Colorado Pilots Association’s April 2020 “Flight Lines” newsletter addressed the significant challenges facing the 2020 fly-in season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fly-in Chairman Bob Kinney reported that the committee was monitoring rapidly changing federal, state, and local government mandates and leaving go/no-go decisions to individual event hosts. The early fly-in events faced jeopardy, though organizers hoped to salvage as much of the season as possible once conditions improved. President Marty Brophy discussed confusion about solo flying permissions under shelter-in-place orders and reported on efforts to clarify GA operations with state government, while also sharing important safety notices from the FAA and AOPA regarding travel restrictions, fuel availability, and CBD product use by pilots.
Key Topics
- 2020 fly-in season challenges and cancellation decisions due to COVID-19
- Shelter-in-place restrictions and their impact on general aviation operations
- Airport closures and FAA grant assurance compliance (KGWS situation)
- Maintenance of pilot currency and proficiency during pandemic
- ATC operational concerns and fuel stop availability for longer flights
- FDA/FAA warnings regarding CBD product use by pilots
- Living through historic pandemic times
Events & Activities
- White Sands, NM Fly-in scheduled for May 2020 (status uncertain; registration form included pending confirmation)
- Rocky Mountain PBS broadcast featuring Colorado aviation legends and historians (dates/times to be confirmed locally)
Member News
- Research study recruitment: Seeking pilots with spatial disorientation experience for university study involving survey and interview participation
- Featured in Rocky Mountain PBS: Penny Rafferty Hamilton (Colorado pilot and aviation author), Walt Barbo (aviation legend), Gordon Page (Spirit of Flight Foundation founder), Lance Barber (Colorado Aviation Historical Society Past-President), and Bill Hamilton (CO & Nebraska Aviation Halls of Fame Laureate)
