‘We have the entire sky to ourselves’: What it’s like to be a pilot during the pandemic – The National

‘We have the entire sky to ourselves’: What it’s like to be a pilot during the pandemic – The National

'We have the entire sky to ourselves': What it's like to be a pilot during the pandemic. In the UAE, with passenger services suspended since March, cargo operations have been stepped up and repatriation flights are in operation to and from several countries.. During a rotation, pilots will operate four or five cargo or repatriation flights.. Having recently returned from five weeks of work, the Brazilian-born pilot is now looking at an impending 35 days away from his family.. If we get the green light we can disembark and every person involved in that flight then has a nasal swab test.. It happens on every single flight, so I'd say I've been tested 10 or 15 times," explains Magno.. With the situation so changeable, there's always a worry the pilots could get stranded in another country. ". It might happen, because once we land we have to follow the country's procedures and it can change from last week, or any of your previous visits to the country," says Magno.. No passengers also mean no cabin crew, even on Etihad's Dreamliners which are normally used for passenger services.. It's a different way of things of doing things, but once you depart