The FAA has issued the notam establishing a temporary flight restriction (TFR) around Super Bowl XXXVII. AOPA worked closely with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the FAA to ensure that this year's Super Bowl TFR was limited in size and duration, and that work appears to have paid off. However, GA operations within the TFR, including banner towers holding a waiver under notam 2/0199 from the TSA, are prohibited.
The TFR will extend 7 nm around Qualcomm Stadium from the surface to 18,000 feet. The restriction will last from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. local on game day, January 26. The good news is that security officials had tried to get a 45-nm restricted area. The bad news is that nearby Montgomery Field will be closed for the duration of the TFR, and private aircraft, banner towers, and other aerial advertisers are prohibited.
"We know that the TFR decision was made at the highest levels of government in Washington, D.C.," said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice president of government and technical affairs. "We've been successful in limiting the impact, but we are not pleased with the unnecessary restrictions on general aviation pilots.
"The real losers here, "Cebula continued, "are the private aircraft owners operating out of Montgomery Field and the banner towers and other aerial advertisers who have been banned despite implementing comprehensive security plans and submitting to numerous and repeated government security checks."
The ban on aerial advertisers at the Super Bowl is expected to cost operators millions of dollars.
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