Flying in the COVID-19 Era
Science-based Risk Assessments and Mitigation Strategies
on the Ground and in the Air
PROCEEDINGS OF A WORKSHOP
Robert Pool, Rapporteur
Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
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This study is based on work supported by Contract NNH16CD01B with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any agency or organization that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-27524-8
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-27524-5
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26426
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Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Flying in the COVID-19 Era: Science-based Risk Assessments and Mitigation Strategies on the Ground and in the Air: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26426.
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FLYING IN THE COVID-19 ERA WORKSHOP ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
JOHN-PAUL B. CLARKE, University of Texas, Austin, Chair
WILLIAM R. BRODY, NAE1/NAM,2 Salk Institute for Biological Studies
EDWARD F. CRAWLEY, NAE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MICHAEL P. DELANEY, Boeing Commercial Airplane
ALAN H. EPSTEIN, Pratt & Whitney
PARIMAL KOPARDEKAR, NASA Ames Research Center
ILAN KROO, NAE, Stanford University
ANDREW R. LACHER, Noblis
VALERIE M. MANNING, Airbus SAS
PAMELA A. MELROY, NAE, Melroy & Hollett Technology Partners, LLC
ROBIE I. SAMANTA-ROY, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Staff
DANIEL NAGASAWA, Program Officer, Space Studies Board, Study Director
ANDREA REBHOLZ, Program Associate, Space Studies Board
COLLEEN HARTMAN, Director, Space Studies Board and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
2 Member, National Academy of Medicine.
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD
BRIAN M. ARGROW, University of Colorado, Boulder, Chair
ROBERT D. BRAUN, California Institute of Technology
EDWARD F. CRAWLEY, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
WILLIAM R. GRAY III, United States Air Force
SUSAN J. HELMS, NAE,1 Orbital Visions LLC
JOHN C. KARAS, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
ILAN KROO, NAE, Stanford University
NICHOLAS D. LAPPOS, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
GEORGE T. LIGLER, NAE, GTL Associates
LESTER L. LYLES, NAE, United States Air Force
VALERIE MANNING, Airbus
PARVIZ MOIN, NAE/NAS,2 Stanford University
DARRYLL J. PINES, NAE, University of Maryland
ROBIE I. SAMANTA ROY, Lockheed Martin Corporation
WANDA A. SIGUR, NAE, Independent Consultant
DAVID W. THOMPSON, NAE, Orbital ATK, Inc.
ANTHONY M. WAAS, University of Michigan
MICHAEL I. YARYMOVYCH, Sarasota Space Associates
SHERRIE L. ZACHARIUS, Aerospace Corporation
Staff
COLLEEN HARTMAN, Director
TANJA PILZAK, Manager, Program Operations
CELESTE A. NAYLOR, Information Management Associate
MARGARET A. KNEMEYER, Financial Officer
RADAKA LIGHTFOOT, Financial Associate
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
2 Member, National Academy of Sciences.
Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This Proceedings of a Workshop was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published proceedings as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process.
We thank the following individuals for their review of this proceedings:
Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the content of the proceedings nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this proceedings was overseen by Sandra H. Magnus, Georgia Institute of Technology. She was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this proceedings was carried out in accordance with standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the rapporteur and the National Academies.
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Sciences.
2 Member, National Academy of Medicine.
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Contents
COVID-19 from a Public Health and Medicine Perspective
A Virologist’s View of COVID-19
Societal and Political Aspects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
3 COVID-19 RISKS AND MITIGATION ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT
COVID-19 Transmission on Commercial Flights
Possible Modes of Transmission
Mitigating the Risk of COVID-19 Transmission on Aircraft
4 COVID-19 RISK AND MITIGATION IN AIRPORTS
An Overview of Infection Prevention as Applied to Air Travel
Airports’ Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Risk Considerations for Airports
5 THE AVIATION INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Airlines’ Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Airports’ Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
6 ENSURING THE FUTURE OF THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY
Demand for Air Travel in the Immediate Future
