Training is not going to happen until liability protection for employers is passed. It sounds like Mitch McConnell is trying to stand strong on the issue but the Dems are strongly opposed and whispers from the White House suggest they are open to make a deal without the protection. This lack of liability protection will completely murder every small/midsized business that can't afford expensive legal departments/settlement payouts. In America's lawsuit happy culture where everyone wants to make a quick buck, there will be endless frivolous lawsuits seeking compensation for contracting the Rona at work, or if you patronize a restaurant where the waitress tested positive, or if you fly on a plane where a stewardess had it. Everyone knows that Covid is out there. There is a risk that you are going to get covid if you go out in public. If you choose to accept that risk, you shouldn't be able to hold anyone accountable for bad things that happen to you. Can you imagine the compensation the lawsuit the FAA will have on it's if they restart training when it is not essential and there is a case where a trainee gives their trainer covid after they said they have to do OJT? I'm sure the government doesn't care and would just settle because it's not their money after all but that is probably a huge concern.
They are definitely sending out their top guns to the media to cry in public to secure more funding that will ultimately go to waste and the worst part is that it's working. I've seen articles within the last day saying Congress is showing lots of support to extend the bailouts for another 6 months. What's going to happen in 6 more months when we're in the dead of winter and the airlines still don't have any paying customers? Are they just going to give the airlines "free" money indefinitely?