GA and COVID-19 Mandates

[donaziza]

(except maybe the fuel pump...)

They're saying "wipe your fuel pump handle for your car". Not nearly as many hands on an aviation fuel pump handle, but I wipe it anyway. My hangar has 4 planes in it, so I gotta move 2 out, get mine out, and then put them back in. I wipe the door knob and my key to get in the hangar, the electric push button to open the hangar door, the other guy's pull rods to pull them out and push em back in, and the flush lever on the toilet. Y'all can laugh if you want, but I'm still doing it.

[Ironflight]

I saw some AOPA/FAA correspondence the other day that indicated that the FAA is taking action against airport operators that are trying to close the airport’s essential services (fuel, basically) if that airport has taken federal funding. In other words, the FAA is saying that airports need to stay open and provide services - that’s a good thing for us, since it gives us an indication of the government’s direction on opening/closing GA. At least for now.

We are taking taking social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions very seriously, trying to stay home and follow all of the Nevada guidelines - it just makes sene from a risk management standpoint, Fortunately, since our airplanes are in the hangar next to the house (in what is considered a rural county), walking out and going flying keeps us as isolated as if we were still at home. The self serve pumps at our local fuel stops are so far away from anyone else as to keep us as isolated as if we were out hiking in the mountains - so we’re still flying. But you won't see us at any pilot gatherings anywhere, and forget about airpark gatherings until this blows over!

Stay isolated and safe....

[Sam_B]

I called the county sheriff to better clarify Wisconsin?s Safer at Home order. Kind of hard to say building an RV is essential travel, and I?d be caught red handed at the hangar without a good excuse. They said the whole law was pretty gray, and that going to the airport is NOT considered essential, even though I?d be alone at the hangar. That said, they also said that they wouldn?t bother me or anyone else in public for that matter, so long as there weren?t large groups. It seems the spirit of the order and the letter of the order are not necessarily in line but I doubt you?d have trouble. Might just want to call your local police or county sheriffs dept just to check what they?d do, better than paying fines.

[dpansier]

[flyinmonque]

someone is wearing their mask upside down. Will not seal good like thah. Her' on the other hand works well both ways.

[Scott Hersha]

The governor of my state (Ohio), as well as our president has emphasized social distancing, not social isolation. They have stated this several times. Flying your airplane solo seems like the most awesome form of social distancing you could find, and I do it as often as I can. We need to wash our hands whenever we touch something not at home, not touch our faces - ever outside of our sanitized environment, and maintain social distance according to the rules. Do this and you won?t catch the contagion. Fly your airplane. Your mental health is important. Aviation, including recreational aviation is an ?essential service? according to the TSA - look it up. At my airport (HAO) the pattern has been full for the last two beautiful weather days.

[JDeanda]

Here at the home drome in CA (Santa Paula, KSZP) we?re on mandatory mostly lockdown at home... no non-essential travel, no non-essential gatherings, 6 foot social distancing, all that jazz. The local flight school is shut down and the maintenance operations and restaurant are too. Fuel pumps are operating and there?s a bit of flying going on. The Gov says we?re not allowed to leave our county, even to go to work and I presume that applies to flying, too, although I?ve not heard that spelled out. It?s pretty quiet around these parts.

[Discus2b]

[quote=dougnlina;1417698]Technically they are letting GA fly in our county without limitation. One consideration when engaging in extra activities should be that any accidents will put additional pressure on an already taxed health care system. Whatever we decide to do in these times (flying or using dangerous tools); please consider engaging in an extra level of safety and mid-fullness to stay out of the emergency rooms.[/QUOTE

So, do not do the things that injuries, blood, and pain are the result of.
Hmmm K.....check.
Though one might think ER would enjoy a change of blood n guts over all the people with the pandemic.
Sorry, my wife would say all my tools are dangerous...to me.
Anybody know if avgas is OK in a chainsaw?
Cheers,
R

[rongawer]

My business is considered an essential service and I'm still commuting to work by air, so I'm personally quite happy the airports are open for business.

Normally when I'm heading in to work, the only other traffic is the morning SWA 997 (we tend to have our separation down as a daily routine now), so the morning is pretty much unchanged.

It has been very quiet in the afternoons leaving Palo Alto though. There's normally several folks out doing training and the odd PC12 or KA in the line up, but it's pretty much been operation "just us" lately. I got cleared for taxi and take off from my tie down on Friday if that's any indication of just how quiet the airspace is...and how bored the controllers are.

[snopercod]

Originally Posted by krwalsh

...the entire state of California is under a shelter in place...

I guess you've read by now that the Governor is tracking cell phones to insure compliance.