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Daher, Percussionaire team up

by KEITH KINNAIRD
News editor | April 17, 2020 1:00 AM

Airlift sends ventilators to critically ill patients

SANDPOINT — Two Bonner County-based manufacturers came together Thursday to swiftly provide ventilators to critically ill novel coronavirus patients in California.

The California Department of Public Health’s Emergency Preparedness Office purchased 1,000 emergency ventilators from Kootenai-based Percussionaire Corp. and Daher, which manufactures the Kodiak 100 Series II single-engine turboprop airplane, agreed to fly them to Sacramento Executive Airport.

“We need to get ventilators to California as quick as possible and we’ve found that using Daher aircraft would be the quickest possible way to get us there,” said Mark Baillie, Percussionaire’s president and CEO.

A rugged Kodiak bearing 120 of the devices took to bluebird skies on Thursday at Sandpoint Airport on Thursday.

“This is an incredible opportunity for us as a young company. We’re well-versed in the state of California so they were the first ones to jump on board and place the order with us so we could start manufacturing,” said Baillie.

Baillie said the company has so far produced approximately 3,000 ventilators and expects to hit the 6,000-mark this month. The arrangement between the two company is also breathing life into the sputtering economy.

“The important part is that the local community came together. This is a company that manufactures a plane in Sandpoint and we manufacture ventilators in Sandpoint so there’s a perfect collaboration,” Baillie added.

The Kodiak is used worldwide by humanitarian organizations to carry people and supplies in remote places. The aircraft is capable of operating on uneven and short runways. They can also be fitted with floats for taking off and landing in water.

Jason Eddy, vice president of Kodiak aircraft operations, said the Bonner County Economic Development Corp. suggested the partnership. Moreover, both have a shared vision of bringing help to those in need.

“We have a common DNA with wanting to help people,” said Eddy.

There were more than 26,000 cases of COVID-19 in California on Thursday, according to the state’s department of public health. The virus has claimed 890 people in the Golden State.

“Ventilators are absolutely in need right now. California has stepped up and ordered those. Percussionaire makes and designs a fantastic product and so do we, and we were able to collaborate,” said Eddy.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.

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(Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD) Percussionaire Corp. ventilators are off loaded from a truck at Sandpoint Airport.

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(Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD) The state of California ordered 1,000 of Percussionaire ventilators.

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(Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD) Percussionaire president and CEO Mark Baillie is interviewed outside a Kodiak airplane.

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(Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD) Jason Eddy, vice president of Kodiak Aircraft operations, is interviewed.