Post by angel97701 on Mar 25, 2020 17:09:01 GMT
From her FB post yesterday
News from our brother and sister pilots in the cargo world: > As a Hong Kong based pilot with routes covering all major Asian countries, I and other [cargo] pilots out here have been flying in the Covid-19 Hot Spots for the past three months. So far there’s not a single case among those based out here (400 + including families living in Hong Kong) — fingers crossed. I think following the practices recommended by the experts and calling by the governments is key. As more and more countries, regions and states shut down and the world seems in a dead standstill, it may be comforting for you to know, all my [cargo] flights are packed and our pilots are flying overtime trying to carry essentials goods and medical supplies to wherever needed. The biggest challenge for the company and our crew is managing the increasing restrictions and daily changes. So far for the most part, the company has managed to work its magic through most of them. <
And from today:
"I'm essential." Yup, I'm still flying... because our industry is considered essential to the United States. For those asking: the airline flight load factors are about 10-20%, except it was 100% when bringing people back to the US from Cancun, Mexico, and from other points South. Getting people to where they need to be, and carrying critically important cargo, mail, and medical supplies. The hotels are empty except for crew members. Our limo rides to and from the hotels may or may not show up. Most restaurants in hotels are closed or are offering carry-out only. Inside the airports, it appears that all TSA personnel are working, go figure, while a fraction of the restaurants and concessions are open, and even with that the ratio of airport+airline employees to passengers in the terminals is 1:1. As for the flying, we are able to load up, scoot out, and get going much quicker than normal, and get direct routing, making for early arrivals on every leg. I was lucky to be flying in airspace that is still fully staffed by Air Traffic Controllers, unlike friends who flew into Las Vegas or Chicago-Midway (airport tower closed, airport open, the airliners are figuring it all out for themselves) and friends flying into certain airspace like, oh, just New York is all, in which sudden reduced ATC staffing forced flights to remain clear of the airspace, given the option to turn around and depart the area, divert to a different airport, fly at much lower altitudes (for which the fuel burn is considerably higher, sometimes forcing a diversion for fuel), and generally making it very challenging for pilots and the remaining controllers, alike. Most of us are able to stay upbeat amidst the challenges and uncertainty. "All in a day's work."
