The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has today updated its guidance for the General Aviation community, detailing a three-stage phased return to GA flying.
The key dates, aligned with wider pandemic lockdown recovery guidance, are 29 March, 12 April and 17 May.
29 March – Solo flying & flying with household/bubble members
People will no longer be required to stay at home.
This will allow the safe restart of GA flying for non-professional purposes for solo pilots, or individuals flying with a member of their household or bubble.
Training for professional pilots, or those in training to be professional pilots, will be able to continue.
Training for leisure or recreational purposes should not take place.
GA activities should take place in line with the wider restrictions. Travel should be minimised as far as possible.
12 April – Flight training for private pilots can resume
Flight training for all pilots, and flights with an instructor, can resume.
GA businesses will be able to open following COVID-secure guidance, for example commercial balloon operators. The rules on social contact will apply in these settings. Outdoor gatherings must still be limited to 6 people or 2 households, and no indoor mixing will be allowed.
GA activities should take place in line with the wider restrictions. Travel should be minimised as far as possible.
17 May – GA events can restart
Some large events will be permitted. These will be:
- in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full, whichever is a lower number
- in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full, whichever is a lower number
- in the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend or a quarter-full, whichever is lower
COVID-secure guidance will remain in place and businesses must not cater for groups larger than the legal limits.
The government will lift most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors, but gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors will remain illegal. Indoors, people will be able to meet socially in a group of 6, or with 1 other household, though it may be possible to go further than this at Step 3 depending on the data.
GA activities should take place in line with the wider restrictions.