Flying a light aircraft in the age of COVID-19 has been a very unusual experience. There is a legitimate argument for avoiding recreational flying during the stay-at-home order — to avoid the risk of virus transmission via a rental aircraft, to avoid giving general aviation a bad name, and especially to avoid even the slightest chance of placing additional demands on first responders. On the other hand, since flight instruction is prohibited, a loss of proficiency will not be easily recovered. I decided to forego cross-country travel for the duration of the pandemic, but I’ve been going for a short local flight every few weeks in order to maintain proficiency.
Arriving at Hanscom Field, I bypass the terminal building and use the outdoor gate to proceed directly onto the tarmac. The airport is eerily quiet (although the Signature ramp is packed to the brim with private jets). The aircraft I’ve reserved has not flown for a week or more, so my preflight check is more important than ever. Now is the time to check the cowling for nesting birds, and to drain plenty of fuel from every sump. The engine takes a few extra turns to start, but oil pressure comes right up. Tower and ground have combined onto a single frequency, and my takeoff clearance is immediate.
I indulge in a brief city tour over downtown Boston, and the lack of commercial air traffic is striking. It’s a weekday afternoon, yet Boston Tower is dead silent. I make my call — “request a city tour at 2000 feet, circling over all of downtown, remaining west of runway 22 right” — and the controller grants my request without a moment’s hesitation. A seabreeze is fighting to start up, and with the convergence over downtown, I can circle and maintain altitude at idle power. The freedom and beauty are striking, and I can’t wait for the day when it’s once again possible to share this moment with a friend.
Returning to Hanscom, I call the tower on a quiet frequency and enter an empty traffic pattern. The controller is most obliging as I request crosswind runways, left and right traffic, low approaches, and short approaches. Each time around, I am “cleared for the option” just a few seconds after I take off. It doesn’t take long to brush off the cobwebs, and the ever-changing spring winds keep me on my toes. After a few times around the pattern, I taxi back and shut down. I regret that I won’t fly again for a few weeks, but I am so grateful that I had the chance to experience this moment of freedom today.