NCAA football championship notam released
Special air traffic procedures have been released in advance of the NCAA National College Football Championship in Tampa, Florida, Jan. 9, 2017. A large influx of traffic is expected to push several airports in the area to their maximum capacity.
The FAA is expected to release a notam detailing temporary flight restrictions three to five days in advance of the event. In the meantime, special procedures and anticipated restrictions have been published to help pilots better prepare their arrivals and departures in the area.
Pilots flying to those airports should check notams and be prepared to provide their personal identification, pilot certificate number, aircraft ownership information, and contact information upon arrival. Pilots are encouraged to contact the fixed-base operators at the destination airports in advance to ensure parking availability.
Airborne holding, reroutes, or expect departure clearance times could be issued for domestic IFR arrivals at the eight airports. In addition, air traffic control might not accept destination changes within 200 nautical miles of the airport or airfiles, according to the special procedures. Multiple flight plans with the same aircraft identifier and different airport destinations might be removed from the ATC system, the procedures warn.
Additionally, practice approaches to airports within 40 nautical miles of Tampa International might be limited. Touch and goes and pilot training might be curtailed at Lakeland Linder Regional and St. Pete-Clearwater International as well.
Tampa International Airport will close Runway 10/28 in order to park aircraft on it no later than Jan. 8, so pilots should plan their arrivals accordingly.
The notam also details special departure procedures for Tampa International, St. Pete-Clearwater International, Lakeland Linder Regional, and Peter O. Knight airports.
