COVID-19 Pilots: Resumption of flight activity in the safest way post COVID-19
A notice to pilots
17/05/2021 Update: The GA guidance page on gov.uk has been updated to clarify the latest position, as well as the general travel guidance page.
As per the guidance, GA flying can take place in line with the restrictions and rules on gatherings, and at the moment in England indoor gatherings must be limited to 6 people or 2 households, and outdoor gatherings must be limited to 30 people. Therefore, recreational flights can take place as long as they are in line with those limits. Wingly flights are once again legally permitted, we advise that they are undertaken following our COVID-secure guidelines below, to ensure our return to flying is as safe as possible. It will also be important to check whether your flying club or airfield has more restrictive measures in place.
N.B. Rules for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland may differ. You must only operate within the guidance around recreational flying activities as advised by your government.
If you are unable to resume Wingly flights even after the 17th of May, we invite you to reschedule any bookings you may receive and get in contact with your passengers. We also ask you to update your availability calendar so as not to receive booking requests during this period, which may confuse passengers.
Operating your flights
Regarding the owner pilots and pilots who carry out flights with passengers, in your capacity as the pilot, the resumption of cost-shared flights through our platform remains entirely at your discretion. This being said, it is our civic duty to ask you to resume flights while undertaking the greatest caution possible, therefore we invite you to read our safety guidelines at the bottom of this page.
In spite of flying being legally permitted, if you are still unable to resume Wingly flights and have scheduled flights, we invite you to swiftly contact your passengers in order to reschedule the flight where possible. For pilots in flying clubs, we obviously ask you to request authorisation from the club to resume flights. Indeed, each aeroclub/airfield is free, depending on its activity configuration, to take more restrictive measures.
If you are unable to postpone your flights, you are entirely free to cancel them after discussing this with the passengers. Obviously, no fees or penalties are retained. Passengers are fully reimbursed within 48 hours of cancellation directly on the payment method used when requesting a reservation.
NB: In the case of bookings with a gift card, the gift card will be re-credited and extended so that passengers can use it at a later date.
You will find below the conditions for postponement and cancellation:
For pilots who are still unable to carry out Wingly flights, we urge you to update your availability calendar so as not to receive flight requests during this period, which may confuse passengers. You can find the procedure for managing your calendar by following this link: How to manage my calendar.
A complete return to the skies will be very gradual over the coming weeks, but a bright future for general aviation seems to be on the horizon!
Don’t forget that our team is still on hand for support and is available at tower@wingly.io. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance or if you have any questions.
Our checklist guideline for resuming flights under current health conditions:
BEFORE THE FLIGHT
When checking the aircraft after the extended period of minimal or no flying, pilots must sanitise the following before any Wingly flight:
Flying controls
Fuel drains
Operation of equipment
Belts and buckles
Dashboard and all controls
Throttle
Seats and any area that a passenger might come in contact with
Pilots must have the following equipment on board:
Masks
Alcohol gel
Headsets
Gloves
Pilots must avoid going into the flying school or any other building when meeting passengers only until the indoor meeting restrictions are lifted.
Face masks must be worn by both pilot and passenger(s) prior to entering the aircraft.
Gloves are encouraged to be worn on board by all members inside the aircraft.
All parties must follow government safety guidelines with regards to COVID 19 as much as possible.
Check the general condition of the aircraft (especially control surfaces) for signs of any damage (by person or wildlife)
DURING THE FLIGHT
Avoid touching your face at all costs (eyes, nose and mouth).
If you have at any point touched a surface that you assume is not clean, use sanitising gel and wash your hands thoroughly.
Avoid face to face conversations if there are multiple passengers on the flight.
NB: If you wear a mask, make sure that you are perfectly audible, by both passengers and air traffic control.
AFTER THE FLIGHT
Repeat the sanitising steps which you would have carried out before the flight.
Try to air out the aircraft for 5 minutes after the flight. Be careful in the presence of strong winds.
Wash your hands!
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
Remember that protecting yourself also means protecting others around you. Hygiene remains a priority, which is why simple measures such as washing hands and avoiding contact with people at risk still remain very effective
If you have any symptoms, be sure to contact your healthcare practitioner for information. Wear a mask and gloves and isolate yourself to limit the spread of the virus.
To all of our community, stay cautious and vigilant!
Flying after a long time out can pose certain risks, which is why we are also drawing your attention to the following crucial points:
Reflect on your skills after this break and we encourage the use of appropriate refresher training or club check flights before flying.
Make sure that your theory knowledge is of the same high standard that it was before the break.
Wait for good weather for your first flight back.
Remember to check the validity of your aeronautical documents: maps, licences etc.
Make use of flight instructors or other pilots who might have advice on a return to flying after a long stint out.
Whilst protecting yourselves, remember to protect those around you, particularly in light of the current global climate and the emphasis on health. Hygiene remains a priority, so try and make simple measures like hand washing and avoiding close contact with passengers a second nature.
The Wingly team wishes you a safe return to flying and we look forward to seeing you in the skies soon!
If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at tower@wingly.io or by phone on +447708405306. We are available from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 17:30.
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