Fact Sheet – Federal Aviation Administration Support of Super Bowl XLVIII
/The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the aviation community, and the National Football League to ensure safe and secure aviation operations during Super Bowl XLVIII, which is scheduled to take place Feb. 2, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Air Traffic
The FAA will establish two Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) over MetLife Stadium. From approximately noon to 4 p.m. EST, a small, one-nautical-mile radius TFR will cover the “NFL Experience” activities at the stadium. The one-mile TFR will extend up to 3,000 feet in altitude. From approximately 4 p.m. EST to one hour after the game ends, the FAA will establish a second TFR consisting of an outer 30-nautical-mile ring and an inner eight-nautical-mile ring. This TFR will extend up to 18,000 feet in altitude. The eight-mile and one-mile rings are the most restrictive and will permit only public safety flights, military aircraft, and commercial passenger, cargo operating under a Transportation Security Administration-approved security program. Flights by media, banner towers, blimps, general aviation, or any other flight activities are prohibited within the eight-mile ring, and no waivers or exceptions have been approved at this time.
In the airspace between the eight-mile ring and the 30-mile ring, general aviation pilots must tune their aircraft transponders to a discreet beacon code that FAA air traffic control has assigned, and pilots must communicate constantly with air traffic controllers.
The FAA expects an additional 1,200 general aviation flights to the New York/New Jersey metropolitan airports during Super Bowl XLVIII. The FAA will use air traffic management strategies such as separating Super Bowl transient traffic from normal air traffic operations and assigning departure slots for flights operating at general aviation airports within the TFR to minimize the impact to scheduled air carrier operations. The FAA will increase staffing and hours of operation at Air Traffic Control facilities as needed.
The FAA anticipates that the exodus of aircraft from the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area airports will begin at Super Bowl halftime, and will extend through Monday, Feb. 3, 2014.
General aviation aircraft at airports underlying the eight-mile TFR ring will not be able to depart until the TFR is lifted. Super Bowl attendees who want to depart by aircraft while the TFR is in effect must travel to an airport outside the eight-mile ring and keep the aircraft at that airport while they are in the area.
The existing helipad at MetLife Stadium will be available for NFL use. Helicopter flights in the inner ring will cease when the TFR becomes active.
Air travelers going to Super Bowl XLVIII should be aware that all tour packages do not include tickets to the February 2 game in New Jersey. Under U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) consumer protection rules, any operator marketing a Super Bowl air package that offers game tickets must have the tickets in hand or have a written contract for the tickets before the operator advertises. DOT cautions travelers that if a game ticket is not mentioned specifically in advertisements or other solicitation materials or listed as a tour feature, the ticket probably is not included. DOT’s rules state that if a tour was described as including a game ticket and you do not receive one, you are entitled to a full refund of the entire package price even if you have already traveled to the city where the game will take place. Consumers may file complaints about Super Bowl tours that advertise tickets but do not provide them by contacting the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Division online at www.dot.gov/airconsumer, by voice-mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511. Media Contact: Bill Mosley (202) 366-4570.