coronavirus

Subscribe to coronavirus

The aviation industry, like the rest of America, is gearing up for the reopening of America for business.  As we do so, it is important to keep on top of the latest recommended “best practices” necessary to keep the COVID-19 virus from rebounding.  Unfortunately, finding these resources can sometimes be difficult.

We at Plane-ly Spoken are here to help.  The following is our collection of links, arranged by topic and government agency, of aviation industry related COVID-19 guidance.… Read More

The Federal Aviation Administration has just issued a new Safety Alert for Operators, (SAFO) containing guidance for airlines and aircrews on how to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Overall, the SAFO instructs airlines to follow the CDC’s guidance for the protection for employees in critical infrastructure jobs.  The FAA confirms that no airline employee should work if they have any symptoms of the virus, and that all employees exposed to someone who tests positive for the virus should be quarantined for fourteen days. … Read More

On March 16, 2020, the White House declared a national emergency, retroactive to March 1, 2020.  The resultant “shutdown” of our county has impacted every phase of life in America, with the aviation industry among the hardest hit.

It is not just private industry that is affected.  Both the FAA and the NTSB are also under “stay at home” orders. What this means, at least relative to the NTSB, is that accidents which have occurred during this period of shutdown have generally not involved a field investigation. … Read More

On February 5, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT) opened the public comment period for its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Regarding Traveling by Air with Service Animals.  That comment period officially closed this week, with the proposed rule garnering over 14,000 comments.

While the comment period was open for 60 days, an unusually long period of time for a rulemaking such as this, it did not stop several groups from asking for an extension. … Read More

FREE WEBINAR – 2 PM, THURSDAY, APRIL 2

President Trump has signed a record-breaking $2 trillion stimulus and aid package to help combat the COVID-19 epidemic.  As expected, there is a lot of money in the bill for aviation, including loan guarantees and payroll assistance for passenger and cargo carriers.

There is also good news for other aviation related businesses.  The bill extends relief to contractors and service providers of airlines, such as caterers and baggage handlers, as well businesses that perform inspection, repair, replace, or overhaul services on aircraft. … Read More

With the wrenching and pervasive cessation of normal business and societal activities in the past few weeks, Fox Rothschild has been addressing questions from transportation industry clients concerning their ongoing responsibilities for complying with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol testing requirements during these difficult times.

On March 23, 2020, DOT issued Guidance on Compliance with Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations. … Read More

Today’s new normal is that nothing will be normal.  It seems that each day we are greeted with yet another federal, state, or local order restricting activity.  These have ranged from travel advisories, to local bar and restaurant closures, to the statewide closing of all non-essential businesses.

What all of these shut-down orders have in common, however, is that there is little or no lead time between the issuance of the order and when it goes into effect.… Read More

On March 11, 2020, an aircraft carrying an ill passenger landed at Palm Beach International Airport.  Apparently, the passenger had been feeling bad for a while, and had been tested for coronavirus.  A passenger on the plane was quoted as saying that the ill man’s wife:

was sitting in the same row as me and mentioned to others that he wasn’t feeling well.… Read More

  1. What do the Novel Coronavirus (n-CoV) and the SAFETY Act have in common?
  2. They were both topics addressed this week by TSA Chief Counsel Francine Kerner at the Fox Rothschild 2020 Airline Symposium.

Chief Counsel Kerner is at the forefront of the Federal Government’s response to the coronavirus and was heavily involved in the new screening and quarantine requirements that affect both cargo and passenger aviation. … Read More