All Roads Lead to Glendale

Sunday, 12 February 2023 will occasion the 57th celebration of America’s most widely-kept holiday—the Super Bowl. The National Football League’s most beatific sacrament will be celebrated on the high altar of Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium at 16:30 MST.

To assist aircraft operators planning trips into and out of the Phoenix metropolitan area during that holiest of weekends, the NBAA, by dint of its Air Traffic Services division, sets forth the following information, suggestions, and resources:

Due to the high volume of air traffic anticipated prior to and following Super Bowl LVII, a compulsory reservation program has been implemented for aircraft arriving and departing airports in the Phoenix metropolitan area from Wednesday, 08 February through Tuesday, 14 February 2023. Reservations are currently being accepted, and all operators of Phoenix-bound aircraft are encouraged to secure their reservations as early as possible.

Phoenix area FBOs have been allocated slot times—as determined by FAA air-traffic predictions—into which they are to schedule customer arrivals. Super Bowl slots are finite and certain to run out quickly after Sunday, 29 January 2023. Aircraft operators must procure arrival reservations at their airport of intended landing through either an FBO of choice thereupon or the appropriate airport authority.

Regularly scheduled air carriers and air taxi operations—including flights operating under Title 14, Chapter II, Subchapter D, Part 380, which covers Essential Air Service under the Small Community Air Service Development Program—are exempt from the 2023 Super Bowl reservation program.

It is important to note that Super Bowl LVII corresponds with the PGA Phoenix Open golf tournament, which will be played from 09 through 12 February in nearby Scottsdale, Arizona.

As Phoenix area hangar and ramp space are limited, drop-and-go operations are encouraged. Dispatchers and air-crews are advised, however, that even quick-turn, drop-and-go operations will be predicated upon the obtainment of both inbound and outbound ramp reservations.

Owing to the Super Bowl’s immense popularity and the contemporaneous staging of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, arrival and departure slots are expected to be grabbed up in short order. Furthermore, it is probable that primary Phoenix area airports—e.g., Sky Harbor (PHX), Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (IWA), and Chandler Municipal (CHD)—will permit arrivals by prior permission only [Prior Permission Required (PPR)] on and around Super Bowl weekend.

The following airports are accepting reservations through their respective FBOs and airport authorities:

• Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU)
• Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR)
• Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
• Scottsdale Airport (SDL)
• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA)
• Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD)
• Falcon Field Airport (FFZ)

Notwithstanding considered and comprehensive preparations, Super Bowl air-traffic volumes and demand will likely challenge ATC’s ability to manage all IFR aircraft in the vicinity of the Phoenix Valley. Ergo, heavy demand and traffic management initiatives are likely to be implemented from Wednesday, 08 February through Monday, 13 February 2023. Poor weather increases the likelihood of such initiatives being enacted.

If implemented, FAA traffic management initiatives stand to include:

• Ground Delay Programs (GDP)
• Airspace Flow Programs (AFP)
• Time Based Metering
• Miles in Trail
• Airborne Holding
• Ground Stops

IFR aircraft arriving and departing the Phoenix area should file and expect to be routed in accordance with the FAA’s domestic notice. Arrival routes for turbojet aircraft will be implemented and enforced from 10:00 MST (17:00 Z) on Friday, 10 February through 16:30 MST (23:30 Z) Sunday, 12 February 2023. Departure routes for turbojet aircraft will be implemented and enforced from 17:00 MST (00:00 Z) on Sunday, 12 February through 23:00 MST (06:00 Z/14th Feb.) on Monday, 13 February 2023.

A special Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) will be published via NOTAM three to five days prior to Super Bowl LVII. Subject TFR will prohibit general aviation operations within a ten-mile radius of State Farm Stadium during a time period beginning approximately three hours before kickoff and ending at least one-hour after the game’s conclusion. Flight restrictions and special instructions pertaining to the airspace beyond ten but within thirty-nautical-miles of State Farm Stadium will also be published

To maximize efficiency and utilization of limited Air Traffic Control services, pilots and air-crews of flights arriving during periods of VFR control tower overnight closures are encouraged to cancel their IFR flight plans, either airborne or immediately upon arrival, as soon as safe, practical, and within the provisions of their respective operation specifications and/or Federal Aviation Regulation.

TSA screenings and gateway procedures will not be available for 2023’s Super Bowl event.

FMI: www.nbaa.org