News and Updates – FAA Announces Super Bowl LV Safety Plan

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)is working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, the aviation community, and the National Football League to ensure safe, secure and efficient operations before, during and after Super Bowl LV. The Super Bowl will be held Feb. 7, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

The agency is planning for hundreds of additional take-offs and landings and aircraft parked at Tampa Bay airportsduring Super Bowl week. Special procedures, includingTemporary Flight Restrictions(TFR) and aNo Drone Zonewill limit flights around Raymond James Stadium before, during and after the game.

Thegame day TFRwill go into effect at approximately5:30 p.m. EST. It will cover a 30 nautical mile (34.5 mile) ring, centered over the stadium and from the ground up to 18,000 feet in altitude. It will expire at 11:59 p.m. EST, but may be extended if conditions warrant. Drones also are prohibited inside the TFR.

The FAA has establishedadditional TFRs torestrict drone flightsfor twonautical miles (2.3 miles) around Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park from the ground to an altitude of 2,000 feetfromFriday, January 29,through Saturday, February 6, during event hours.

Pilots must be aware of thelatest TFRs and checkNotices to Airmen (NOTAM)before flying. Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission could face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones in the TFR. The FAA encourages drone operators to check allnotices(PDF)to determine where drones may fly.

Drone pilots should check theFAAs B4UFly appto determine when and where they may fly.

The TFR will not affect regularly scheduled commercial flights at Tampa International Airport (TPA). Emergency, medical, public safety and military operations may fly in the TFR while it is in place, in coordination with air traffic control.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) enforces TFRs in real time.

News and Updates – Tampa Bay is a “No Drone Zone” During Super Bowl LV

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TAMPA, Fla., Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is a No Drone Zone for Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2021. Drones also are prohibited around the Tampa Riverwalk for the NFL Super Bowl Experience during the days leading up to the event.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will establish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) on game day that will prohibit drones within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude. The TFR will be in place from 5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST.

Drones are also prohibited for one nautical mile around Raymond James Stadium on February 7 from 10 a.m. until the TFR for the game takes effect. Further details are available in thedrone TFR(PDF).

The FAA will restrict drone flights for roughly two nautical miles around Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feet from January 29 to February 6 during event hours.

Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission could face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones in the TFR.

Detailed information for general aviation and drone pilots is available on theFAA’s Super Bowl LV web page.

Drone pilots should check theFAAs B4UFly appto determine when and where they may fly.

News and Updates – New Members Appointed to the Drone Advisory Committee

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Committee helps the agency create strategies for the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.

News and Updates – FAA Accepting Applications for Workforce Development Grants

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WASHINGTONThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking applications for two Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs aimed at developing and inspiring a more inclusive pool of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians to join the next generation of aviation professionals.

The Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants provide money to expand the pilot workforce and educate students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or unmanned aircraft systems operators. The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants will help prepare a more inclusive talent pool of aviation maintenance technicians. Applicants from academia and the aviation community can submit applications through www.grants.gov through March 22.

Eligible organizations may apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 for any single grant per fiscal year.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity for each grant provides detailed information on eligibility, deadlines, evaluation criteria and application procedures. To ensure fair and open competition for the grants, answers to public questions will be posted on the FAA website at www.faa.gov/go/awd. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit the site to review answers to frequently asked questions, eligibility requirements and guidelines that may assist them to complete their grant application.

News and Updates – FAA Issues Commercial Space Reentry Site Operator License to Space Florida

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After completing an assessment of potential environmental impacts, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Space Floridas application for a commercial space Reentry Site Operator License (RSOL) at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) in Titusville, Fla.

The FAA determined that no significant environmental impacts would result from operations at the site. The license, which was issued after the company met all safety and risk requirements, is valid for five years.

The Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are posted on the project web page. The RSOL is posted here.

Space Florida is expanding the capabilities of the SLF to allow commercial space operators to horizontally land reentry vehicles. It anticipates up to one reentry in 2021, and increasing to up to six reentries annually by 2025. Each commercial space operator applying to reenter at the SLF will develop a separate environmental document to support its specific vehicle requirements. These documents will be subject to FAA approval and will be tiered from the recently completed environmental assessment.

Information about the FAAs environmental review process forcommercial space transportationis posted atfaa.gov/space/environmental.