Covid-19 Mitigation Health and Safety Plan
(Updated February 10, 2021)
- This is an ever-changing situation, and thus this is an ever-changing document. Coyote Air will place updates on our website and/or Facebook page about current State of Alaska Health Mandates in the timeliest manner possible. Passengers should also do their best to be informed about the State of Alaska Health Mandates.
- Compiled best practices are given current CDC, FAA, and State of Alaska mandates and guidelines. As those change, so too shall Coyote Air/ Coldfoot Air practices and may not be immediately reflected in this document.
- With Vaccines becoming more available, anyone who can get vaccinated should be vaccinated before traveling into the backcountry.
- All flights that Coyote Air/ Coldfoot Air conducts are considered close contact and do not qualify as short hops or shuttles. Therefore all passengers must meet all of the requirements for unrestricted travel and association.
Covid-19 resources:
- State of Alaska:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Specific on duty Responsibilities for Pilots:
- Pilots will, whenever possible, wear cloth facemask when passengers are present in the airplane.
- Whenever possible, pilots will ensure the aircraft is disinfected before each new passenger flight using 70% alcohol in a spray bottle. This will include seats, doors and handles, seatbelts, and other frequently touched areas.
- Pilots will keep hand sanitizer in the airplane and use it as necessary.
- Pilots will screen all passengers for Covid -19 symptoms before boarding. Passengers exhibiting symptoms consistent with Covid -19 will not board the aircraft for outbound flights from Coldfoot.
- Pilots will screen passengers for known exposure in the past 2 weeks to Covid-19 positive exposure or exposure to persons exhibiting symptoms consistent with Covid-19. Each exposure situation will be evaluated per State of Alaska or CDC guidelines and be dealt with accordingly.
- Pilots will hand out Single user earplugs and barf bags to each passenger. If unused or reusable, passengers should hold on to these for the return flight.
- Each plane will be equipped with PPE and disposable equipment to handle full barf bags safely.
If a passenger is in the field has symptoms consistent with Covid-19, Coyote Air will coordinate with the backcountry group to find the best solution given the situation and resources available. The following are the resources available.
- Alaska State Troopers 907-451-5100
- North Slope Search and Rescue 907-852-2822
- RCC 1-800-420-7230
- Coyote Air/ Coldfoot Air 907-687-3993
Emergency Evacuation
- Emergency Evacuation Insurance may be available and is worth looking into for all persons going into the backcountry.
- Coyote Air cannot pick up a sick passenger that is suspected of having Covid-19. This is beyond our technical capabilities and hence will require an emergency evacuation. Therefore passengers going into the field must take every possible precaution against Covid-19.
Passenger Responsibilities and Requirements:
- All passengers must act responsibly in helping us to maintain a safe operation in the backcountry. This starts long before your planned trip.
- We ask that all passengers arrive in Coldfoot in good health. If passengers have any consistent symptoms with Covid-19, this needs to be disclosed to the pilot immediately.
- For those who live in Alaska or have previously quarantined, you will need to have a Covid test within 72 hours of flying into the Backcountry.
- For people traveling from out of the State of Alaska, all the mandates apply. First, you will need to test before coming to Alaska. Then maintain minimum contact and retest 7-14 days later. At that point, and only then can we fly you out into the backcountry.”
- Please bring your test results with you to attach to the health declaration.
- As much as is practical, each passenger should practice social distancing 2 weeks before a backcountry trip to reduce their exposure to Covid-19. This is especially important as extraction from the backcountry is extremely difficult under normal circumstances and will now constitute an emergency evacuation of the entire group.
- Each passenger will immediately disclose to the pilot if they have had a known exposure in the last two weeks with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 or has symptoms consistent with Covid-19.
- Each passenger should arrive in Coldfoot with personal hand sanitizer and cloth face masks used in the airplane during flights.
- Passengers should follow the CDC and State of Alaska guidelines and Mandates about Covid-19.
- When you arrive in Coldfoot, you will be required to fill out a health declaration and sign it. If you are ill or do not meet the requirements for passengers listed above, we will not be able to fly you out into the field.
Health Monitoring
The following are general guidelines for Coyote Air and Coldfoot Air crewmembers, but also may be helpful to passengers:
- Crewmembers should monitor themselves for fever (feeling feverish or a measured temperature of100.4 F [38 C] or higher), cough, or shortness of breath.
- Crewmembers should take their temperature twice a day during duty periods and any time they feel sick.
- Crewmembers should stay home and not report to work if they meet any of the following conditions:
- Develop fever, cough, or shortness of breath, even if mild;
- Test positive for SARS-CoV-2, even if no symptoms are present; or Are exposed, as defined below, to a sick person with fever, cough, or shortness of breath, even if the person has not been tested SARS-CoV-2.
- Exposures of concern include:
- A sick household member or intimate partner;
- Taking care of a sick person without using personal protective equipment (PPE); or
- Being within 6 feet (2 meters) of a sick person (including co-workers and passengers) for a prolonged period of time (i.e., 10 minutes or longer).
- Crewmembers who are symptomatic or exposed to a person with COVID-19 should not return to work until cleared to do so by following current CDC guidelines.
- If a crewmember develops symptoms during a flight, the crewmember should stop working as soon as practicable and put on a surgical mask or a cloth face covering.
Health Protection:
To protect their health and the health of others, including co-workers and passengers, crewmembers should:
- Maintain a distance of 6 feet (2 meters) from others to the extent possible.
- Wash their hands frequently with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, particularly after assisting sick travelers or touching body fluids or surfaces likely to be contaminated with body fluids; after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose; after using the restroom; before eating; and before preparing or serving food or beverages; and after removing any PPE, including gloves.
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- As much as practical, wear a cloth face covering while around other people, especially in situations where they cannot maintain the recommended physical distance from others.
- Avoid contact with people having cough, fever or shortness of breath, or otherwise suspected of having COVID-19.
sounds good, while Im speaking to you ,booked with joey, flying to coldfoot aug 18 at 10;00 am,i assume flying with you on 19th,could you email me as to the paticulars such as payment etc. thanks rich phone 7165731070