Can PPL, CPL and IR instructing recommence ?
 

In his television broadcast at 1900 BST Sunday 10 May 2020 Boris Johnson said "you should go to work if you cannot work from home". Does this instruction from the Prime Minister mean that working within general aviation should now recommence with immediate effect.

Can professional work teaching students for their PPL CPL and IRs recommence if mitigation measures are put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as far as is reasonably practical. Cleaning and decontamination of aeroplanes use of face masks and perhaps screens between the instructor and student such as seen in supermarkets and pharmacies ?

Does the instruction from the Prime Minister to return to work over turn the CAA's blanket ban on GA ?

People have been asked to return to work were they cannot work from home but have been also been told to avoid public transport were possible. On the odd rare occasion were a light aeroplane might feasibly be used to commute longer distances within the UK for work purposes this would seen to be in the spirit of the instruction namely both going to work which we are told we should do also avoiding public transport which we should try and do were possible.

Can a PPL pilot working towards a CPL recommence hour building i.e they are a professional student working towards a professional qualification remaining socially distant and avoiding public transport.

Is it time to responsibly get GA going again ?

I'm ready to go back.....but is the airport i operate off ready or prepared to open?
They still get rent and parking and Gov. paying their employees, only losing out on fuel sales and a few quid on visitor landing fees.
Why should they be bothered to reopen.

It might some months before the clubs go bust or just give up, or grant cash runs out.

CAA
 

At the moment the CAA prohibits Recreational Flying. That may change soon?

Maybe the business paying rent needs the airport to be open in order to service customers and not go bankrupt.

Do they, i thought was just the good will of the GA community to stay grounded, rare to get a definitive position where the CAA are concerned.
And what's the reason, if the roads are going to be flooded with cars, can't use the excuse that planes falling out of the sky all over the place putting an undue burden on the NHS.

They do, but does the airfield care?
Might like to see the back of the clubs and then use that to convince council not viable as airfield and build houses.

CAA
 

We will have to wait to see if, when and how the CAA will permit recreational flying

A PPL instructor for example should be able to return to work. But what students is there to teach because training isn’t permitted yet. I’m going to guess that once schools/universities go back then they will too. Best wait for the CAA guidance.

No, I don't think it can recommence with immediate effect.

But we should be working hard now on establishing how to get it going up again; things will not be the same as before, be sooner than later we will be able to fly again - we just need to work out how we can do it with a low enough level of oversight and aggro that we can enjoy it and, for those who do, make a living from it.

G

Nearly everyone i talk to, including me say that they have had some or all the symptoms of covid.
Should we just crack on and get flying and leave it up to individuals to decide if they want to risk sitting in a aircraft with someone else.
I would display a notice saying that if you have been ill recently, like last four weeks, then refrain from flying.
Can't see why solo hire can't go ahead.
What's the greater risk, dying of covid, or in a plane crash.

Another thread here:

https://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/...start-now.html

The law has not changed.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 never explicitly instructed Flying Schools to cease business.

However guidance from the CAA and DfT did. This is guidance and not legislation.

2 meter "social distancing" is appended with "if practical". For certain jobs and businesses 2 meters separation will never be practical.

WHO guidlines for workplaces are very measured; emphasising good hand washing and cleaning protocols. They emphasise not coming into work when feeling unwell. There is also detail on protecting and providing information to the vulnerable.

From gov.uk, published on 31 March, no new update yet.https://www.gov.uk/government/public...neral-aviation

Whilst it is correct to demand that authorities like the CAA are acting fairly and not over using their powers the UK is not unique in its actions. Our press is appaling in reporting the general state of affairs outside of the UK. To offer an update here, in France, the following has been circulated to flight instructors by the local FFA instructor representative who is keeping us up to date (google translated):

"To follow up on the questions that we have constantly raised with our authorities throughout this period and to prepare their exit" from above ", we officially asked again by letter yesterday to Patrick Gandil, the Director General of Aviation Civilian, what would be the possible obstacles to the resumption of our training flights.

He immediately answered us with the voice of Pierre-Yves Huerre, the Head of the Light, General Aviation and Helicopter Mission (MALGH). New official texts are being prepared for the “aeronautical” deconfinement regulations. The DGAC will inform us, as soon as possible, of the details essential to our light aviation, in particular for instruction flights. Its decisions will then have, alone, value and force of law.

We are therefore also awaiting and hoping for these official texts, and it would be very unwise at this time to rely on information or even to make decisions regarding the resumption of our activities, simply reading press releases not under the authority of the Authority

Francis ARTIGUE

President of ANPI »

Well it's Wednesday and as far as i can see no airfield has any excuse to be closed regards flying.
Boris told us to go back to work and i can, if the airfield opens.
I have customers queuing up, even if it's just solo hire, desperate to want to go flying.
They want to spend their furlough money!
I will just put a sign on the door, like i should any winter, "If you or family member have been ill in the last month then please stay away from the school". Simple.
Anyone phoning to book a flight will do the same on the phone.
If folks want to wear masks, that is their choice.

Gov.uk
 

Google : “General Aviation Recreational Flying Covid UK” The 31st March 2020 spiel on gov.uk says no general aviation not allowed
Needs updating at some stage by Gov.uk
Am I missing something???

The latest from France (FFA representative) received today:

Pending, more and more uncertain, from a press release from the DGAC, what we all expected from our Authority or the Ministry of Transport, in order to remove any ambiguity on "can we or no, fly solo, assisted dual control (for recovery flights) or instruction ”, I suggest you, given the complexity of the many texts and therefore the readings that may be different, to take stock at this time (depending factual information known to me).

Since the end of the confinement taken by Decree n ° 2020-548 allowing the possibilities of displacement and rendering obsolete the measures taken previously, with, it goes without saying, preponderant value concerning the flights on the initial press release from the DGAC, at the beginning of crisis.

IF SANITARY MEASURES TAKEN WITHIN OUR CLUBS (premises, ground and management of protections and barrier gestures in cases where social distancing cannot be guaranteed during thefts) ,

NO PROHIBITION CONTINUES CONCERNING THE USE OF OUR PLANES but within the limit of one hundred km, flight plan is no longer compulsory, usual rules of the air.

At the same time, the Ministry of Sports, which also manages our activity, released on 11/05 / current the "Guide to supporting the resumption of activities" (in attachment).

In it is specified for the period from May 11 to June 2 ;

• Resumption of single-seat activity and
• Resumption of sports training (aerobatics, precision piloting and air rally) with trips of less than 100 km;

AND

For the instruction, compliance with the principles and recommendations of the DGAC (our only line ministry for this training activity).

Conclusion:

FOR PILOTS, ONLY ONE PERSON ON BOARD (no other pilot pilots or friends, etc.) (Ministry of Sports);

• FOR INSTRUCTORS, NO CHANGES, WE CAN ACCOMPANY A PILOT FOR RECOVERY OR INSTRUCTION FLIGHTS (Ministry of Transport - DGAC no ban therefore published as part of the privileges of an FI or FE).

However, it would have been good for our two departments to consult and communicate jointly in order to avoid all of the uncertainty and tension that this created.

And anyway, I want to pay tribute to the FFA and the ANPI for the considerable work they do to maintain and develop our activities and our defense.

From Gov.uk

"Recreational flying

Current government guidance on coronavirus precludes recreational GA flying.

This is being observed in practice by the vast majority of the GA community, and we are grateful to them for doing so. The message we are receiving from the GA community is that they fully appreciate the need for these restrictions, and observing them is being widely encouraged throughout the community. Again, we are grateful for this."

"Because the directive to stay at home is being well observed, we do not perceive a need to introduce a specific ban on flying by visual flight rules (VFR) as seen in some European countries."

We have never been stopped form flying.
If there was ban, they suggest the process to unban would be more long winded. Well of course it would be for jobsworths.

Still i'm getting furlough money, not wearing out my aircraft to earn that cash and who knows when dual flying will recommence.

PPL student here, if I get any more lessons before September I’ll consider that a bonus. Hopefully I’m being overly pessimistic.

The CAA's current view....
 

....seems pretty clear to me: https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/Newsr...onal-aviation/

Click on the 'GA maintenance check flights' link:

Quote:

• while the UK Government's social distancing policy is in place the owner or organisation operating the aircraft must maintain a log of all the aircraft movements. As a minimum, this must include the purpose of the flight, the aircraft registration, the pilot and their licence number, the flight's date, time and duration. This log is to be kept and if required provided immediately in electronic form to the CAA.
• Only solo flights by fully qualified pilots are permitted. No other flights, including instructional sorties are allowed. Aircraft must not be rented-out or flown for financial gain.

As an FI, how do you safely maintain social distancing in a light aircraft?

HW

We can't, but it's no different to all the coppers and ambulance crews that have been driving around for the last several weeks.
I travelled to my old home town, nearly every factory and industrial estate was operating, bet a lot of those back street garages aren't social distancing.
Local nationwide tyre shop and fixers working, climbing in and out of customers contaminated cars.

Looks like GA is on the move, for private owners and hires.
Just now watch airfields drag their feet to open.
So how many members keen to go flying would you trust to fly when some haven't flown for a couple of months and you know they will need a couple of circuits before you let them go.

Indeed, with everyone out of check now, how do we do the check out flights safely so members can commence their solo hire flights?

Latest Department for Transport steer here:https://www.gov.uk/government/public...iness-as-usual

Still a no-go I'm afraid....

HW

I'm interviewing (by phone!) each of our members who fly the Club aircraft. I'm basing my decision as to who can fly solo on their previous experience and the outcome of what they think.

Someone who has previously owned and extensively flown the type and who flew about 2 months ago AND expresses reservations about their recency, I think is a reasonable bet. We'll wait for wind down the strip and good vis and we'll have a chat before they go off. Generally, the flight will be in the local area, no more then 30 mins.
Some other will be waiting until we can fly dual. Sadly, all the students (if we've any left!) will also have to wait.

TOO

"It is also to be expected that some airfields will require time to implement guidance on making their sites Covid-secure, and that there may therefore be delays to reopening."

Not like they have had several weeks to prepare for this.

But training is specifically excluded by the DfT?

Apparently not if you are Leading Edge or L3.. ????

The CAA have released CAP1924 today titled COVID 19 – Preparing to Return to Normal Flying Operations for General Aviation Pilot Training Organisations (‘Flying Clubs and Schools’). Hopefully this is a sign of upcoming relaxation of dual training flights...

https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33...anisations.pdf

So pretty much like a bad winter?
If you got the flu, stay at home!
I think the only guarantee of protection are those U2 pressure suits.

Actually the best protection will be a tin hat from all the planes falling out of the sky.
I wonder if hi-viz wards off covid?

And if some schools are being allowed to operate, isn't breaking some anti competition law, preventing competing companies from trading.
Folks might sign up now knowing they are flying when others are grounded.

Commercial flight training resumes in the UK...

https://www.*****************/2020/0...mes-in-the-uk/
https://bbga.aero/london-oxford-airp...edge-aviation/

Nice to see the return of flight training, my experience locally is that a lot of FI's, more particularly examiners would fall into the "vulnerable" category per UK government guidelines (please don't take that as what I consider vulnerable) and may continue to shield - am I likely to struggle to find an examiner for a PPL skills test? If so, anyone think it's likely the CAA would relax guidelines? e.g. My instructor is an examiner but can't currently do my skills test.

Just trying to form a mental picture of how this will return to normal-ish.

Thanks

So this is specific exemptions approved by the CAA based on individual programmes submitted by larger residential schools, rather than a general resumption?

Yes. And it's very limited at present.

I've just seen an advert from a well-known supplier of aviation materials for a face mask made by Tecnam. From the photo and the description, it seems to offer good visibility and protection both from another person's exhalations and yours on them. It could be argued that using such a device effectively extends the distance between people in a cockpit to the equivalent of standard social distancing, though the advert doesn't say this. The picture doesn't include someone wearing a headset. One of our members went flying wearing a surgical mask the other day, sounded quite muffled on the radio.
Using such a device in conjunction with what is effectively contact tracing that we've already worked out might reduce the risk to a very small (but not zero) level.
As Wannabedriver says, most instructors and examiners are regarded as 'vulnerable' by age but all the ones I know get quite shirty at the insinuation they're 'old', even though the youngest of the 5 we have is 61 and 3 are over 70 (eldest 78 and still going strong).

TOO

Looks like one of those things people buy and within five minutes take it off and chuck into the back of the aircraft.

I don't believe the CAA stopped training - the decision to voluntarily suspend training activity was made by training organisations. My understanding is that the resumption of commercial training has been permitted by the DfT and that any exemptions have been granted higher up to enable specific non-civilian contracts held by commercial providers to continue during the last lockdown phase. A general resumption of commercial training and associated ratings is permitted now in any case.

Says who Reverserbucket? The CAA certainly didn't stop flight training - the government did through the Department for Transport (see link below). By commercial training I presume you mean training for the CPL? In which case social distancing is still an issue on the basis it's all done in a light aircraft. Private or commercial? No difference.https://www.gov.uk/government/public...neral-aviation

HW

DfT HW. They have made a distinction between recreational General Aviation (as described in your link) and commercial training. How an ATO mitigates risk associated with the current social distancing guidelines is entirely their responsibility however and of course, the individuals involved.

Wasn't aware of that, do you know if that has been published anywhere or has it just gone from the DfT to ATO's?