FAA Issues COVID-19 Pandemic NOTAM For International Air Travel

The FAA has issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) requiring passengers entering the USA from foreign countries to have a negative covid test or proof they recovered from covid in the last 3 months. Hopefully they won’t go as far as Canada and require quarantine.

COVID-19 Pandemic NOTAM Highlighting 12 Jan CDC Order for all Passengers Entering the U.S.
Notice Number: NOTC1682

The FAA Safety Team would like to draw your attention to NOTAM FDC 1/2431. It can be accessed on the Defense Internet NOTAM Service Defense Internet NOTAM Service (faa.gov)  To locate the NOTAM please find and select the “FDC Notices” button and then keyword sort for the term 2431.

FDC 1/2431 (KFDC A0014/21) FDC Special Notice of Public Health Requirement for All Air Passengers Entering the United States (U.S.) and its Territories.

All air carriers and other aircraft operators departing a foreign country intending to land in the U.S. or a U.S. Territory are advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order, effective 26 Jan 2021, prohibiting the embarkation of any air passenger on a flight to the U.S. from a foreign country unless the passenger, in accordance with the specific terms of the CDC order, presents documentation of:
1) A negative result for a pre-departure test for SARS-COV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) taken no more than 3 days in advance of departure; or
2) Recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 3 months or as specified in CDC guidance.

Effective immediately, all affected operators are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with this CDC order, which provides important details, including info on: applicability; exemptions; criteria of a qualifying test; requirements for documentation of recovery, including a positive test result for SARS COV-2 and confirmation from a licensed health care provider or health official that the individual is cleared to travel; passenger attestations; and compliance implementation, including requirements levied directly on operators. This CDC order and a link to FAQs may be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/fr-proof-negative-test.html

Non-urgent questions regarding the CDC order may be directed to eocgmftcommsme@cdc.gov Operators should also refer to FAA SAFO 20009, as discussed in the CDC order.

Urgent questions may be referred to the FAA Washington Operations Center at (202) 267-3333.

The FAA is issuing this NOTAM in support of extraordinary public health measures in the face of a global pandemic.