccine distribution issues of which airports should be aware. This is part of a broader effort of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prepare the transportation industry ahead of the federal government's expected approval of certain COVID-19 vaccines in the immediate future.
Vaccine Logistics Preparedness for Airports. In today's letter, FAA outlined a series of planning considerations to assist airports in preparing to facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of COVID-19 vaccines. The considerations for airport operators include the following:
AAAE urges airports to view the letter for full details regarding these planning considerations, although FAA emphasized that this list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Preparing Industry Ahead of Vaccine Approvals. The letter today is part of a broader effort to prepare the transportation industry for the logistics of a major vaccine distribution effort that will be needed once the COVID-19 vaccines receive their expected emergency use authorization. FAA has established an internal vaccine logistics group to help identify issues and prepare industry for this unprecedent endeavor. Yesterday FAA issued Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 20017, 'Transportation of COVID-19 Vaccines Requiring Large Quantities of Dry Ice,' which provides air carriers and operators with information on the safety issues associated with the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines by air. Such transportation may require larger than typical quantities of dry ice for preservation.
In addition, the federal government continues to develop recommendations on which groups should be eligible for priority receipt of the vaccine while there is limited supply. This week AAAE, in collaboration with other industry stakeholders, directed a coalition letter to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, urging the committee to prioritize frontline aviation workers in the next phase of vaccine allocation (Phase 1b) after health workers and residents in long term facilities.
Upcoming AAAE Vaccine-Related Discussions for Airports. To help facilitate discussion on this topic, AAAE is hosting two meetings next week with our members that we would encourage you to attend if you would like additional information:
- AAAE's Emergency Management Working Group will be having its monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 15, at 3 pm ET. The emergency management community will be hosting a discussion on, among other issues, vaccine logistics preparedness.
- AAAE's Operations, Safety, Planning and Emergency Management Working Group will be hosting Peter Kirsch and Sarah Wilbanks from Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell who will discuss vaccine impacts and issues for airports, including what the industry may expect to see as this process plays out in the near future. The discussion is scheduled for Thursday, December 17, at 1 pm ET.
