The Colorado Aviation Business Association, which represents the state’s non-passenger commercial flight industry, has offered its assistance to the governor to deliver pandemic-related supplies as needed.

“We are building upon the existing holiday airlift model, changing it to respond to the needs of the current crisis,” said Chris Swathwood, the association’s chair.

CABA conducts an annual airlift in December to carry food, toys, and hygiene products to rural communities around Colorado. In 2018, 34 airplanes participated by delivering 10,000 pounds of items. That increased to 13,000 pounds in 2019.

“We don’t see a massive need for redistribution of medical equipment or personnel yet in Colorado, but we want to be ready so we can respond quickly when the need arises,” said Swathwood. “We know our volunteer pilots and the aircraft they operate are ideal for these missions.”

The operation would mirror those that have been occurring internationally on a large scale. In late March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services coordinated an airlift of 500,000 swabs and sample testing kits from Italy to the United States. A 23.5-hour flight from China to Europe brought four million face masks and other supplies to hospitals in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.