Boeing partners across Aerospace for safe vaccine transport

NEW DELHI: Boeing is supporting passenger and cargo carriers with guidance as they prepare to fly vaccines around the world.

Boeing teams are working within industry standards to ensure the upcoming demand for vaccines is met while using safe, compliant procedures, particularly with vaccines that may require unique transport environments.

Boeing has issued service letters, multi-operator messages and has held online symposiums to communicate the issues associated with dry ice carriage. The published materials include data “curves” reflecting how many pounds of dry ice can be carried by each airplane model based on the sublimation rate of the dry ice as packaged for shipment. In addition, the documentation covers important airplane operational information (e.g. airflow settings, dispatch under Minimum Equipment List conditions, etc.).

Recommended limits for dry ice carriage on all Boeing models has been provided to operators through a Multi-Model Service Letter (SL), Multi-Operator Messages (MOMs) through the Boeing Communication System (BCS) and several All-Model Fleet Team calls. The data in our SL and MOM reflected current industry standards for dry ice sublimation rates down to 1%. In response to new data from pharmaceutical companies providing lower dry ice sublimation rates, Boeing issued revisions to this guidance to all operators through an updated MOM on November 25.

Boeing is partnering through International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA) to work with other airframe manufacturers on common guidance for ICAO and operators. Boeing is also partnering with the FAA, EASA, other regulators and industry organizations to both share information on airplane capability and develop safety-related guidance for operators.