Aero-Formatech® Preventing Measures
At Aero-Formatech® our core value is Health & Safety First – for our employees and for our customers. Considering recent COVID-19 developments, we would like to share with you some of our preventive measures and answer the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you feel more informed when participating at training.
We want to assure you that protecting our customers from the risk of infection by communicable diseases has always been part of our safety protocols. While the current COVID-19 is newly identified, it behaves like other human coronaviruses that we have developed expertise in managing in all our operations.
Aero-Formatech® rigorously follows the guidance of all relevant health authorities and follows best demonstrated practices in the prevention and handling of communicable diseases in the aviation training industry. Starting June 03, 2020, Aero-Formatech® will begin (optional or whenever necessary) no contact temperature screenings for all participants on-site at registration.
Any trainee with a fever—a temperature of 99.5oF (37,5oC) or higher—will not be allowed to join the training sessions.
Following an order from Canada’s Minister of Transport, Aero-Formatech® also required masks or facial coverings for all participants. Coverings must be worn over the mouth and nose during briefings, while at the Firefighting Simulator and/or in class, during the live Firefighting and/or Evacuation on water (dry, no pool), and during debriefings. While outside, the masks may be removed for drinking water. Participants must bring their own face coverings, but they “do not need to be medical masks—any face covering including a scarf or similar item is acceptable.
Aero-Formatech® has also adjusted its operational process to minimize potential contact between participants by allowing fewer people to board the Simulator at a time and/or in class, and its instructors reorganize seating to maintain social distancing.
(FAQ) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does Aero-Formatech® require participants to wear a mask while in training?
For the safety and well-being of our customers and employees, Aero-Formatech® will require all participants to wear cloth coverings or mask over their mouth and nose while at the Firefighting Simulator and/or in class for briefings, during the live Firefighting and/or Evacuation on water (no pool), and during debriefings (unless otherwise stated by Health Canada).
While outside, the masks may be removed for drinking water. Participants must bring their own face coverings which will be verified prior to all Aero-Formatech® training and prior to the briefing. It is the participant’s responsibility to bring the proper face covering with them. Aero-Formatech® will not distribute masks to participants to ensure that critical medical masks are reserved for frontline workers. The coverings do not need to be medical masks – any face covering including a scarf or similar item is acceptable.
How is Aero-Formatech® encouraging social distancing?
A few ways. First, during practical training sessions, our Instructors will be proactively reseating participants in the Simulator and/or in the raft, to have as few people sitting next to one another as possible.
Second, we reduced the number of participants per session to accommodate adequate social distancing. Additionally, our briefing and debriefing time have been temporarily adjusted to reduce contact times.
What does Aero-Formatech® do to prevent infected person to participate?
We have a general protocol that when a participant who appears unwell, our instructors will make inquiries of the person regarding their health. This includes no-contact temperature screening. In cases where we have grounds to believe someone may be unfit to perform training, we can also deny the participation for their own well-being, and that of other registered participants and employees.
What does Aero-Formatech® do to protect registered participants if a participant exhibit symptom of COVID-19?
Aero-Formatech® has well-established protocols for the handling of participants exhibiting symptoms of communicable diseases and our instructors are well trained to manage these
situations. During training, our lead Instructor also could be in direct contact with medical authorities in real time. If determined necessary, the instructor will contact 911.
What does Aero-Formatech® do if a participant is identify as having travelled/trained with COVID-19 post flight / training?
As with all communicable disease protocols, if someone tests positive for the virus after having travelled on a flight or participated in a training session with us, it is by the participant itself, and/or by the customer/operator responsibility to contact and notified Aero-Formatech® of the situation immediately.
In most cases, all participants, customer/operator registered on the same training sessions of that person will be included in the contact tracing. Due to privacy laws, the names cannot be disclosed to anyone other than the public health authority.
In addition to other measures, a deep grooming of the Simulator and equipment is performed as per the updated guidance which includes hospital-grade disinfectant products that have a wide spectrum microbial activity and are effective against human coronavirus.
Can I be infected by the air in the Simulator if an infected participant is onboard?
Our Simulators are equipped with doors and windows that will be more frequently opened during the actual live Firefighting. This will completely refresh the Simulator cabin air after each scenario. Also, all our Simulator Cabin Trainers are equipped with a Vortex fan that keeps a continuous air flow in the cabin. The actual acceptance air refresh time in an aircraft cabin is every 2 to 3 minutes for a total of 20 to 30 total air changes per hour.
What are Aero-Formatech® grooming procedures to eliminate the virus which causes COVID-19?
Coronaviruses are easily eliminated by routine surface cleaning and sanitization. Aero-Formatech® uses cleaning products, including medical-grade disinfectants which have a wide spectrum microbial activity and are proven effective against human coronavirus.
Between each training session (when the Simulator completes a training group and is readied for the next one), all frequently touched areas of the Simulator cabin are sanitized including the hands-on equipment, the surrounding hard surfaces, lavatory, armrests, headrest covers, windows, passenger lights, seat and air controls, seat buckles, and overhead bin handles. At the end of the day, the Simulator cabin will receive full sanitization which includes the same areas plus any hard surfaces not frequently touched like the interior of the overhead bin, sidewalls and ceilings, the galleys, and the flight deck. As per PHAC (Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines) and other resources, coronaviruses do not readily survive on soft materials (headrest covers, seat covers, carpets, etc.).