Do the "lockdowns" affect flying schools

[xrayalpha]

Hi,

We all know how the Covid lockdown shut flying schools for at least three months, and then ended in a rather scrappy way across the UK.

On the principle of preparing for the worst, have any of these recent lockdowns - BBC says half the population of Wales is in "lockdown" - affected flying schools?

[TheOddOne]

As Autumnal weather strikes us hard in the South-West and there's a spike of cases, we're expecting further local restrictions and a loss of trade. I don't think we will experience the national draconian restrictions on our activity we had in the Spring, but discouraging people from travel will have a similar effect.
We've had a good September which has put a bit of fat on the financial bones so we could endure a further period of low activity for a while. But then again, we're run by volunteers so our overheads are hangarage, insurance and mandatory maintenance - about £750 a month for our single PA28.

TOO

[xrayalpha]

And now the BBC says the North-East is in almost full lockdown, with people from two households banned from meeting indoors, such as pubs and restaurants. (But workplaces are exempt)

Of course, no mention of driving instruction or flying schools.

Back to the old days of CPL training good, vanilla PPL bad?

[xrayalpha]

OK - so "lockdown" now in central Scotland. Not meant to travel from one health board area to another - note "meant". It is a request rather than a regulation.

First flight tomorrow now cancelled by student, who believes in following the spirit of the govt statement.

CAA, of course, has never grounded aviation at any point in the crisis.

There have been "lockdowns" for weeks now in various parts of England, many of which I know have flying schools. How have things been faring there?

Just trying to find out so we can plan.

[TheOddOne]

Report from the far South-West, beyond England.
September was our busiest month in the past 5 years. Equinoxial gales now put a dent in activity, quite busy with IR(R) groundschool and sim on the SEP side. Bookings remain firm with new enquiries. On the microlight side, little activity on the flex-wings and fix-wing due weather. However, optimism abounds and there's a pent-up demand.
We're dreading a spike in cases escaping from the local 'hot-spots' involving a food-processing facility and student accommodation, generally low number of cases. Now the blessed tourists have largely gone home, we feel we can venture out a bit from our self-imposed isolation.

TOO

[MrAverage]

We have a very similar picture to you TOO. Although the CAA might not have stopped us directly in March as per #4, the lockdown did mean the airfield banned all but emergency related flights. When the CAA announced that training could resume on the 4th of July, the airfield let us loose and we also got very busy very quickly. Several new studes, PPLs we haven't seen for years and regular CVs from instructors. Until last Sunday written exams almost every day and, although new enquiries have subsided somewhat, the phone is still ringing more than usual. We, however, are somewhat stifled by a queue for maintenance....

[xrayalpha]

Hi all,

This wasn't meant to be a "how busy are you" thread. More a "how have people worked out how to keep flying and instructing legally" one.

So, in Scotland, with the latest "requests" about non-essential travel between health board areas, the airfield at Strathaven is closing for visitors, and the flying school is only operating A to A flights - so no cross-country navigation with land-aways. Airfield users are going to be "requested" not to operate A to B flights, but - like the government - only requested.

We figure it is up to our students as to whether their journey from one health board area to another is "essential". There are so few flying schools in Scotland, it is often "essential" to travel to one in another health board area!

Just thinking about trial flying lessons at the moment. Interested in feedback from others.

[xrayalpha]

OK, so Wales now back in lockdown.

South Lanarkshire, where we are in Scotland, looks likely to go into lockdown in the next week.

Are Welsh flying schools now closed?

Technically, during the big UK lockdown, aircraft were not grounded by the CAA - and aerial navigation was a reserved matter for Westminster in the Scotland Act 1998. So the Scottish government couldn't shut us down directly! Although we, like other schools, did close anyway.

Still interested how flight training is working in Tier 3 areas etc. Prior prep prevents poor performance etc

[MrAverage]

Fortunately we're just outside the London Borough area, so Tier 2 for the moment.

[white light]

Not sure about all of Wales, but Welshpool for example, has all but closed down for the two weeks.

I presume schools in tier 2 & 3 are still operating

[AusCaptain]

Yes - the school I have been casually instructing at was made to close shop. Looking to open up again soon but need COVID marshall and a COVID plan...