Uncertain Times
The inherent fragility of the general aviation industry is no news to those who exist within it. It operates tenuously at the best of times, and, heading into what is being touted as the worst recession in 90 years, it is nigh-on impossible to construct a linear story of the ripples of impact on industry due to COVID-19.
Each corner of this symbiotic industry feels the impact on each other corner. COVID-19, most dangerous to the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions, has caused what some believe is structural damage to the aviation industry’s already immune-compromised system.
Without aircraft, airports and humans, the aviation industry as we know it would really not exist. The student pilot seems like a good place to start in attempting to unravel the extent of infection and symptomatic uncertainty coursing through the industry in those first few months.
Ella–student pilot
It is late March 2020 and Ella is a student pilot who has been directed by the government not to leave her home unless absolutely necessary. Here, the story instantly gets muddy. If Ella is training to become a commercial pilot, according to the (at best) vague advice of CASA and health authorities in her state, she may
