Does the mask mandate apply when, by definition, you are completely alone, i.e. if you are in your own, one-aircraft hangar or tie-down area, preflighting or postflighting your own aircraft as the sole occupant, where by definition, there is nobody else there, nor will be there? If so, AOPA should seek an exemption for that, because requiring a mask when you are completely alone by definition makes no sense. Furthermore, preflighting with a mask is difficult, and leads to dangerous shortcuts in terms of examining certain areas of an aircraft.
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Airport operators are just the messengers and we need to help them identify and raise issues using the following approach so they can be addressed by the agencies:
The new TSA Security Directive you shared is concerning. While I understand the government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID among members of the public, requiring <me to wear a mask when alone in my hangar / when in my hangar with my family / etc. > doesn’t help. I understand the airport didn’t create this directive, and that the TSA wants to hear from airport operators, update its FAQs and issue clarifications on the policy in response to the concerns airports raise. Please forward my concern to the TSA and <allow some common sense, risk based exceptions to this policy, such as being in a hangar alone or with my family and/or allow you to tailor rules at the airport to the risks>.
We need to help ELEVATE concerns to decision makers while encouraging fellow pilots not to ESCALATE the situation and get themselves in legal trouble.
- Acknowledge the TSA Security Directive and its intent
- Describe how a particular restriction doesn’t seem to further the intent
- Express understanding for the sponsor’s predicament
- Ask sponsor to raise the issue with TSA and provide a suggested solution
The new TSA Security Directive you shared is concerning. While I understand the government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID among members of the public, requiring <me to wear a mask when alone in my hangar / when in my hangar with my family / etc. > doesn’t help. I understand the airport didn’t create this directive, and that the TSA wants to hear from airport operators, update its FAQs and issue clarifications on the policy in response to the concerns airports raise. Please forward my concern to the TSA and <allow some common sense, risk based exceptions to this policy, such as being in a hangar alone or with my family and/or allow you to tailor rules at the airport to the risks>.
We need to help ELEVATE concerns to decision makers while encouraging fellow pilots not to ESCALATE the situation and get themselves in legal trouble.