[JYO] Sporting events TFR reissued

Sporting events TFR reissued
Smaller events now excluded
    
Dec. 12 — The FAA this weekend cancelled the “sporting events” temporary 
flight restriction (TFR) notam, and then on Monday reissued the notam with 
exactly the same wording. But AOPA has learned that there was a 
behind-the-scenes change in interpretation that will benefit general aviation 
pilots. The notam, <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010915tfr.html#3090";>FDC 
1/3090</A>, requires pilots to remain clear of “any major 
professional or collegiate sporting event or any other major open air 
assembly of people” by 3 nm horizontally and 3,000 feet vertically. But FAA 
has now internally defined “open air assembly” as a gathering of 10,000 
people or more. That means most high school games and other smaller athletic 
events aren’t covered by the TFR. “This change of interpretation removes 
some of the restrictions on pilots,” said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice 
president for government and technical affairs. “However, we will continue to 
believe that these kinds of TFRs should be date and location specific. Local 
pilots might be aware of major events, but transient pilots have no 
reasonable way to obtain this information. We will continue to push FAA to 
eliminate this ‘generic’ TFR.”

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