Flying reported to be safe

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheridan County Airport Manager John Stopka says travel by air is safe.

In remarks earlier this week at the opening of the terminal expansion project at the airport, Stopka said that’s true across the nation. And he talked about what the Sheridan County airport is doing to ensure the continued safety of those traveling by air.

Stopka said the airport crews do a thorough janitorial cleanup of the building seven days a week. In addition to that, he said, airport crews sanitize and disinfect the planes after every flight.

He said the transportation security administration people at the airport also clean thoroughly after every flight. In addition, he said, they wear masks while at the airport and make sure social distancing is observed.

Stopka said those extra measures mean that it sometimes takes a little longer to screen people.

Stopka said United Airlines has a policy that passengers must wear masks, and at the Sheridan airport, SkyWest has been handing out masks to those who come without them. He said in fact there is an industry-wide requirement that all passengers must wear masks while they’re on the aircraft.

He said Denver International Airport also requires people wear masks at all times while they’re in the terminal building, except when they’re eating. He said masks are recommended but not required at the Sheridan County Airport.

Stopka said the air filtration systems in the planes are now the same that are used in hospitals. That means the air is cleaned every time it goes through the system, so passengers are not breathing the same air every time.