14 DECEMBER 2020 UTC
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – “ZCO”
COVID-19 EXIGENCY PLAN

Dr. Glenn Schneider, Ph.D.
Steward Observatory and the Department of Astronomy, The University of Arizona
Phone: 520-621-5865, email: gschneider@as.arizona.edu


Progress in the face of adversity – TSE 2020.

Despite the currently grim prospects for a non-indigenously attended TSE 2020, the maturation of a plan to enable at least a limited number of international umbraphiles to travel to the path of totality and bask in the Moon’s umbral shadow now brings hope to this situation.

The soon upcoming total solar eclipse of 14 December 2020 (TSE 2020) was supposed to be a relatively “easy” one in terms of travel logistics and accessibility. A year ago many of us had comfortably made our arrangements and began counting down the days to TSE 2020 and our next view of the Sun’s glorious corona. But then, the (sardonically named) coronavirus pandemic swept the Earth ahead of the Moon’s shadow with its devastating effects on global health and national economies. Its continuing deleterious impacts cannot be overstated.

In consequential response, in attempting with mixed successes and failures to bring the Covid-19 under control as part of internationally heterogeneous protocols, as of the time of this writing many international borders were – and still remain – closed to foreign nationals. That is also concomitant with prolonged entry quarantines and internal travel restrictions. With now only about 7 weeks before TSE 2020 this situation remains unchanged for Chile and Argentina, the only countries on Earth from where TSE 2020 is visible from land (see Figure 1).


 

Figure 1. Top: The full TSE 2020 path of totality from sunrise (west end) to sunset (east end). 
Bottom: The path of totality crossing South America, visible only from part of Chile and Argentina (click to expand).
 (Map Source: http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2020_GoogleMapFull.html)

The prospects for reversion to “normalcy” with the posited relaxation or retirement of these policies by eclipse day, re-enabling access to the path of totality over South America to eclipse chasers, remains unknowingly speculative at best. The good news is that, despite this rather negative outlook, the Chilean Ministry of Science (MoS) has now approved a plan to admit at least a nuclear group of eclipse chasers with a ground-based “fly-in/fly-out” opportunity.

The core of the plan is to fly non-stop into the La Araucanía Temuco International Airport (ZCO) located at Freire, Cautín Province, Chile, on a specially-arranged low-passenger-density jetliner charter flight (see https://tinyurl.com/ZCO2020). ZCO is in the path of totality with duration 1m 51s. The flight to ZCO will originate from São Paulo/Guarulhos, Brazil's Governador Andre Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU). While the USA still remains closed to foreign nationals,  Brazil is “open” for entry and in-transit connections through GRU to travelers from all countries.

Table 1 - ECLIPSE LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Temuco La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO)
Freire, Cautín Province, Chile
Lat. = 38° 55" 38' S, Lon. = 72° 38' 49" W, Alt. = 98 m AMSL
EVENT
 UTC (H:M:S)
 ALT.
 AZI.
Contact 1
 14:39:56 59.1° 68.8°
Contact 2
 16:01:46 71.8° 33.9°
Max Eclipse
 16:02:42 71.9° 33.3°
Contact 3
 16:03:38 72.0° 32.7°
Contact 4
 17:30:03 71.7° 325.6°


With “salvoconductos” to be obtained by transport-flight participants, after arriving at ZCO passengers will (a) debark the aircraft, (b) remain within, and observe the eclipse in segregated isolation from, a designated secured location on or near the airfield/airport, and after the eclipse is over (c) reboard and return to GRU. The aircraft will arrive at ZCO early on eclipse morning (December 14) with more than sufficient time to prepare for first contact, and depart soon after last contact.


Figure 2. Satellite view of the ZCO airport. 
With the Sun 72° above the horizon at totality, the secured areas of the airport/airfield provide a number of potential eclipse viewing sites (with TBD selection)
also with excellent near-horizon views. Click HERE to enlarge and explore.

The GRU-ZCO-GRU eclipse charter flight as described in detail HERE (https://tinyurl.com/ZCO2020) will be conducted with mandatory safety protocols in place to protect against contagion of the Covid-19 including: negative-outcome CV-19 testing prior to boarding, low-density (“middle and/or other seats empty”) limited passenger accommodation, wearing of face masks and shields at all times during the outgoing and return flights. Specific requisite protocols will later be advised to participating passengers. Each potential participant, of course, will have to judge for themselves their level of personal comfort for their safety vis-à-vis CV-19 risks (and mitigation) independent of the now MoS-approved plan to debark and observe the eclipse at  ZCO.

The essential and enabling MoS permission is in place and is expected to remain so, but could be rescinded if CV-19 conditions deteriorate. The charter plans are proceeding under a presumption of continuing and uninterrupted approval.  The charter arrangements are being implemented with the expert services of Mr. Tim Todd of TEI Tours and Travel, Inc.,  who has orchestrated many successful eclipse expeditions and charter flights, including most recently from Easter Island, Chile for TSE 2019, and as now arranged for TSE 2021 from Punta Arenas, Chile (https://tinyurl.com/EFLIGHT2021).

Detailed logistical and other information regarding the ZCO transport flight, eclipse-access and viewing plan, are provided by Mr. Todd on the T.E.I. web site at https://tinyurl.com/ZCO2020.  Anyone with further questions about this opportunity, or with potential interest to secure a space, should contact Mr. Todd directly ASAP by phone at 1-925-825-6104 or email at tei@teiglobal.com .


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Last update: 12:15 PM MST 26 Oct 2020