"Pilots are naturally very good at organising, and making things happen in real time according to a structure and a plan, drawing together lots of elements. We are really rubbish at sitting around and doing nothing." These were my thoughts as the COVID-19 shutdown loomed. A subsequent conversation suggested that hospitals might need such support, and more. It was anticipated that the pandemic would place a heavy burden on hospital staff, so - after co-opting easyJet's Captain Emma Henderson - Project Wingman was born: a truly pan-industry response to the crisis, unaffiliated to any single airline or organisation. Project Wingman is the creation of a first-class lounge in hospitals, where uniformed flight and cabin crew do what they do best - delivering first-class service to hospital staff as they come off shift or are on their breaks. At the time of writing (late April), 25 hospitals had a space staffed by uniformed airline crew offering tea, coffee and a chat. Wingman is wanted in a further 40 hospitals, and the list is growing daily. The number of volunteers now tops 4,000 crew.
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