GA and COVID-19 Mandates

macrafic · #1 03-27-2020, 09:45 AM

For those pilots in state?s with Stay-At-Home mandates, Have you gotten any direction on the subject as it regards GA? Any opinion? Any comments from the group? Especially for us non-shared, non-partnership aircraft owners. I can surely see that sharing a plane (flying club, for instance) might be questionable.

I can get into my car (alone), drive to the airport (alone), access my hangar and plane (alone) and fly (alone). I do not come anywhere near anybody else nor do I touch any public surface. Nobody else flies the RV. Much safer for everybody than the allowed outdoor walks, runs, exercise, etc. IMO, I totally comply with the intent and spirit of any mandate mandate I have seen.

Particularly interested, but not limited to, responses from Minnesota pilots.

Thoughts?

RV7A Flyer · #2 03-27-2020, 09:59 AM

Other than being grounded by cruddy weather the last couple of weeks, with a few exceptions one or two days, I've been telecommuting from the hangar and flying (solo) a time or two. Plenty of space and a decent desk/working area, nobody around, and my SO can work from home while I work from there and we don't step all over each other.

Like you said, no contact with anyone else, it's your hangar so no "public" services (except maybe the fuel pump...is AvGas anti-viral?

), and one couldn't be any *more* socially distanced when flying solo!

In fact, I'm headed there now...

krwalsh · #3 03-27-2020, 10:19 AM

Here in the San Francisco Bay area, GA is "open," but in reality I doubt there is much flying going on. I get emails from the county where I have my hangar letting me know that the airport office is closed, but the fuel trucks are staffed and I can get fuel.

In reality, the entire state of California is under a shelter in place, and we are only supposed to be out for essential travel. I live effectively directly under the GA departure route out of OAK, and I can tell you that the usual amount of traffic has gone basically to zero. I might see one plane per day, whereas before you could basically walk outside and always see one. In the meantime, my BFR has lapsed, and now I'm effectively grounded until this is over.

Auburntsts · #4 03-27-2020, 10:21 AM

No direction from here in Tampa, FL. We’re under a stay at home order starting at 10pm tonight and one is already in effect in our neighboring county but it’s main purpose is to enforce social distancing. So bottom line is, other than flight instruction, there isn’t any impact to GA yet.

JonJay · #5 03-27-2020, 11:29 AM

I deleted my post. Not sure it is a good idea to talk about freedoms, or lack thereof, right now. Might give the wrong people the wrong idea.

RV8JD · #6 03-27-2020, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macrafic

For those pilots in state’s with Stay-At-Home mandates, Have you gotten any direction on the subject as it regards GA? Any opinion? ...

I can get into my car (alone), drive to the airport (alone), access my hangar and plane (alone) and fly (alone). I do not come anywhere near anybody else nor do I touch any public surface. Nobody else flies the RV. Much safer for everybody than the allowed outdoor walks, runs, exercise, etc. IMO, I totally comply with the intent and spirit of any mandate mandate I have seen.

I'm mostly in the same situation in WA State. I would not ask the local Government for any "direction" for fear of their misinformed, knee-jerk negative reaction. For example, the Governor here has shut down all recreational fishing. Not quite the same, but if they see some folks having some fun during the shutdown, they may not like that, even if it meets the intent and spirit of any social distancing mandate.

odens_14 · #7 03-27-2020, 11:50 AM

MN goes stay-at-home tonight. per the social media post from our FBO @ AXN that means self-serve fuel open, limited aircraft rental or charters at managers discretion, no flight instruction, terminal closed (but we have after hour access pad so restroom, weather computer, etc still available); but they're viewing flying as outdoor recreation so they say go fly! which is my plan if the weather cooperates this weekend.

cderk · #8 03-27-2020, 12:35 PM

My opinion is flying is practicing social distancing. It?s my exercise. If folks can go out and walk, I can go out and fly. Until i get pulled over for driving to the airport, I?ll continue going. It?s something i do alone, so no threat of me getting to close to anyone.

Auburntsts · #9 03-27-2020, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cderk

My opinion is flying is practicing social distancing. It?s my exercise. If folks can go out and walk, I can go out and fly. Until i get pulled over for driving to the airport, I?ll continue going. It?s something i do alone, so no threat of me getting to close to anyone.

My thoughts exactly? that and riding my motorcycle.

RV10Man · #10 03-27-2020, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cderk

My opinion is flying is practicing social distancing. It’s my exercise. If folks can go out and walk, I can go out and fly. Until i get pulled over for driving to the airport, I’ll continue going. It’s something i do alone, so no threat of me getting to close to anyone.

Me too. Except my hangar is only about 20' from my house.

And I have my own 500 gallon fuel tank.