A recent update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) requirements for outdoor areas lifts face mask requirements in open hangars. The CDC in June changed the mask requirements, allowing people to go without masks in outdoor areas at transportation hubs.
However, the National Air Transportation Association and other industry groups worked with the CDC on the update to ensure open hangars were included as open areas. In a summary of changes to the face mask order, the CDC referred to “outdoors” as “any open-air area” and gave examples of transportation hubs to now include surface parking lots and partially enclosed parking garages, passenger pick-up/drop-off areas, railway platforms, piers, open hangars, and airport runways. The CDC continues to recommend that people who are not fully vaccinated wear masks in these areas.
NATA said it plans to update its Safety 1st Clean Standard to align it with the CDC revisions. The association added that it is continuing to work with CDC to ensure an understanding of the unique operating environments involved with business aviation.
Meanwhile, the TSA is extending its mask requirement for transportation through January 18. It had been set to expire on September 13.