With Super Bowl LIX just weeks away, NBAA’s Air Traffic Services has issued advice for aircraft operators looking to head to New Orleans for the February 9 championship game.
The Super Bowl traditionally represents one of the major gatherings of private aviation, with airports in the host city inundated by aircraft. Due to the high volume anticipated, a reservation program for all nonscheduled general aviation operations has been established and will be required for all arrivals and departures at airports in metropolitan New Orleans. This will be in effect from Thursday, February 6 through Monday, February 10.
FBOs at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (KMSY), Lakefront (KNEW), Slidell (KASD), Hammond Northshore Regional (KHDC), and Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional (KAPS) airports are now accepting reservations, with each allocated slot times as determined by FAA arrival departure rates.
According to NBAA’s traffic desk, drop-and-go reservations may be the only option available at some of the city’s airports once long-term/overnight parking is at capacity. That will entail operators obtaining reservations for both the drop-off and pick-up legs.
Further afield, airports such as Baton Rouge Metropolitan Ryan Field (KBTR), Lafayette Regional Paul Fournet Field (KLFT), Stennis International (KHSA), and Houma-Terrebonne (KHUM) will not be subject to the reservation program, but operators should still contact their service providers ahead of time to confirm parking availability.
Due to increased demand during that period, FAA traffic management initiatives could be imposed including ground delays and airborne holding. NBAA noted that IFR aircraft in the area should expect to be routed according to FAA special traffic management procedures.
In the first week of February, the agency will publish a notam outlining the parameters of a special event TFR which will be imposed on gameday. It will prohibit general aviation operations within a 10-mile radius of the game venue starting approximately two hours before kickoff and lasting at least one hour after its conclusion.