AOPA: "Better Than Initially Feared"

Though they hadn't seen the offical version yet, AOPA thought there was "some good and some bad" to the TFR expected for this year's Super Bowl. 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. AOPA says the good news is that security officials had tried to get a monstrous 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 tow operations, and other aerial advertisers are prohibited.

3/0419 - FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS SUPER BOWL QUALCOMM STADIUM SAN DIEGO, CA. EFFECTIVE 0301261900 UTC (1100 LOCAL) UNTIL 0301270400 UTC (2000 LOCAL). PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 99.7, SPECIAL SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS. AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED WITHIN A 7 NM RADIUS OF THE QUALCOMM STADIUM (MISSION BAY/VORTAC/MZB 076 DEGREE RADIAL AT 5.34 NM OR N324659/W1170710) BELOW FL 180 UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY ATC. TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION WAIVERS ISSUED FOR FDC NOTAM 2/0199 DO NOT APPLY IN THIS AIRSPACE. LAW ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND MEDEVAC AIRCRAFT ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS TFR. SAN DIEGO AFSS, 858-277-7043, IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY. WIE UNTIL UFN

"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.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.superbowl.com, http://www2.faa.gov/ntap/NTAP03JAN23/SP02055.HTM