The normal pre-departure NOTAM check might not turn up any signs of the trouble that lies ahead because “NOTAMs for ATC Zero can pop up quickly.” The agency maintains a map of all the facilities that have had COVID-19 closures and just about every facility in the country seems to have a pin on it. So it’s advising pilots, particularly those who fly almost exclusively IFR, to brush up on non-towered procedures in case they unexpectedly have to put their heads on a swivel at their destination. Central to that is knowing and switching to the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to announce their existence and what they hope to do. “If you cannot adequately determine the flow of traffic and your position in the flow, do not hesitate to hold a safe distance from the airport until your situation is clear to you,” the alert said. ‘You can always fly to an alternate until things settle down at your destination.”
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-safety-alert-addresses-pop-up-atc-covid-closures