TFRs To Be Put In Place Over Met Life Stadium In East Rutherford, NJ

The 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.

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, and private charters 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.

FMI: www.faa.gov