On March 8, 2020, I stepped out of G-SWAY and onto the soggy British mud at Damyn’s Hall Aerodrome an hour east of London. G-SWAY is a Super Cub that belongs to one of Britain’s most famous and historic flying clubs—the Tiger Club. I was the newest member of the Tiger Club, having completed my checkout with an instructor and then soloing an EU-registered airplane for the first time since completing my EASA pilot license in Iceland. At the time, I was flying to London every few weeks with my job as a Boeing 757/767 pilot for a US airline. The future was bright and the skies were clear; but a rumbling was developing throughout the world of a new virus that would threaten our very existence.
Flying During A Global Pandemic
Key Takeaways:
- The COVID-19 pandemic swiftly brought international travel to a halt, emptying commercial flights and leading to the author's airline flying drawdown in early 2020.
- As a ferry pilot, the author encountered a chaotic and inconsistent landscape of travel restrictions, health screenings, and operational changes (e.g., FBO closures, limited services) across different states and countries.
- Despite significant logistical and social challenges, the article highlights the resilience of pilots adapting to new realities and expresses optimism for the eventual recovery and strength of the aviation industry.
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