IACAC News – Page 18 – IACAC | International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains

01/04/202007/04/2020

Lent and Easter in the Italian turmoil of COVID-19

I thought it would be easier to describe the effect the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the Italian Civil Aviation Industry. Unfortunately, even among airport employees, we are beginning to count those who have died and those who have fallen ill due to this virus, and this deeply touches the souls of us all.

Looking back, we can now recognize how our pastoral ministry at the airport provided us with insight on the situation, allowing us to predict what would happen in reality. During some recent media interviews, I liked to compare the airport to a beehive, a symbol of industriousness and vitality. When the beekeeper sees that the hive is emptying and the bees are no longer returning, he immediately understands that something serious is happening, or is about to happen.

25/03/2020

COVID-19: Share your experiences

Dear IACAC Members

I guess by now every airport we are working at is affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Some airlines have grounded their entire fleets, numbers of passengers are decreasing all around the world and some airports are shut down completely.
This affects the work of each and every airport chaplain, as we are most probably dealing more often with the fears and difficult situation of airport and airline staff.

How are you dealing with this situation at your airport? Please share your experience with other IACAC Members. You can do this by logging into the members section of our website – then click “New” in the top bar and choose “Post” to write a new blog post. Your contribution will be visible only for members.

Thanks for telling us your story.
Rev. Stephan Pfenninger Schait
IACAC Media Officer

17/03/202019/03/2020

Statement regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and global crisis

The COVID-19 outbreak is a global tragedy. Described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic since 11 March, not only has it affected more than 180,000 People worldwide and killed more than 7,000 (at the time this statement was written) but it is drastically affecting the economy and specifically the global aviation economy. Tens of thousands of flights are being cancelled and planes grounded. Airports have closed terminals in an effort to adapt and reduce their costs and some airports have even temporally cancelled all operations. Chapels and prayer rooms are also being closed on several airports.

03/03/202005/03/2020

Update: Bushfire Catastrophe in Australia

Thank you to all IACAC members for your prayers, words of support and generous donations. It has been a busy time for the team in Melbourne as our airport went on a fund raising drive where an initial $500,000 was donated by the Airport Management, then for every dollar raised up to the end of February by staff and the airport community the Management would match dollar for dollar up to another $500,000.

I am glad to report that apart from some very remote locations all bushfires have now been extinguished and we have also had some significant rain over our drought ravaged regions. We are moving from relief and emergency response into the long-term recovery of those communities that have been affected. Of course we are also feeling the effects of our borders being closed to flights from Mainland China. We rely heavily on tourists and students coming to Australia at this time of the year and the airport is eerily quiet.

02/03/202005/03/2020

From our Treasurer

IACAC Membership Subscriptions/Dues

Now that you have established your stride into the New Year, this is a gentle reminder that membership subscriptions are due by March 1^st of each year.