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On June 10, the Wisconsin Limousine Association held a monthly conference call to discuss issues encountered by Midwest operators in the face of COVID-19. Operators from throughout the region took part in the meeting, along with CD Editor Rob Smentek, and discussion was moderated by WLA Vice President Larry Epstein of Gallant Knight Limousine and Secretary/Treasurer Karen Lotts of A Knight Rider Limousine.
WLA Secretary/Treasurer Karen Lotts of A Knight Rider Limousine
The reopening of the Midwestern states was the chief matter discussed on the call. Director Paula DeBiasi of Chicago Coach Works—who also serves as executive director for the Illinois Limousine & Bus Association—provided an update on what’s happening in her state. As Illinois begins to open, there has been confusion because of differing guidelines between the counties. Curfews that were in place due to protesting have been lifted in Chicago, but city offices remain closed. However, the long-awaited O’Hare Travel Plaza, located at the airport’s limousine lot, is ready to open, with full amenities including gas pumps, a convenience store, and electric car chargers. Although Minnesota was ground zero for the protests and unrest during the past several weeks, the Minnesota Chauffeured Transportation Association has reported no major issues, and the state is moving forward with the reopening that started in May. Operators in that state are seeing an uptick in retail and leisure bookings.
O’Hare Travel Plaza
The installation of sneeze guards in vehicles was also debated on the call. While a few members have tried them out to give passengers peace of mind, the “slippery slope” of whether this constitutes vehicle modification, and any insurance issues because of their use, is concerning to some operators.
The next WLA call is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8.
Visit wisconsinlimo.org for more information.
[06.12.20]
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Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s largest independent global bus manufacturers, has launched several tools to help operators clean and disinfect their buses for a successful restart.
Over the past several weeks, MCI’s engineering and field support teams and colleagues from sister company NFI Parts have been meeting with suppliers, talking with customers, and serving on industry task force committees. As a result, these efforts have allowed MCI to establish best practices in cleaning, disinfecting, distancing, and other protection protocols to share with its customers.
Resources available on MCI’s website include:
NFI Parts Clean & Protect Product Guide
NFI Parts’ Clean and Protect Product Guide offers the most requested product for most MCI models with focus on next-level cleanliness and virus-transmission mitigation solutions. The guide (found online here) consolidates current MCI and NFI Parts options for safe and successful operations organizing them under these four pillars:
- Distancing: Products that enable the driver to isolate from passengers and passengers to isolate from one another, including high driver shields as well as partitions to protect drivers.
- Disinfecting: Products that kill viruses, bacteria, etc. on hard surfaces and in the air such as hard-to-find fogging systems for maximum disinfecting effectiveness.
- Air Quality: Products that reduce unwanted airborne particulates, viruses, and bacteria.
- On MCI coach models, the HVAC system circulates in fresh, outside air every 10 minutes.
- Air recirculated through an anti-microbial MERV 8 rated filter media removes respiratory droplets and kills pathogens.
- PPE: Products that are considered personal protective equipment such as face masks and hand sanitizer, along with dispensers are also available from NFI Parts.
“One of the things MCI has been doing in collaboration with NFI Parts is to help evaluate what is effective against COVID-19, what helps meet CDC guidance, what is available, is it financially and operationally viable, and will it inspire passengers to ride,” said MCI Vice President of Pre-Owned Coach, Product Planning and Marketing Brent Maitland. “The NFI Parts team has been working diligently to develop these solutions, advising operators, and quickly meeting their demands.”
Maitland points to the increased use of UV-C lights mounted in the HVAC compartment to help kill pathogens and driver barriers available through NFI Parts. “These can either be installed by the owner, at MCI Service Center locations, or on models as they come through the MCI production line,” he said. “Still, the most effective measures are found in CDC’s guidance. Handwashing, distancing, wearing a mask, and cleaning common touch barriers remain part of the guidance. Our goal is to have products and tools that support operators’ efforts.”
MCI’s Coach Disinfecting Protocol Checklist
Following coach-cleaning and maintenance procedures practiced at MCI Service Centers as well as guidelines from the CDC and Health Canada, MCI has created a comprehensive checklist (found here) for keeping motorcoaches clean and sanitized in most operating situations including short movements on lots, pre-trip preparations, and end-of-day maintenance.
“We’ve created this list in a template format so operators can edit it for their own use with specific practices required by their own maintenance and driving teams and as a training tool,” said MCI Director of Product Planning and Sales Engineering Brent Danielson. “The checklist also provides Clean-In/Clean-Out touchpoints that are now necessary as COVID-19 precautions continue.”
MCI’s Extreme Clean Commitment Toolkit
To help operators share their enhanced cleaning practices with customers, MCI has created the Extreme Clean Commitment Toolkit (found here) encompassing enhanced cleaning procedures, products, and equipment that will optimize passenger and driver protection. The toolkit is ready to use or can be customized.
MCI Webinar: Clean, Disinfect, Protect
For operators wanting additional guidance, MCI Academy—the company’s training division—has a video replay of its Clean, Disinfect, and Protect June 2 webinar, which reviews optimal cleaning practices and the latest advice for customers restarting their fleets. The video replay is now archived online via the MCI Academy’s Learn Management System (LMS) course code 19.111. If you don’t have an LMS account, email scott.crawford@mcicoach.com to register.
For more information about MCI, visit mcicoach.com.
[06.11.20]
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UrbanBCN Worldwide CEO David Uziel brings his company into the transcontinental air space with the introduction of his newly announced private aviation network, UrbanAir.
UrbanBCN CEO Dave Uziel
Uziel’s initial jet acquisition, a 12-seat Bombardier Challenger 604, reflects his commitment to meeting the growing demand for private travel in the wake of the global pandemic. In tandem with the company’s launch of rigorous COVID-19-related health and safety protocols, UrbanAir intends to provide a proactive and competitive option for those seeking enhanced flexibility and care within the luxury charter arena.
The fortuitous idea was brewing for about a year as a way to diversify his San Francisco-based business, but interest heightened after Uziel’s corporate clients expressed a reticence to travel on commercial airlines now and in the foreseeable future due to concerns about the virus.
“Time-saving access to smaller airports, adaptable flight schedules, and the ability to remain socially distanced will be vital considerations in the coming months,” says Uziel. “And these are things major airlines just can’t provide. Our goal is to make air travel more streamlined, and our clients more confident, as we collectively move forward.”
UrbanAir’s access to more than 25 small, medium, and heavy jets creates a range of accommodation options for passengers. All private charters are equipped with a multimedia entertainment system, forward galley with refreshment center, and in-flight WiFi.
Although business has been tough across the board for practically every transportation company worldwide as travel has been restricted, Uziel is hopeful for the future. He says that he received more than two dozen requests less than 24 hours after announcing the new service to his clients in early June—a sign that people want to travel but are willing to do so with trusted partners.
“This is bigger than me; this is my dad’s legacy. I can’t give up,” says Uziel, who took over the family business in 2009 upon his father’s retirement.
Visit urbanbcn.com or send an email to air@urbanbcn.com for more information.
[06.09.20]