Guest speaker Dr. Paulo Alves, Global Medical Director Aviation Health for MedAire, and a Member of NBAA Safety Committee returns after his first appearance on July 8, 2020 (see podcast) provides an update on COVID issues in business aviation, specifically about COVID vaccine development and effectiveness, and upcoming new testing techniques that will be able to be done at home with immediate results. This call is hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis, and several questions from the listeners were addressed afterwards. Questions include: is there one vaccine better than another; are any countries not accepting a specific vaccine; how does herd immunity work with vaccines; should a pilot wait to get the vaccine?

Open forum discussion among the callers hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis on issues affecting business aviation safety. Discussed during this call include ERP (Emergency Response Plan) issues such as different types of drills, ERP exercise examples on the AeronomX website downloads page (as well as a sample ERP manual template), ERP audit gotchas, ERP support vendors, and finally about ISBAO audit relief available due to COVID.

Open forum discussion among the callers hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis on issues affecting business aviation safety. Issues discussed during this call include a recent United Boeing 777 catastrophic engine failure, and a Falcon 900 takeoff abort resulting in a runway overrun out of Montgomery County Airport in California. This discussion came up with recommended considerations of researching what the discrete radio frequency is for the crash, fire, rescue station for your airport. And to consider a before taxi checklist that includes the takeoff numbers being used are for the correct takeoff configuration. The call also discussed a reported an incident of an aircraft deicing event that was grossly not done correctly that could have lead to an aircraft accident.

To view document of improper aircraft deicing, CLICK HERE.

Open forum discussion among the callers hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis on issues affecting business aviation safety. Issues discussed during this call include a recent business aviation accidents and more information on the recent CDC requirement for all aircraft inbound to the United States from overseas, including business aircraft, all passengers and crew are required to have negative COVID test results prior to entry. Additional discussion on the current pace of flying, promoting the use of business aircraft with your company, and staying aware of the subtle fatigue that seems to be affecting flight departments during this COVID time leading to little mistakes.

​Open forum discussion among the callers hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis on issues affecting business aviation safety. Issues discussed during this call include a recent business aviation accidents and the recent CDC requirement for all aircraft inbound to the United States from overseas, including business aircraft, all passengers and crew are required to have negative COVID test results prior to entry. Links to relevant NATA webpages are listed below.

• CDC document of entry requirements, CLICK HERE.
• CDC Attestation document, CLICK HERE.
• Link to CDC webpage for this requirement, with FAQs, CLICK HERE.
• Link to NATA webpage of interpreting the CDC requirement, CLICK HERE.
• Link to NATA webpage of additional guidance of CDC order, CLICK HERE.
• Link to NBAA webpage for guidance of CDC order, CLICK HERE.

Open forum discussion among the callers hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis on issues affecting business aviation safety. Issues discussed during this call include a great discussion on operators experiencing a low-level insidious amount of fatigue in business aviation operations.

Open forum discussion among the callers hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis on issues affecting business aviation safety. Issues discussed during this call include the FAA says to hold off on getting a COVID vaccine for now. COVID test recommendations. The remainder of the call was a refresher of COVID related issues, including COVID mitigation policies for passengers; pilot currency; pace of operations; and training ideas. 

Here is the link to the CRL Clear test mentioned in the call, CLICK HERE. This is for a link to the test specifications, it is a a PCR test, CLICK HERE.

Open forum discussion among the callers hosted by AeronomX Walter Kraujalis on issues affecting business aviation safety. Issues discussed during this call include the FAA Special Airworthiness Bulletin SAIB NM-20-17 regarding disinfectant materials used within a cockpit or aircraft interior; being an aviation expert witness; the FAA Notice of Proposal Rulemaking for Pilot Record Database and Part 91 operators; will SMS be mandated for Part 91 operators; and should pilots take the COVID vaccine that is coming out.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Discussion on this call covered the recently issued FAA Special Airworthiness Bulletin NM-2017 (CLICK HERE to download a copy). The FAA issued Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 20009, describing recommendations for occupational safety and health on aircraft. Although the SAFO notes that any disinfectants used should be compatible with the aircraft and approved by the aircraft manufacturer for use on board the aircraft, this SAIB focuses on the potential near term and long term implications for airworthiness, and is directed to all persons responsible for airworthiness. ...Also discussed were current problems with ARINC flightplan formats, specifically routing and fuel planning amounts.

For a copy of FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) NM-20-17, CLICK HERE.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Discussion also discusses use of automation versus manual flying skills; and Euro Control study of TA/RAs.

Euro Control document referred to during the call, CLICK HERE.

​Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Discussion about flight department activity levels and how to promote use of the company aircraft during COVID.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Issues discussed included a policy to fly a COVID-positive passengers, informal survey of the level of flight activity for operators (some have doubled their pre-COVID level of flights!), extra training ideas, to take the COVID vaccine or not when it comes out, and flying to Paris or to Mexico.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Issues discussed included state-to-state COVID travel restrictions, COVID testing to enter certain states and countries, and how about a policy to fly a COVID-positive passenger.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Issues discussed included state-to-state COVID travel restrictions, aircraft catering, mask policy, aircraft interior disinfecting, taking passenger temperatures, COVID testing, remote auditing, and pilot proficiency.

• GREAT WEBLINK for up-to-date state-by-state COVID travel restrictions, CLICK HERE.
• Weblink to CNN article of state-by-state COVID travel restrictions, CLICK HERE.
• SAFO 20009: COVID-19: Updated Interim Occupational Health and Safety Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews.  CLICK HERE to download copy.

Open forum discussion about having a reported positive test for COVID by someone in your flight department. What do you do? 

Featuring Guest Speaker Dr. Paulo Alves, Global Medical Director Aviation Health for MedAire, discussing his opinion of the latest information on the Coronavirus and mitigation techniques for business aviation. Many pertinent issues are discussed including understanding COVID test results, whether 14-day quarantines are necessary, everyone wearing a mask onboard is important, a N95-type mask must be fitted to be most effective, should pilots wear masks, herd immunity, why some people are asymptomatic, and other mitigation techniques for aviation.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Issues discussed included training center COVID procedures and exposure and FBO planning.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Issues discussed included use of masks in the aircraft, training center COVID procedures, and Part 135 operators procedures wearing masks.

Weblinks mentioned in the call:

• Weblink to MedAire.com COVID-19 INFORMATION & RESOURCES, CLICK HERE.
• WSJ article "How Exactly Do You Catch Covid-19?", CLICK HERE.
• WSJ article "How Strict Are Airlines About Face Masks in Flight?", CLICK HERE.
• WSJ op-ed by VP Mike Pence "There Isn't a Coronavirus 'Second Wave'", CLICK HERE.

​Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in business aviation. Issues discussed included use of N95 masks, training center COVID procedures, and budgeting for the flight department moving forward.

Links and documents mentioned in the call:

• NIOSH Respirators and FAA standards, CLICK HERE to download document.
• New York Times article "Six Months of Coronavirus: Here's Some of What We've Learned", CLICK HERE for link.
• New York Times article "After 6 Months, Important Mysteries About Coronavirus Endure", CLICK HERE for link.
• N95 Respirator Mask Guidance document from a flight department, CLICK HERE to download. 
• FDA List (as of June 8, 2020) of Approved Respirators, CLICK HERE to download.
• UPDATE: On June 6, 2020, the FDA reissued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Non-NIOSH-Approved Disposable Filtering Facepiece Respirators Manufactured in China, CLICK HERE for link.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in aviation. Issues discussed included COVID procedures for flight departments in real life, where to wear mask or not inflight.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in aviation. Issues discussed included the need for virus statistics onboard business jets, examples of COVID procedures for flight departments in real life, training centers lack of COVID mitigation procedures, hotel COVID procedures, some hazards due to low activity, and perspective of seriousness of COVID procedures.

Weblink mentioned in the call:

• Weblink to NBAA COVID-19 Risk Mitigation for Business Aircraft Operations, CLICK HERE.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in aviation. Issues discussed included the perils of flying airline, examples of local law enforcement for COVID restrictions, how to take pilot and passenger temperatures, the rate of air exchange in an aircraft cabin, what we know now about some aircraft cleaners, prepping for the CAM exam, the quality of remote audits, and what does the future look like to return to normal flying. 

Links and documents mentioned in the call:

• Washington Post 5/18/2020 article: "Airplanes don’t make you sick. Really.", CLICK HERE.
• Flight Safety Foundation, Pandemic Roadmap Version 2, CLICK HERE.
• Honeywell CoVid-19 Disinfectants Usage in Flight Deck, CLICK HERE.
• Weblink to COVID page of Flight Test Safety.Org, CLICK HERE.
• NBAA Powerpoint for "Sanitizing Your Business Aircraft During COVID-19, Part 2", CLICK HERE.
• OPSGROUP COVID Supermanual v0.9, CLICK HERE.

Open forum discussion regarding the current status of Coronavirus issues in aviation. Issues discussed included pilot currency, furloughs, insurance and engine MSP credits, new FRAT items, and employee mental health during the crisis.

Links and documents mentioned in the call:

• Revised FAA SAFO 20009 Dated 5/11/2020 COVID-19: Updated Interim Occupational Health and Safety Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews, CLICK HERE.
• EPA Webpage link to List of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2, CLICK HERE.