As the aviation industry struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, pilots are looking at the European Union and its Member States to come up with strong, harmonized, and mutually accepted rules on how to operate safe flights with COVID present in our societies. As countries are gradually reopening their economies, passengers filling shops and train stations, the question about hygiene and virus transmission risk for travelers and their crew becomes increasingly important.
โThe nature of air travel, linking two different countries, brings a challenge ofย mutual cooperation in a pandemic,โ says European Cockpit Association (ECA) Secretary General Philip von Schรถppenthau. โWhile each country can enact the most carefully designed mitigation measures for the disease, unless they are harmonized and mutually accepted by each country at either end of an air route, it is extremely difficult to link them together.โ
“We also understand very well that people are wary of traveling during a pandemic,โ says ECA President Jon Horne. โWhilst our long term aim has to be the elimination of virus transmission in aviation, to confidently resume air travel as lockdown restrictions are eased, the immediate question is different. Do passengers face an increased risk when flying compared to going about their everyday life? If flying presents no more risk of transmission than shopping for groceries, going to work or school, or using other forms of transport, there is no safety benefit in avoiding it and flights should resume. This is an area where research and evidence will provide re-assurance for both air crew and passengers.โ
While there is currently no extensive experience or accurate prediction model about the virusโ transmission risk on aeroplanes, European pilots favor aย precautionary approach:
โSocial distancing on boardย is difficult for a number of reasons but airlines can still decide to undertake measures as an improvement to passenger experience,โ says ECA Secretary General Philip von Schรถppenthau. โMasksย are a rational measure for passengers, too. They have a role in reducing risk in everyday life, that doesnโt suddenly stop at the door of an aeroplane. Cheap, simple cloth masks and face coverings help prevent passing on infections to others, and can reduce the risk both for other passengers and crew.โ
โAir crew working safely are also critical to enabling operations in the present situation. As pilots we canโt really do any social distancing in the flight deck. We inhabit a world of switches, touch points and shared seats and headsets. We operate away from home, rely on a workplace, food and accommodation prepared and shared by many people. Enhanced hygiene measures are therefore all we have to keep pilots safe,โ says ECA President Jon Horne.
European Member States currently have aย patchwork of different approaches, rulesย andย health measures,ย which are not harmonized and difficult to fit together. These hurdles can only be overcome by a coordinated approach, as other safety rules in aviation are coordinated. In particular, states need to determine if incoming passengers have any greater risk of importing COVID than the arrival state has of it being acquired in its own territory anyway. If this risk is no higher, arrival restrictions will achieve little. Having standardized, evidence-based, measures applied and accepted by all will help achieve this. Rigorous and well-designed pre or post flight screening methods, passenger information, and common levels of disease prevalence and suppression between countries could all help mitigate risks until effective treatment or vaccines become available.
There is no doubt that an aircraft is a very safe space for passengers, with filtered and regularly replaced air. But the equipment that enables this must be fitted and serviceable, and cleaning and disinfection schedules mandated. To properly implement risk mitigations that support this, airlines need to ensure front line staff are trained, provided with personal protection equipment, and sufficient time and resources for cleaning and disinfection of the aircraft.
The pilot mentality is to always seek the safest possible solution. This case is no different and pilots are looking for the EU, its Member States and their scientific communities to guide us with sensible and harmonized measures to navigate air travel through this crisis safely.
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WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- As the aviation industry struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, pilots are looking at the European Union and its Member States to come up with strong, harmonized, and mutually accepted rules on how to operate safe flights with COVID present in our societies.
- โWhile each country can enact the most carefully designed mitigation measures for the disease, unless they are harmonized and mutually accepted by each country at either end of an air route, it is extremely difficult to link them together.
- This case is no different and pilots are looking for the EU, its Member States and their scientific communities to guide us with sensible and harmonized measures to navigate air travel through this crisis safely.