The Coronavirus impact on the aviation Industry

Flight departments are taking advantage of downtime due to the coronavirus shutdowns to conduct training and prepare for busier times while also maintaining readiness in case emergency trips become necessary. The steps some flight departments are taking were highlighted during NBAA’s News Hour webinar yesterday—“Maintaining Flight Department Readiness”—which was recorded for those who couldn’t participate.

The FAA is advising operators to remain vigilant about checking Notams and understanding the airport environment as the Covid-19 crisis is spurring carriers to park up to half of their fleets and airport operators search for space to accommodate this overflow. “Extensive overflow parking presents an extraordinarily unusual operational environment,” the agency said in a Safety Alert to Operators (SAFO 20005).

The FAA, working rapidly to address an array of concerns concerning meeting a number of requirements and deadlines during the Covid-19 crisis, is releasing an exemption that extends the duration of expiring medicals until June 30 for pilots who conduct Part 135 operations outside the U.S. The exemption, issued at the request of the National Air Transportation Association, comes as the agency also is releasing

The International Air Transport Association on Tuesday warned that the airline industry’s liquidity crisis due to the Covid-19 outbreak will see half of all carriers running out of cash within two to three months without intervention from governments. Speaking during a conference call with journalists, IATA chief economist Brian Pearce and director general Alexandre de Juniac called on governments to allow airlines to provide vouchers for canceled flights rather than direct refunds as a way to help mitigate the problem.