“In general, the FAA does not permit temporary closure or restriction of federally obligated airports for non-aeronautical purposes,” reads Compliance Guidance Letter (CGL) 2020-01.
This CGL is dated March 16, 2020, and was written by Kevin C. Willis, Director of the Office of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis (ACO-1), to provide guidance for “Handling Proposals to Temporarily Close or Restrict All or Parts of Federally Obligated Airports for Non-Aeronautical Purposes Related to Public Health Concerns.”
CGL 2020-01 is clearly referring to the global coronavirus pandemic.
The majority of the country is under some altered state of reality whether it be a lockdown or stay-at-home or some similar sort of order.
Whether you agree with that altered reality, the FAA takes exception to local jurisdictions trying to close a “federally obligated airport for non-aeronautical purposes.”
The CGL is short. Less than a page and it is written in pretty clear language. You might want to download a copy for yourself or make certain your airport’s management knows about it.
My favorite sentence is the entire last paragraph: “If an Office of Airports employee receives a request from any entity to close any part of a federally obligated airport for non-aeronautical purposes related to public health concerns, the employee should immediately contact ACO-1 for further handling the request.”
That made me smile. I feel like this is the type of letter a first-century king would’ve written to a neighboring king about an emissary transiting his land. Should the emissary cause any problems, the king must be advised directly and immediately. He will handle it personally.
I believe no reasonable person wants the pandemic to run any longer than necessary. My family is taking Washington state’s “stay at home” order seriously.
But in the meantime, as local, state, and federal officials do their best in these trying — and hopefully short-lived — times, the FAA is looking out for a vital national asset…our airports.
All GA pilots should be campaigning for closure of all airports. Quite simply, anyone taking any unnecessary flight (all but medical urgency) will inevitably lead to further transference of Covid-19, which in turn will lead to more deaths. You will never meet the person(s) who die as a result of your flight but they will die nonetheless. Please stay indoors and save lives….
I have no idea how anybody can transfer COVID-19 if they are alone in their airplane or their hangar. If they could then they could transfer the virus while being alone in their house.
I guess the saying “Common sense isn’t that common” applies.
I am a veteran of the United States Army. I was a crew chief in UH-60 Black Hawks, and transition to CH-47 Chinook as Flight engineer. I was given orders to go back to the Black Hawks to go back to Iraq. The aircraft I was in was shot down and only 2 of us survived the crash. I Neve thought I would want to be in an air Craft again but it is in my blood. I went to Lincoln to learn how to fly and got the run around at Performance Aircraft
Flight school in Lincoln. Some of us don’t have a perfect life but some of us try to live are life the best we can. I am not able to get a loan like most people because my wife lost her baby and it’s not easy for to have a baby, so we are having to pay off are bills. I had money saved up to learn to fly and I passed my 1st class physical because of my age of being 49 years of age just wanting to know if I could pass. I would like to fly commercial planes. But because of China not helping a brother out now I have to use my money I saved up to live because my wife and are on furlough from are job because of the Virus. So I understand how you guys feel. And now my dream of being a pilot maybe gone now.
Darrel, my brother. I am so sorry for all that you and your family have being going through. With that said, never give up on your dream. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, stick to it and it will happen. Life is a journey and not a destination. I started flying at the age of 55 and it took me several years to get my pilot license. Each time i wanted to quit, my wife tells me to hand in there. I finally got my license in 2016. Not just that, we purchased an brand new LSA from south Africa called Sling. I have been flying all over southern California ever since and weather permitting since then and its probably what keeps me grounded aside from my wife. So, please never give up. Check me out on instagram-Sling2pilot.
Thank you sir, that helps me out a lot. For that once this virus is over I will not give up and continue my dream of becoming a commercial pilot.
Remember; “Never, never, never, never give up!” – Sir Winston Churchill
Sometimes not only are they “from the FAA” but the really are “Here to help you”!
Good news as a”temporary closure” could well end up permanent because of “continuing or future” needs.
Agree with Ben and GHR. Let us keep in mind that airports, whether officially owned and operated by an “independent” authority or by a state, county or municipal agency, must deal with all variants of NIMBY. Local citizens, particularly the more activist ones, will foreseeably – if they have not already – contact airports, or local officials, with fears that someone positive for or exposed to the virus might fly in, with the likewise foreseeable invocations of “our families” and “our kids.”
As GHR notes, airports must follow the rules. And have the courage to be forthright in responding to local concerns that those are the rules.
Lastly, for all the issues that GA and bizav might otherwise have with the FAA, let’s thank and appreciate the agency, and Director Willis, for officially saying, in essence, “we’ll take the hits for you.”
Stay safe and well, all.
THANKS for the information. This FAA guidance does not stop airports from doing this, just requires them to follow the rules before unilaterally taking these kinds of actions. It is all about making sure administrators don’t exceed their authorizations.
FWIW: We (family) are voluntarily following distancing guidelines and hope others do too.