Safe Transport of Infectious Passengers During COVID-19

In April 2020, a joint Air Force team delivered a rapidly developed containment system prototype that will enable as many as 28 COVID-positive patients to be transported aboard a C-17 aircraft. This Negatively Pressured Conex is designed to stop bio-organisms from leaving the container, enabling infected patients to safely travel to receive treatment from medical facilities all over the world.

​This initiative demonstrates the value of collaboration to accelerate response to urgent needs. The award was made only eight​ days after the RPP was released to Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Consortium members, to meet the Joint Urgent Operational Need from U.S. Transportation Command. Thanks to the OTA consortium model, the awardee was able to team with non-members to submit the most compelling solution.​​ Between April 2020 and February 2021, the Negatively Pressured Conex transported 267 COVID-19 patients over 37 missions with no confirmed cases of infection spread.

The CWMD Consortium focuses on research and development of technologies to detect, prevent, and protect against weapons of mass destruction.

Learn more:

• CWMD Consortium
• Air Force Magazine article on the Negatively Pressured Conex
• Video from the U.S. Air Force on the Negatively Pressured Conex
• Airman Magazine article, video, and timeline for the Negatively Pressured Conex (embedded above)
• Announcement from UTS Systems and Highland Engineering, Inc.
• DVIDS photo gallery