Flight Schools, Other Aviation Businesses Impacted By Shelter-in-Place Orders | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.12.25

Airborne-NextGen-05.13.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.14.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-05.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.16.25

Tue, Apr 07, 2020

Flight Schools, Other Aviation Businesses Impacted By Shelter-in-Place Orders

NBAA: Many Have Simply Closed Their Doors For The Duration

Shelter-in-place, or “stay-at-home” orders – now issued by 30 states and a growing number of localities – directly impact 75% of all Americans, restricting activities to essential needs only, such as grocery shopping and seeking medical attention. These orders also are having a direct negative impact on flight schools and other small aviation businesses.

After several San Francisco Bay-area counties enacted shelter-in-place orders in mid-March, many flight schools simply closed their doors until the orders are lifted. As more localities and states enact stay-at-home orders, more flight schools face difficult business decisions.

Flight school closures directly impact flight instructors, many of whom are paid by the hour and only for actual instruction time. Simply put, a closed flight school means no pay for flight instructors.

Stay-at-home orders also impact fuel sales, with March sales at most FBOs only a fraction of typical sales for the month as a result of an overall drop in general aviation flying. One independent FBO owner reported March fuel sales were down 95%.

Most shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders do not directly address general aviation operations. Some pilots continue to fly, contending that if they are flying alone, they are maintaining social distancing guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical authorities.

However, most general aviation flights would not be considered “essential,” unless a pilot is transporting medical supplies or conducting other necessary activities. Some state and regional groups are seeking clarification that maintaining currency for the purposes of future relief flights, including transporting medical equipment or personnel, is “essential” and compliant with the stay-at-home orders.

Some localities and states recently extended shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders through April 30, in accordance with updated federal guidance to maintain social isolation until May 1, and most other localities are likely to follow, further extending the challenges for flight schools and other small aviation businesses.

The recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides financial assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Business owners and managers should review NBAA’s Key Provisions for General Aviation Businesses in CARES Act to determine their eligibility and learn more about the process.

(Source: NBAA news release)

FMI: www.nbaa.org

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.20.25)

“From the beginning, the RV-15X’s performance has been very good, as reported and demonstrated in videos. However, we’ve continued to work hard to achieve the con>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.20.25): Handoff

Handoff An action taken to transfer the radar identification of an aircraft from one controller to another if the aircraft will enter the receiving controller's airspace and radio >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.20.25)

Aero Linx: The de Havilland Moth Club Ltd The de Havilland Moth Club evolved from a belief that an association of owners and operators of Moth aeroplanes should be formed to create>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 05.20.25: Drone Regs, Zero-Emission Cargo, Door-Dash Drone

Also: Blackhawk’s Replacement, Supersonic Flight, Archer 1Q/25, Long-Range VTOL Program U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy released an update on progress being ma>[...]

Airborne 05.19.25: Kolb v Tornados, Philippine Mars, Blackhawk Antler Theft

Also: Tentative AirVenture Airshow Lineup, Supersonic Flight Regs, Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide, Boeing Deal The sport aircraft business can be a tough one... especially when Moth>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC