Testified Wednesday Before The House Appropriations Committee

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told a Congressional committee Wednesday that the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus is no higher on airplanes than in any other setting.

Dickson was testifying before the House Appropriations Committee concerning the agency's proposed 2021 budget when the question about the virus was raised by Rep. David Price (D-NC). The Hill reports that Price continually pressed Dickson about the dangers of contracting the disease by breathing recirculated air on commercial airliners.

Dickson disputed the characterization. “The air quality within commercial aircraft is on par with what we see in public buildings and within homes,” Dickson said. “The risk to the public is no higher than it would be any area where you have folks gathered.”

“All the air carriers have reviewed their cleaning protocols and the substances they are using, both on the flight deck and back in the passenger cabin,” Dickson said. “The CDC has updated them within the last week and we have provided that information to air carriers.”

Dickson said that the FAA has been involved in the efforts to contain the virus since it was detected. “We have been helping to put processes in place on passenger screening and contact tracing when that is warranted and supporting the CDC’s efforts," he said during the hearing.

The COVID-19 virus has caused airlines to cut the number of flights it offers, and some are waiving cancellation fees for passengers. Airline stocks have also suffered heavy losses since the virus gained traction in the U.S.

On Wednesday, President Trump imposed a travel ban for people coming to the U.S. from several European countries in an effort to slow the spread of the disease.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report