The CDC has mandated all passengers and crew wear face masks while onboard any public or commercial transportation effective February 1, 2021.
For charter flights, masks must be worn at all times except for the following:
- While eating, drinking, or taking medication, for brief periods
- While communicating with a person who is hearing impaired when the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication
- If, on an aircraft, wearing of oxygen masks is needed because of a loss of cabin pressure or other event affecting aircraft ventilation
- If unconscious (for reasons other than sleeping), incapacitated, unable to be awakened, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance
- When necessary to remove the masks to verify one’s identity such as during TSA screening or when asked to do so by any law enforcement official
Pilots are exempt while seated at their duty station. Other exemptions include:
- A child under 2 years of age
- A person with a disability who cannot wear a masks, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of a disability as defined by the Americans With Disability Act.
- A person for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by the relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations
To read the entire order please click here.
COVID-19 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
The following cleaning and sterilization procedures are used for all COVID-19 CLEARED flights. If any protocols are broken or if it is not completed, the process is repeated from the beginning.
Highly Trained Cleaning Personnel
- Cleaning personnel wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) at all times while inside the cabin.
- All cleanings are documented and tracked through a secure proprietary system that ensures a clear and strict chain of custody.
- After cleaning and sterilization, the main cabin door and the baggage compartment door are sealed with Silver Air COVID-19 CLEARED security seals to ensure that no access has been granted to non-authorized personnel.
State-of-the-Art Cleaning and Sanitizing Products
The main cabin, galley, lavatory, crew area and baggage compartment are thoroughly cleaned utilizing approved aviation-grade cleaners. The surfaces in each area are wiped down with the approved cleaning agent for the material being cleaned.
- Alcohol-based solutions – Proven to kill viruses and bacteria on contact, alcohol-based cleaners are used to wipe down all hard surfaces in all areas. We use a range of approved products, including leather cleaner and conditioner, cleansers and disinfecting agents.
- Soap and water solution – Soap and water are used to clean soft surfaces in all areas.
- Bacoban – After cleaning and sterilizing every surface, the aircraft is treated with Bacoban for Aerospace, a three-in-one cleaner, disinfectant and coating. It is proven to kill bacteria and viruses and also serves as a protectant, providing continuous sterilization for up to 10 days after application.
Limited Access to the Aircraft
Access to the cabin is strictly limited to only necessary personnel at all times.
- During cleaning and sterilization – Only approved cleaning personnel are granted access to the aircraft during cleaning. After cleaning, only the person applying Bacoban is allowed in the aircraft. Once sterilization is complete, no person is allowed on the aircraft; the manager overseeing cleaning closes the cabin door and applies the COVID-19 CLEARED security tape.
- Post cleaning and sterilization – Only required flight crew members who have been cleared may break the COVID-19 CLEARED security tape and have access to the aircraft. The flight crew wears PPE at all times while in the aircraft for preflight procedures, and flight crew members do not touch any surface in the cabin that passengers may come in contact with.