In an effort to protect National Football League Super Bowl XLII patrons and players from the possibility of a terrorist strike, government authorities plan to implement temporary flight restrictions (TFR) over the Phoenix area in addition to traffic-management initiatives. Slot reservations won’t be required, as there will be no special traffic management program, according to NBAA, but “those planning to operate in the Phoenix area during this time should contact their [FBO] of choice as early as possible to be briefed on parking initiatives.” Super Bowl XLII will take place February 3 at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. The Phoenix area offers a number of airports suitable for many aircraft types.
On February 3, two TFRs will be in effect. The first, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. local time, prohibits all aircraft operations in a two-nm radius of the stadium from the surface to 4,000 feet msl, except for approved law enforcement and medevac operations. The second TFR, in effect from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. local time, sterilizes a 10-nm radius from the stadium in which only authorized government operations and airlines with certain Transportation Security Administration approvals can operate. From the 10-nm radius to a 30-nm radius, aircraft on IFR or VFR flight plans with discrete beacon codes can fly, take off and land but not loiter.