On March 22, Michigan, Ohio and Louisiana joined Illinois, New York, Delaware, Connecticut, California and Oregon as states that have ordered residents to remain in their homes as the nation wrestles with the deadly COVID-19-inducing Coronavirus. The illness can be spread when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or even touches an object later touched by another person. Shelter-in-place orders typically call upon non-essential businesses to close until further notice. To members of the flight training industry, the first question when these orders began to hit was defining a “non-essential business.”
Flight Training Industry Deciphers Shelter-in-Place Orders
Key Takeaways:
- Initial state shelter-in-place orders caused uncertainty for flight schools regarding their operational status during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) clarified that federal CISA guidelines identify flight schools as part of the "critical infrastructure" Transportation Systems Sector, implying they can legally remain open.
- Despite this federal designation, some flight schools, like Aviation Adventures, opted to temporarily close due to safety concerns about the virus's spread in confined aircraft cockpits.
- Closed flight schools are encouraging students to continue ground training, take knowledge tests, and reschedule future flights to stay engaged and prepare for reopening.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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