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 author, an airline pilot, experienced the rapid and drastic impact of COVID-19 in March 2020, witnessing international travel bans, empty flights, and a widespread climate of fear in airports and cities.
- Transitioning to ferry flying, the author encountered numerous operational challenges, including varying state and border restrictions, FBO closures, altered ground services, and strict health protocols across North America.
- Despite the severe disruptions and uncertainty, the author observes a gradual shift from fear to reason and mitigation, expressing optimism for the aviation industry's resilience and eventual recovery.
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