BLACKBUSHE AIRPORT PLANS RE-OPENING FROM 19 MAY 2020

[PB]

BLACKBUSHE AIRPORT HAS GOOD NEWS - THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE OPENS CAUTIOUSLY..





On Friday 15th May 2020, the Department for Transport published updated guidance for Recreational General Aviation.

This guidance can be read in full here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-recreational-general-aviation/coronavirus-covid-19-recreational-general-aviation

The government takes the view that Recreational General Aviation is a permissible recreational sport.

This excludes most training flights, as social distancing measures require people not in the same household to maintain 2 metres of separation. While these flights are a key source of income for many aerodromes, they cannot presently be undertaken in a way that reduces the risk of Covid-19 transmission to an acceptable level.

Aerodromes Reopening

The DfT guidance continues:

The question of whether any individual aerodrome should open (or reopen) is a business decision for aerodrome operators. Aerodrome operators are best placed to decide whether opening is in their best interest, either from a commercial or health and safety standpoint, including their ability to maintain safe socially-distancing consistent with current PHE guidance.

It is also to be expected that some airfields will require time to implement guidance on making their sites Covid-secure, and that there may therefore be delays to reopening.

Whilst we have been planning for reopening over the past few weeks, it has been difficult to finalise those plans until the DfT guidance was published. We are now finalising those plans in light of the guidance.

We have targeted a phased reopening of Blackbushe Airport from Tuesday 19th May 2020, although there will most likely be reduced opening hours, days, and facilities available.

We will publish further details in the next day or two, and look forward welcoming pilots and aircraft back to Blackbushe next week. In the meantime, please be patient, and don’t call us at this time to allows us to focus on reopening!

[rj]

Very welcome news, of course we can now visit public open spaces for exercise and to sit. I would suggest we mostly view from the common and use common sense and not rush up there at once. If people do happen to see somebody they know on the airport please keep it one on one and not more even if you are all 2m apart. Many other local fields are opening this week but no idea if there will be many visitors?

[PB]

Further to the phased re-opening of flying operations at Blackbushe, please see below, the latest briefing from Blackbushe Operations..



Phase One
Tuesday 19th May - Tuesday 9th June (First 3 weeks of opening)

There will be several changes and limitations to how we will operate. When reopening the airport, we have to consider not only the needs of our customers, but also the safety of staff, and the financial impact on the business.

To understand the needs of our customers we conducted a survey which received 175 responses in the first 24 hours. All businesses must comply with the Government “COVID-Secure” guidelines, which include reducing staff numbers to the absolute minimum, and adapting workspaces or procedures to facilitate social distancing. Finally, there is a significant cost associated with opening the airport, and it is likely that our income will remain reduced, certainly while flight training remains prohibited.

Reduced Opening Days - We will be open from Tuesdays to Saturdays but will remain CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays.

Reduced Opening Hours - We will be open from 0915 - 1800 local, Tuesday to Saturday.

Out of Hours flying is not permitted, either on closure days or during evenings.

Any flights outside the above times will need to be covered by a paid extension at normal rates. See our Price List for more information.

We will be operating with less than normal staffing numbers but the Tower and Fire Service (RFF2/3) will be operational.

The Cafe will NOT be open. The cafe are considering their future opening plans but it will not be open next week.

There will be no toilet facilities available.

We will not accept physical payments by any means (including Credit / Debit Cards). Any payments which fall outside of standard weekly billing for those with Credit Agreements, will be made by telephone or we will email you the invoice for payment by Bank Transfer.

Please help us by booking out in advance (the day before would be perfect), but if not, BEFORE you head to the airport for your flight.

Please make use of our PPR / Booking Out forms as appropriate. Alternatively send us an SMS (07710 364 933). It takes a lot longer to take down booking details by phone than it does by electronic means, and with fewer staff in the tower, we may not always be able to answer the phone.

All flights must adhere to the Department for Transport guidelines that only solo flights, or flights where everyone is from the same household, are permitted. We will continue to monitor all relevant government guidelines and adapt accordingly.
ENSURING WE ARE COVID SECURE

In order for the airport to re-open, we have assessed the risks to staff and users. The staff have been issued with the new internal COVID-19 procedures which aim to ensure our airport conforms with Government guidelines. This has lead to several new measures to ensure that we are COVID secure for everyone at the airport:

Social Distancing will need to be observed at all times. This means remaining 2 metres from other airport users.

Fuelling: The Fire Crew will be on hand to provide fuel in the usual manner. There are some points to note:

Pilots must remove their fuel caps and then stand away from the refueller

Pilots must not touch any elements of the fuel installation, including the bonding cable. Please allow the refueller to work.

There will be no need to sign for fuel, but you should verbally confirm with the refueller the quantity uplifted so our records match yours.

Pilots are to replace their own fuel caps (which is best practice anyway).

The Fire Crew will be issued with suitable PPE for their own safety and yours.

Hand Sanitiser stations will be available at gates between air and landside, and in the refuelling areas. However, we recommend all pilots carry their own sanitiser with them for use as they move about the site.

There will be strictly no admittance to the Fire Station, Terminal Building or the Tower for visitors. Fire Crew will be paying particular attention to the pumps, but if you need to alert Fire Crew, a ‘door bell’ has been installed at the Fire Station.

Phase One will last for at least the first 3 weeks. At this point we will take a decision on whether we move to Phase Two which would include opening 7 days a week, or permitting out of hours flights. This will be dependent on demand and any further updates to DfT / PHE guidance.
Preparing to Fly

Most pilots won’t have flown for over 8 weeks. It’s understandable that we may all be a little rusty. Before you fly, make sure you do the following:

Check the CAA Safety Advice & Tips from CAP1919.

Familiarise yourself with our Rules & Procedures. In particular, whilst we have been closed, we have made the following changes:

Revised joining procedures depending on if you are coming from within Farnborough CAS or from outside.

Introduced abbreviated clearances for VFR departures by home based aircraft.

Familiarise yourself with the Farnborough CAS including our FAQs.

Familiarise yourself with our noise abatement procedures.

BOOKING OUT

If you are able to start booking out over the remainder of the weekend, then please do so using our webform only. We will begin replying to those bookings from Monday 18th May.

Happy Flying!

[rocky14]

This is excellent. No doubt there will be tweaks but it is a positive step in the correct direction.