Checklist: What Pilots Should Know Before Flying To Super Bowl LVIII

Operators of aircraft heading to any of the four major airports in the Las Vegas area for Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 will need to be familiar with special traffic procedures put in place by the FAA.

Procedures will be in place Feb. 7-12.

Operators should expect strict parking restrictions, Prior Permission Required requirements (PPRs), traffic delays and potentially “eye watering special event fees” charged by area fixed base operators, the OpsGroup warns. “Also look out for changes to flight planning—you’ll need to submit yours with at least six hours’ notice and will not be able to request a clearance airborne.”

According to the FAA, pilots should expect a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in the Las Vegas area on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, which will limit certain operations. Access to some airports may be restricted. Pilots should check NOTAMs frequently to be sure they have the most current information. TFR information is normally published three to five days before the event.

Preparations For Flight

For one, pilots should watch videos that show runway approach and airport taxiway footage and include diagrams and visual graphics to identify hot spots and other safety items, the FAA says. Those videos are available here.  

Pilots should review the Special Traffic Management Procedures arrival and departure routes document for information on security provisions, traffic management and other details.

Traffic Management 

Pilots should also expect Traffic Management Initiatives in periods of heavy demand, which may include rerouting, miles-in-trail, altitude restrictions, ground stops and Ground Delay Programs. When a Ground Delay Program is in effect, aircraft must depart within five minutes of their assigned Expect Departure Clearance Time (EDACT). Pilots must advise air traffic control (ATC) if they are unable and request a new assignment.

Airborne changes of destination to area airports will not be accepted except for genuine emergencies, the FAA says.

Arrivals

Pilots arriving VFR should expect lengthy delays and potential holding during peak traffic periods, the FAA says. VFR advisory services will be on a workload-permitting basis within airspace of Las Vegas TRACON (L30), Las Vegas Tower (LAS), Henderson Tower (HND), North Las Vegas Tower (VGT) and Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZLT).

Flight plans must be filed at least six hours but not more than 24 hours before the proposed time of departure.

Air files and IFR pick-ups will not be accepted from airborne flights to or from airports listed on the FAA’s website or associated in the NOTAMs, except for true emergencies, the FAA says.

Training Flights

The FAA discourages training flights and student solo cross-country flights in the Las Vegas metro area during this time. Practice approaches, touch-and-go landings and other training operations may be limited or suspended.

FBO Reservations

Operators must contact the fixed base operators (FBOs) at their Las Vegas destination to make reservations for parking, ATC handling and ground services, the FAA says.

“All pilots/operators are strongly encouraged to contact their servicing FBO prior to departure to ensure availability for both overnight parking and passenger pickup/drop off,” it advises. 

Airport status information, including real-time flight delays and program information, is available here.