Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 207.38; Flight Crew Total 847.68; Flight Crew Type 847.68
Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Let's just say that it has already been a quite stressful 5 days on the line. Every morning the Captain and I brought up the threat of distractions and made it a point to focus on the mission.This event started on the van ride to the Airport. I downloaded the release and noticed the dispatcher's remarks that we were loaded up with extra fuel due to a COVID-19 issue in the Tower at the destination airport. Just so happened that this airport is a hub for another air carrier that suffered the same shut down at one of their other hubs; and we had one such crew on the bus to tell us how operating out of that airport was like. As the discussion progressed; I looked over the NOTAM packet to find that there was nothing unusual going on and nothing to indicate that the Tower was closed (we assumed it would be). We did see that the average delays into this airport were over an hour but ATC hooked us up with only a 20 minute EDCT. Now I think we did a pretty damn great job adapting with this issue. Digital ATIS did not work but we discovered a frequency that ATC was using to issue departure releases; which is where we were able to get the most updated weather information. Approach was also very gracious and helpful; even to a crew that did not want to cancel IFR until we were on the ground (that was us). I am writing this report because at some point I checked FD Pro and discovered a NOTAM that informed us of the situation with the Tower being closed with instructions on what frequencies to. CTAF would be one of the Tower frequencies (this airport has two) and to use a ground frequency (this airport has two) to coordinate ground movements. Now it appeared that Dispatch was unaware of this NOTAM nor the Tower being closed (I'm not placing blame because they are just as overwhelmed as everyone else). Another Airline on the ground appeared not to be aware of this NOTAM because the Captain was having a heated discussion with a Ramp Controller because the Captain did not want to follow the Controller's instructions which were being read off verbatim from the NOTAM.We know that the NOTAM system is far from perfect. Yesterday; not only did [we] not have a Tower closure in our NOTAM packet; we did not see a NOTAM for a localizer out of service later in the day along with a glideslope being out of service at another.As this virus progresses through the United States; we have to be very diligent on what we are doing. This morning ZZZ1 Tower closed for a cleaning. We need to be prepared when one of our major hub is hit; specifically ZZZ2. We can't have people like that Captain calling an Audible just because he is unaware of a procedure that is either buried in his NOTAM packet or is not there at all. My fleet is very good at working out of uncontrolled fields but I personally have never had to operate out of a hub the size of ZZZ2 without a working Tower before...I'm not looking forward to it either.
First Officer reported issues relating to NOTAMS and towers closing for COVID-19 cleaning.